Nehemiah Persoff
Born
August 2, 1919
Died
April 5, 2022 (102 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Jerusalem, Palestine Mandate
Nehemiah Persoff (born August 2, 1919) was a former American film and television character actor. He was born in Jerusalem, Palestine Mandate.
Born in what is now part of Israel, Persoff emigrated with his family to the United States in 1929. He began to take an interest in acting in the 1940s, and after serving in the Army during World War II, he began to pursue his acting career in the New York Theater. In 1947, he was accepted into the Actor's Studio and eventually began appearing in films.
His film credits include: On the Waterfront, Some Like It Hot, Al Capone, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Voyage of the Damned, The Comancheros, Yentl (portraying Barbra Streisand's character's father), Twins and the American Tail (animated-film series) (voiced, "Papa Mousekewitz").
Persoff appeared in such television series as, Five Fingers ("The Moment of Truth"), The Big Valley ("Legend of a General", Parts I & II, episode), The Twilight Zone ("Judgment Night" episode), Alfred Hitchcock Presents ("Heart of Gold" episode), The Untouchables, Naked City, The Legend of Jesse James, Gunsmoke, The Wild Wild West, Hawaii Five-O, Ellery Queen ("The Adventure of the Pharaoh's Curse" episode), Mission: Impossible (3 episodes), Adam-12 ("Vendetta" episode), Charlie's Angels, Hunter, Columbo, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Magnum, P.I., Law & Order and Chicago Hope.
In the mid-1980s, Persoff began to pursue painting, specializing in watercolour. This was at a time when health problems forced him to decrease his acting workload.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Nehemiah Persoff, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story
Self - Interviewee
2022

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
Self
2012
4 Faces
2001

An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster
Papa Mousekewitz (voice)
1999

An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island
Papa Mousekewitz (voice)
1998

Chicago Hope
(1 episode)
1994

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
Papa Mousekewitz (voice)
1991

Law & Order
David Steinmetz · (1 episode)
1990

Twins
Mitchell Traven
1988

The Last Temptation of Christ
Rabbi
1988

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Toff · (1 episode)
1987

J.J. Starbuck
(1 episode)
1987

An American Tail
Papa Mousekewitz (voice)
1986

L.A. Law
Rabbi Isadore Glickman · (1 episode)
1986

MacGyver
Sam Bolinski · (1 episode)
1985

Murder, She Wrote
Constantin Stavros · (1 episode)
1984

Highway to Heaven
(1 episode)
1984

Hunter
Harold Goodman · (1 episode)
1984

Yentl
Rebbe Mendel
1983

Scarecrow and Mrs. King
(1 episode)
1983

Hotel
(1 episode)
1982

O'Hara's Wife
Dr. Fischer
1982

St. Helens
Mr. Ellison
1982

Magnum, P.I.
Rabbi Asher Solomon · (1 episode)
1980

Turnover Smith
Ashmed Amad
1980

The Henderson Monster
Prof. Leo Tedeschi
1980

F.D.R.: The Last Year
Josef Stalin
1980

Condominium
Conlaw · (2 episodes)
1980

B.A.D. Cats
(1 episode)
1980

The French Atlantic Affair
Col. Schreiner · (3 episodes)
1979

The Facts of Life
(1 episode)
1979
In Search of Historic Jesus
Herod Antipas
1979

A Cry For Justice
Dr. Burke
1979

The Rebels
Baron Von Steuben
1979

Daniel in the Lions' Den
Malimar
1978

The Word
Abbot Petropolous · (4 episodes)
1978

Vega$
(1 episode)
1978

Battlestar Galactica
Eastern Alliance Leader · (1 episode)
1978

Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women
Charles Frohman
1978

Killing Stone
Earl Stone
1978

A Double Life
1978

The Making of a President
1978

Logan's Run
(1 episode)
1977

Deadly Harvest
Mort Logan
1977

Hunter
Sheik Farakbi · (1 episode)
1977

The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
Vladimir · (2 episodes)
1977

Voyage of the Damned
Herr Hauser
1976

Quincy, M.E.
(1 episode)
1976

Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident
Rudenko
1976

Charlie's Angels
Anton · (1 episode)
1976

Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II
Charles Dietrich · (1 episode)
1976

