FACTOID # 164: If you're looking to invade someone by sea, try Canada! Canada has only 9000 Navy personnel guarding the longest national coastline in the world.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS    Advanced view

Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 

 

(* = Graphable)

 

 


Encyclopedia > Paul Muni
Paul Muni

photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1932
Birth name Meshilem Meier Weisenfreund
Born September 22, 1895(1895-09-22)
Flag of Ukraine Lviv, Ukraine
Died August 25, 1967 (aged 71)
Montecito, California, U.S.
Spouse(s) Bella Finkel (1921-1967)

Paul Muni (September 22, 1895August 25, 1967) was an Academy Award-winning and Tony Award-winning American stage and film actor. Paul Muni photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1932 Dec. ... Carl Van Vechten (June 17, 1880 – December 21, 1964) was an American writer and photographer who was a patron of the Harlem Renaissance and the literary executor of Gertrude Stein. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ukraine. ... “Lvov” redirects here. ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Montecito is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Barbara County, California. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... The Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the awards given to actors working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... The Story of Louis Pasteur is a 1935 biographical film. ... What is popularly called the Tony Award® but is formally the Antoinette Perry Award is an annual American award celebrating achievements in theater, including musical theater. ... The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a play, whether a new production or a revival. ... Inherit the Wind is a play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee, which opened on Broadway in January 1955, and a 1960 Hollywood film based on the play. ... The New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor is one of the awards given by the New York Film Critics Circle to honor the finest achievements in filmmaking. ... The Life of Emile Zola is a 1937 movie giving a biography of the famous French author Émile Zola. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... What is popularly called the Tony Award (formally, the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre) is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theater, including musical theater, primarily honoring productions on Broadway in New York. ... Look up Stage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Actor (disambiguation). ...

Contents

Early life and career

He was born Meshilem Meier Weisenfreund to a Jewish family in Lemberg, Galicia, a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now Lviv, Ukraine. The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... For other uses, see Galicia. ... Official languages Latin, German, Hungarian Established church Roman Catholic Capital & Largest City Vienna pop. ... “Lvov” redirects here. ...


His family emigrated to the United States in 1902. Both of Muni's parents were actors with the Yiddish theatre. 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. 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Yiddish theatre consists of plays written and performed primarily by Jews in Yiddish, the language of the Eastern European Ashkenazaic Jewish community. ... Maurice Schwartz was a star actor of the Yiddish theater in the United States and later Israel. ... Edward Goldenberg Robinson (born Emanuel Goldenberg, Yiddish: עמנואל גולדנברג; December 12, 1893 – January 26, 1973) was an American stage and film actor of Romanian origin. ... For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ...


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. The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... Sam Kasten was a comic actor in Yiddish Theater. ... Satz played an atypically serious role in 1937s Moshiach Kumt (The Messiah is Coming) Ludwig Satz was an actor in Yiddish theater and film, best known for his comic roles. ...


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. For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... The Fox Film Corporation was an American company which produced motion pictures, formed in 1915 when founder William Fox merged two companies he had established in 1913: Greater New York Film Rental, a distribution firm, which was part of the Independents; and Fox (or Box, depending on the source) Office... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... The Valiant is a 1929 film which tells the story of a man condemned to execution who tries to convince two women that he is not their son and brother, and that they must get on with their lives. ...


In 1932, Paul Muni returned to Hollywood to star in such harrowing pre-Code films as the original 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). ... Pre-Code films were created before the Motion Picture Production Code or Hays Code took effect on 1 July 1934 in the United States of America. ... Scarface (also known as Scarface, the Shame of the Nation and The Shame of a Nation) is a 1932 gangster film which tells the story of gang warfare and police intervention when rival gangs fight over control of a city. ... Paul Muni plays a prisoner working on the chain gang I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang is a 1932 movie in which Paul Muni stars as a wrongly accused escapee from a brutal chain gang. ... The Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the awards given to actors working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... Warner Bros. ... The Life of Emile Zola is a 1937 movie giving a biography of the famous French author Émile Zola. ... The Story of Louis Pasteur is a 1935 biographical film. ...


