Paul Muni
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- For the comedy writer and actor, see Paul Mooney.
| Paul Muni | |
 photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1932 |
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| Birth name | Meshilem Meier Weisenfreund |
| Born | September 22, 1895 Lvov, Ukraine |
| Died | August 25, 1967 Montecito, California, USA |
| Academy Awards | |
|---|---|
| Best Actor 1936 The Story of Louis Pasteur |
|
Paul Muni (September 22, 1895 – August 25, 1967) was an Academy Award-winning and Tony Award-winning actor.
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[edit] Early life and career
He was born Meshilem Meier Weisenfreund to a Jewish family in Lemberg, Galicja, a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now Lviv, Ukraine.
His family emigrated to the United States in 1902. Both of Muni's parents were actors with the Yiddish theater. He made his stage debut at age 12. During his time in Yiddish theater, he was known as Moony Weisenfreund (Moonie is a common Yiddish name). He was quickly recognized by Maurice Schwartz, who signed him up with his Yiddish Art Theater. Edward G. Robinson and Paul Muni were cousins to Charles M Fritz who was a notable actor and manager of The Little Red Theater in Northport, Long Island, during the Great Depression.
A 1925 New York Times article singled out his and Sam Kasten's performances at the People's Theater as among the highlights of that year's Yiddish theater season, describing them as second only to Ludwig Satz.
[edit] Broadway and Hollywood
Muni was 29 when he began acting on Broadway in 1924. His first role, that of an elderly Jewish man in the play We Americans, was written by playwright Sam Harris; it was also the first time that he ever acted in English.
He was signed by Fox three years later, in 1929, and received an Oscar nomination for his first film The Valiant. However, he was unhappy with the roles and decided to return to Broadway.
In 1932, Paul Muni returned to Hollywood to star in such harrowing pre-Code films as Scarface and I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang. He received a second Academy Award for Best Actor nomination for the latter film. Warner Brothers signed a long-term contract with him.
He went on to receive a Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for The Life of Emile Zola (1937) and to win the Academy Award for The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936).
Muni was widely recognized as a talented if eccentric individual. He would go into a rage whenever anyone wore red, but at the same time he could often be found between sessions relaxing with his violin. Over the years, he also became increasingly dependent on his wife, Bella, who terrified directors by forcing them to redo scenes that did not meet her satisfaction.
After several failed projects, Muni was nominated for a Tony Award in 1955 for the role of Henry Drummond in the play Inherit the Wind.
He retired in 1959, soon after receiving his final Academy Award nomination for The Last Angry Man.
Muni died in Montecito, California at the age of 71.
He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6435 Hollywood Blvd.
[edit] Partial filmography
- The Valiant (1929)
- Seven Faces (1929)
- Scarface (1932)
- I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
- Dr. Socrates (1935)
- The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936)
- The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
- The Good Earth (1937)
- Juarez (1939)
- Hudson's Bay (1940)
- A Song to Remember (1945)
- Counter Attack (1945)
- Angel on My Shoulder (1946)
- The Last Angry Man (1959)
[edit] Academy Awards and nominations
- 1960 Nominated The Last Angry Man
- 1938 Nominated The Life of Emile Zola
- 1937 Won The Story of Louis Pasteur
- 1934 Nominated I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
- 1930 Nominated The Valiant
[edit] References
- Melamed, S.M., "The Yiddish Stage", The New York Times, Sept. 27, 1925 (X2)
- Adler, Jacob, A Life on the Stage: A Memoir, translated and with commentary by Lulla Rosenfeld, Knopf, New York, 1999, ISBN 0-679-41351-0. In a comment on p. 377, Rosenfeld mentions "Muni Weisenfreund, now Paul Muni".
[edit] External links
- Paul Muni at the Internet Movie Database
- Paul Muni at the TCM Movie Database
- Paul Muni at the Internet Broadway Database
| Preceded by Victor McLaglen for The Informer |
Academy Award for Best Actor 1936 for The Story of Louis Pasteur |
Succeeded by Spencer Tracy for Captains Courageous |