McNaughton's Daughter
Vinnie Laine · (3 episodes)
1976

The Bionic Woman
(1 episode)
1976

Psychic Killer
Doctor Gubner
1975

Eric
Dr. Duchesnes
1975

Wonder Woman
Professor Moreno · (1 episode)
1975

Ellery Queen
(1 episode)
1975

The Invisible Man
Dr. Leon Barnard · (1 episode)
1975

Barney Miller
Carl Simms · (1 episode)
1975

Barney Miller
Yacov Berger · (2 episodes)
1975

Baretta
(1 episode)
1975

The Stranger Within
Dr. Edward Klein
1974

The Sex Symbol
Nick Fortis
1974

Little House on the Prairie
(1 episode)
1974

The Six Million Dollar Man
Major Popov · (2 episodes)
1974

Police Story
(1 episode)
1973

Purple Playhouse
Dr. Van Helsing · (1 episode)
1973
Dracula
Dr. Van Helsing
1973

Cool Million
Karinakis · (1 episode)
1972

Lieutenant Schuster's Wife
Champagne Joe Carroll
1972

Lapin 360
1972

The Streets of San Francisco
(1 episode)
1972

Search
(1 episode)
1972

Michael O'Hara the Fourth
Artie Moreno
1972

McMillan & Wife
Clementa Habib · (1 episode)
1971
The Chicago Teddy Bears
(1 episode)
1971

Columbo
Jesse Jerome · (1 episode)
1971

Red Sky at Morning
Amadeo Montoya
1971

Mrs. Pollifax — Spy
Berisha
1971

Dan August
Leo Cussoni · (1 episode)
1970

The People Next Door
Dr. Salazar
1970

McCloud
(2 episodes)
1970

Cutter's Trail
Santillo
1970

The Girl Who Knew Too Much
Lieutenant Crawford
1969

Love, American Style
Mr. Stone · (1 episode)
1969

Marcus Welby, M.D.
Max Behrman · (1 episode)
1969

The Bill Cosby Show
Mr. Byron · (1 episode)
1969

Escape to Mindanao
Capt. Kramer
1968

The Treasure of San Bosco Reef
Captain Malcione
1968

The Treasure of San Bosco Reef
Captain Malcione · (2 episodes)
1968

Panic in the City
August Best
1968

The Mod Squad
(2 episodes)
1968

The Mod Squad
Nick Master · (1 episode)
1968

Land of the Giants
Titus · (1 episode)
1968

Adam-12
Angelo Covelli · (1 episode)
1968

Hawaii Five-O
Harry Cardonus · (1 episode)
1968

The Name of the Game
Ambassador · (1 episode)
1968

Hawaii Five-O
Winkler · (1 episode)
1968

Hawaii Five-O
Leo Paoli · (1 episode)
1968

Hawaii Five-O
Cordell · (1 episode)
1968

Hawaii Five-O
Victor Palua · (1 episode)
1968

Hawaii Five-O
Allie Francis · (2 episodes)
1968

The Power
Prof. Carl Melnicker
1968

The Day of the Owl
Pizzuco
1968

It Takes a Thief
Harry Lavender · (1 episode)
1968

The Money Jungle
Lt. Dow Reeves
1967

Mannix
Anton Wojeska · (1 episode)
1967

The High Chaparral
Homero José · (1 episode)
1967

The Dangerous Days Of Kiowa Jones
Skoda
1966
CBS Playhouse
(1 episode)
1966

Too Many Thieves
Georgi
1966

Mission: Impossible
Igor Stravos · (1 episode)
1966

Mission: Impossible
Phillipe Pereda · (1 episode)
1966

Mission: Impossible
Prince Iben Kostas · (1 episode)
1966

Jericho
(1 episode)
1966

The Time Tunnel
Prof. Anton Biraki · (1 episode)
1966

Tarzan
Chembe Kunji · (1 episode)
1966

Honey West
Faustini · (1 episode)
1965

The Wild Wild West
Major Hazard · (1 episode)
1965

The Wild Wild West
Gen. Andreas Cassinello · (1 episode)
1965

The Big Valley
General Vicente Ruiz · (1 episode)
1965

The Legend of Jesse James
El Carnicero · (1 episode)
1965

The Greatest Story Ever Told
Shemiah
1965

Fate Is the Hunter
Ben Sawyer
1964

Gilligan's Island
(1 episode)
1964

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Valandros · (1 episode)
1964