In his day, Muni was considered one of the greatest living actors. David Shipman calls him "an actor of great integrity" and he prepared for his roles meticulously.


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. The violin is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. ...


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. What is popularly called the Tony Award (formally, the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre) is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theater, including musical theater, primarily honoring productions on Broadway in New York. ... Inherit the Wind is a play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee, which opened on Broadway in January 1955, and a 1960 Hollywood film based on the play. ...


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. The Last Angry Man is a 1959 film which tells the story of a journalist who profiles the life of his physician uncle. ... Montecito is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Barbara County, California. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...


He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6435 Hollywood Blvd. Buskers perform on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. ...


Cultural references

In the fourth-season M*A*S*H episode "Hawkeye", Hawkeye Pierce describes his childhood in the 1930s and Muni's ubiquitous film appearances thus: "You knew where you stood in those days. Roosevelt was always president, the Yankees were always on top, and Paul Muni played everybody." M*A*S*H is an American television series developed by Larry Gelbart, inspired by the 1968 novel M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker (penname for H. Richard Hornberger) and its sequels, but primarily by the 1970 film MASH, and influenced by the... Hawkeye was the 90th episode of the M*A*S*H television series, and 18th episode of the fourth season of the series. ... The New York Yankees are a Major League baseball team based in The Bronx, New York City. ...


Filmography

The Valiant is a 1929 film which tells the story of a man condemned to execution who tries to convince two women that he is not their son and brother, and that they must get on with their lives. ... Scarface (also known as Scarface, the Shame of the Nation and The Shame of a Nation) is a 1932 gangster film which tells the story of gang warfare and police intervention when rival gangs fight over control of a city. ... Paul Muni plays a prisoner working on the chain gang I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang is a 1932 movie in which Paul Muni stars as a wrongly accused escapee from a brutal chain gang. ... Bordertown is a 1935 crime film starring Paul Muni as a Mexican working in a casino and Bette Davis as a psychopath. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... The Story of Louis Pasteur is a 1935 biographical film. ... The Good Earth (1937) is a movie based on the 1931 book of the same name by Nobel Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck about Chinese peasants who try to survive a locust invasion. ... The Life of Emile Zola is a 1937 movie giving a biography of the famous French author Émile Zola. ... Juarez is a 1939 film with Brian Aherne. ... Commandos Strike at Dawn is a 1942 war film starring Paul Muni and Anna Lee in a story about a raid on Nazi-occupied Norway in World War II. Categories: | | ... A Song to Remember is a 1945 biographical film which tells the life story of pianist and composer Frederic Chopin. ... Angel on My Shoulder is a 1946 film by Archie Mayo Starring Paul Muni . ... The Last Angry Man is a 1959 film which tells the story of a journalist who profiles the life of his physician uncle. ...

Academy Awards and nominations

  • 1960 Nominated The Last Angry Man
  • 1938 Nominated The Life of Emile Zola
  • 1937 Won The Story of Louis Pasteur
  • 1936 Nominated Black Fury
  • 1934 Nominated I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
  • 1930 Nominated The Valiant

mile Zola (April 2, 1840 - September 29, 1902) was an influential French novelist, the most important example of the literary school of naturalism, and a major figure in the political liberalization of France. ... Louis Pasteur (December 27, 1822 – September 28, 1895) was a French chemist best known for his remarkable breakthroughs in microbiology. ...

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".

The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ...

External links

Awards
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
Preceded by
Walter Huston
for Dodsworth
NYFCC Award for Best Actor
1937
for The Life of Emile Zola
Succeeded by
James Cagney
for Angels with Dirty Faces
Preceded by
Alfred Lunt
for Quadrille
Best Leading Actor in a Play
1956
Inherit the Wind
Succeeded by
Fredric March
for Long Day's Journey Into Night

  Results from FactBites:
 
Paul Muni - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (596 words)
Paul Muni (September 22, 1895 – August 25, 1967) was an Academy Award-winning versatile actor from the Golden Age of Hollywood,
Both of Muni's parents were actors with the Yiddish theater and it was only natural that he would join them on stage.
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.
  More results at FactBites »


 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.