Nehemiah Persoff

Nehemiah Persoff carved a distinctive niche in cinema, renowned for his compelling portrayals of authoritative, often villainous, ethnic characters, particularly those with Eastern European backgrounds. His formidable career spanned decades, marked by memorable roles in classics such as "The Harder They Fall," Alfred Hitchcock's "The Wrong Man," and the iconic gangster fil... morem "Some Like It Hot." Persoff's versatility extended to nuanced performances as Barbra Streisand's father in "Yentl" and the voice of Papa Mousekewitz in "An American Tail." A prolific presence on television's "Golden Age" and beyond, he left an indelible mark as a consummate character actor. less