A Global Affair
Under Secretary Segura
1964
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
(1 episode)
1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Alverian · (1 episode)
1963

Mr. Novak
Henry Selkirk · (1 episode)
1963

Burke's Law
Jason Flonder · (1 episode)
1963

Burke's Law
Albert Indigo, 'Mr. I' · (1 episode)
1963

Burke's Law
Wilhelm Kasimer · (1 episode)
1963

The Hook
Capt. Van Ryn
1963

Sam Benedict
(1 episode)
1962

The Comancheros
Graile
1961

The New Breed
Louis Morley · (1 episode)
1961

Ben Casey
(1 episode)
1961

Bus Stop
(1 episode)
1961

The Wonderful World of Disney
(3 episodes)
1961

The Big Show
Bruno Everard
1961

Route 66
(2 episodes)
1960

Mr. Lucky
(1 episode)
1959

The Untouchables
Jake 'Greasy Thumb' Guzik · (2 episodes)
1959

The Untouchables
Johnny Fortunato · (1 episode)
1959

The Twilight Zone
Carl Lanser · (1 episode)
1959

Day of the Outlaw
Dan, Starret's Foreman
1959

The Killers of Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
1959

Al Capone
Johnny Torrio
1959

Some Like It Hot
Little Bonaparte
1959

Green Mansions
Don Panta
1959

For Whom the Bell Tolls
Pablo
1959

Never Steal Anything Small
Pinelli
1959

Rawhide
Domingo · (1 episode)
1959

Rawhide
Michob · (1 episode)
1959

Naked City
Barney Peters · (1 episode)
1958

Naked City
Carlos Ruldan · (1 episode)
1958

Naked City
Max Evar · (1 episode)
1958

Naked City
Dominic Venussi · (1 episode)
1958

Naked City
Berco Romanu · (1 episode)
1958

Naked City
Merritt Griffin · (1 episode)
1958

The Badlanders
Vincente (The Powder Monkey)
1958

Shirley Temple's Storybook
Ali Baba · (1 episode)
1958

This Angry Age
Albert Legros
1957

The Death of Manolete
Camera
1957

Street of Sinners
Leon
1957

Men in War
Sgt. Lewis
1957

Mayerling
Police Officer
1957

The Wrong Man
Gene Conforti
1956

The Wild Party
Kicks Johnson
1956

Playhouse 90
Pablo · (2 episodes)
1956

Playhouse 90
Prisoners Father · (1 episode)
1956

The Harder They Fall
Leo
1956
Playwrights '56
(1 episode)
1955

Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Ralph Collins · (1 episode)
1955

Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Jeff Jensen · (1 episode)
1955

Gunsmoke
Jack Pinto · (1 episode)
1955

Gunsmoke
Mr. Dano · (1 episode)
1955

Gunsmoke
Alex Skouras · (1 episode)
1955

Gunsmoke
Driscoll · (1 episode)
1955

Gunsmoke
Ben Rando · (1 episode)
1955

Gunsmoke
Alejo Etchahoun · (1 episode)
1955

The Thief
D'Arnault-Olivier
1955

The Wonderful World of Disney
Artie Moreno · (2 episodes)
1954

Climax!
Lieutenant Cal Nourse · (1 episode)
1954

On the Waterfront
Cab Driver (uncredited)
1954

The United States Steel Hour
Dr. Arnault / Oliver · (1 episode)
1953

Marty
The Critic
1953

Hallmark Hall of Fame
Dr. Duchesnes · (1 episode)
1951

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Jules Dreise · (1 episode)
1951

Armstrong Circle Theatre
(1 episode)
1950

The Philco Television Playhouse
Ed Kagan · (2 episodes)
1948