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Paul Muni

Paul Muni

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Also Known As: Muni Weisenfreund Died: August 25, 1967
Born: September 22, 1895 Cause of Death: Heart disorder
Birth Place: Austria Profession: actor
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Biography CLOSE THE FULL BIOGRAPHY

Dynamic actor from the Yiddish stage who earned an Oscar nomination for his 1929 film debut in "The Valiant". Muni's performance as the volatile mob boss in "Scarface" (1932) led to a long-term contract with Warner Bros. and he made his mark in a series of critically acclaimed biopics, portraying the likes of Louis Pasteur and Emile Zola. He subsequently divided his time between the stage and screen, making intermittent film appearances until faltering eyesight ended his career in 1959.

Dynamic actor from the Yiddish stage who earned an Oscar nomination for his 1929 film debut in "The Valiant". Muni's performance as the volatile mob boss in "Scarface" (1932) led to a long-term contract with Warner Bros. and he made his mark in a series of critically acclaimed biopics, portraying the likes of Louis Pasteur and Emile Zola. He subsequently divided his time between the stage and screen, making intermittent film appearances until faltering eyesight ended his career in 1959.

Filmographyclose complete filmography

CAST: (feature film)

1.
 The Last Angry Man (1959) Dr. Sam Abelman
2.
 Imbarco a Mezzanotte (1952)
3.
 Angel on My Shoulder (1946) Eddie Kagle/Frederick Parker
4.
 Counter-Attack (1945) Alexei Kulkov
5.
 A Song to Remember (1945) Professor Joseph Elsner
6.
 Stage Door Canteen (1943)
7.
 Commandos Strike at Dawn (To Be Deleted) (1942) Eric Toresen
8.
 Commandos Strike At Dawn (1942) Eric Toresen
9.
 Hudson's Bay (1941) Pierre Esprit Radisson
10.
 We Are Not Alone (1939) Dr. David Newcome
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Milestones close milestones

1900:
Moved to New York City via London
1905:
Moved to Cleveland with family
1907:
Made first stage appearance in Cleveland as elderly lodge president in the sketch "Two Corpses at Breakfast"
1908:
Moved to Chicago with his family
:
Mother Sally remarried Morris Nasiter
1918:
Joined the Yiddish Art Theater in New York City
1926:
First role in English-speaking theater, "We Americans"
1926:
Played in "Four Walls" on stage with wife Bella
:
Moved to Hollywood, changes name to Paul Muni
1929:
Made film debut (and received first Oscar nomination) in "The Valiant"
1931:
Starred in greatest stage success, "Counsellor-at-Law"
1932:
Secured film stardom with "Scarface"
1932:
Signed exclusive long-term contract with Warner Brothers, paying him $50,000 per film and giving him script approval; first film under contract, "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang"
1933:
Moved to Los Angeles
1937:
Appointed in September to the Board of the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League for the Defense of American Democracy
1939:
Returned to the stage to appear in "Key Largo"
1940:
Contributed to help establish the Chinese Emergency Relief Committee
1940:
Released from Warner Brothers contract on July 19; began free-lancing
1943:
Hospitalized for neuritis (on February 10)
1948:
Reprised "Counsellor-at-Law" role on live television, presented by Philco Playhouse on NBC
1949:
Starred in New York broadcast of "This Year Israel", presented by United Jewish Appeal over CBS Radio on April 15
1953:
First filmed television, "The People vs. Johnson", for "Ford Theatre" anthology series
1955:
"Inherit the Wind" opened on Broadway on April 21
1955:
Diagnosed with tumor near his eye; eye is removed that summer
:
Made final stage appearance in a musical adaptation of "Grand Hotel" entitled "At the Grand", played in Los Angeles and San Francisco; Muni's only experience in musical comedy
1959:
Appeared in last film, "The Last Angry Man"
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Notes

Named to the Jewish Hall of Fame in 1937

Received Certificate of Life Membership in 1939, presented by the Actors Fund of America

Companions close complete companion listing

wife:
Bella Muni. Actor. Married on May 8, 1921; died at age 73 on October 1, 1971; niece of Yiddish theater actor Boris Tomashefsky.

Family close complete family listing

mother:
Sally Weisenfreund. Actor. Died in 1934.
father:
Nathan Philip Weisenfreund. Actor. Died in 1913; both parents were strolling players in the ghettos of Eastern Europe.
brother:
Joseph Weisenfreund.
brother:
Ellis Weisenfreund.
brother-in-law:
Abem Finkel. Writer.
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