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Josh Mostel Biography (1946-)

Born December 21, 1946, in New York, NY; son of Zero (an actor; original name, Samuel Joel Mostel) and Kathryn Celia (an actress, dancer, and writer; maiden name, Harken) Mostel; brother of Toby Mostel (an actor); married Peggy Rajski (a director and producer), June 24, 1983. Addresses: Agent: William Morris Agency, 151 El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Occupation

Actor, director, writer

Birth Details

December 21, 1946

New York, New York, United States

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Film Appearances
• Mr. Bonelli, Going Home, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1971
• Frank, The King of Marvin Gardens, Columbia, 1972
• (As Joshua Mostel) King Herod, Jesus Christ, Superstar (musical),Universal, 1973
• (As Joshua Mostel) Norman Coombes, Harry and Tonto, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1974
• Wheel of Fortune operator, The Money (also known as Atlantic City Jackpot), 1975
• Victor, Deadly Hero, Avco-Embassy, 1976
• Duster, Fighting Back (also known as Death Vengeance), Paramount, 1982
• Morris Fink, Sophie's Choice, Universal, 1982
• Russell, Dead Ringer, 1982
• Private detective, Star 80, Warner Bros., 1983
• Casio vendor, Brother from Another Planet, Cinecom, 1984
• David, Almost You, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1984
• Sol, Windy City, Warner Bros., 1984
• Dicky Dunck, Compromising Positions, Paramount, 1985
• Howard F. Howard, Stoogemania (also known as Party Stooge),Atlantic, 1986
• Jack Schnittman, The Money Pit, Universal, 1986
• Mayor Cabell Testerman, Matewan, Cinecom, 1987
• Ollie, Wall Street, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1987
• Uncle Abe, Radio Days, Orion, 1987
• Himself, Heavy Petting (documentary), Skouras, 1988
• Mel Gorsky, Animal Behavior, Cinestar, 1989
• Bertoni the jeweler, Naked Tango (also known as Tango desnudo), New Line Cinema, 1990
• Barry Shalowitz, City Slickers, Columbia, 1991
• Mad Anthony, City of Hope, Samuel Goldwyn, 1991
• Physics professor, Little Man Tate, Orion, 1991
• Chess club regular, Searching for Bobby Fischer (also known as Innocent Moves), Paramount, 1993
• Sol Warshow, Nervous Ticks, Columbia/TriStar Home Video, 1993
• Barry Shalowitz, City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (also known as City Slickers: The Legend of Curly's Gold and City Slickers II), Columbia, 1994
• Officer Figus, The Chase, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1994
• Bye Bye America (also known as Goodbye America, The Wayof the World, Auf Wiedersehen Amerika, and Do Widzenia, Ameryko), Pyramide International, 1994
• Counter person, The Basketball Diaries, New Line Cinema, 1995
• Principal Max Anderson, Billy Madison, Universal, 1995
• Chicky Ross, The Maddening, Vidmark, 1996
• Jerry Ragno, Great Expectations, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1998
• Zagosh, Rounders, Miramax, 1998
• Arthur Brooks, Big Daddy, Columbia, 1999
• Dr. Faber, The Out-of-Towners, Paramount, 1999
• Mac McCreadle, Knockaround Guys, New Line Cinema, 2002
• Stage Appearances
• Joey, The Homecoming, Provincetown Theatre, Provincetown, MA, 1968
• The Hostage, Provincetown Theatre, 1968
• Lysistrata, Provincetown Theatre, 1968
• Member of ensemble, The Proposition (revue), Massachusetts production, 1969
• Private Larry Fishbein, "Defender of the Faith," folk singer, "Epstein,"and first intern, "Eli, the Fanatic," in Unlikely Heroes, Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 1971
• Member of ensemble, The Proposition (revue), Gramercy Arts Theatre, then Mercer-Shaw Theatre, both New York City, both beginning 1971
• Curse You, Spread Eagle, Washington Theatre Club, Washington, DC,1971
• Harvey and Frank Likk, Soft Touch, Wilbur Theatre, Boston, MA, 1973
• More Than You Deserve, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, New York City, 1974
• Member of ensemble, Straws in the Wind (revue), American Place Theatre, New York City, 1975
• Messenger, An American Millionaire, Circle in the Square, New YorkCity, 1975
• Milo Crawford, "Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander" and "The Last Meetingof the Knights of the White Magnolia," in A Texas Trilogy, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, then Broadhurst Theatre,New York City, both 1976
• Dubois, The Misanthrope, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, Anspacher Theatre, New York City, 1977
• Hirschel, Gemini, Arena Stage, Washington, DC, 1978
• Louie, Every Place Is Newark, Aspen Playwrights Conference, Aspen,CO, 1978
• Orville, The Wright Brothers, Aspen Playwrights Conference, 1978
• Bottom, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Kenyon Theatre Festival, Warren, OH, 1980
• C. K., Men in the Kitchen, Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, CT, c. 1986
• Charlie Langman, The Road to Urga, Lincoln Center Theater, New York City, 1987
• Norman Bulansky, The Boys Next Door, Lamb's Theatre, New York City, 1987
• Matt of the Mint, 3 Penny Opera (musical), Lunt-Fontanne Theatre,New York City, 1989
• Dollar Bill Brunowski, A Perfect Diamond, Apple Corps Theatre, NewYork City, 1990
• Sy Benson, My Favorite Year (musical), Lincoln Center, Vivian Beaumont Theater, New York City, 1992-1993
• Shem, The Flowering Peach, National Actors Theatre, Lyceum Theatre, New York City, 1994
• Vassili Laimorgos, Getting Away with Murder, Broadhurst Theatre, 1996
• Mayor and first rabbinical judge, A Dybbuk; or, Between Two Worlds, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, Estelle R. Newman Theatre, New York City, 1997
• Cranes, off-Broadway production, 1999
• Appeared off-Broadway in Rocky Road; also appeared in The Dog Play.
• Stage Director
• Ferocious Kisses, Manhattan Punchline Theatre, New York City, 1981
• Love as We Know It, Manhattan Punchline Theatre, 1986
• Red Diaper Baby, Actors' Playhouse, then Second Stage Theatre, McGinn-Cazale Theatre, both New York City, 1992
• Director of the play Misconceptions.
• Television Appearances
• Series
• Jim "Blotto" Blutarski, Delta House, ABC, 1979
• (As Joshua Mostel) Private Maxwell, At Ease, ABC, 1983
• Wesley Hardin, Murphy's Law, ABC, 1988-1989
• Miniseries
• Barney Green, Seventh Avenue, NBC, 1977
• Movies
• Wiseman, The Boy Who Loved Trolls, PBS, 1984
• Jordan, Let It Be Me (also known as Love Dance), Starz!, 1995
• Kendall, Thicker Than Blood, TNT, 1998
• Arthur Cimasi, Strip Search, HBO, 2004
• Specials
• Zero Hour, ABC, 1967
• Tracey Ullman Takes On New York, HBO, 1993
• Episodic
• (As Joshua Mostel) Leonard, "An Eye for an Eye," Spenser: For Hire, ABC, 1986
• Taurus, The Equalizer, CBS, 1986
• Winston Erdlow, The Equalizer, CBS, 1987
• Ridley, "Class of Beverly Hills," Beverly Hills 90210, Fox, 1990
• (As Joshua Mostel) Cue card guy, "Heeeere's ... Cliffy!," Cheers,NBC, 1992
• Mr. Dumaurier, Phenom, ABC, 1993
• Winnetka Road, NBC, 1994
• Dave, "The Gift of Life," Wings, NBC, 1996
• Harvey Anchin, "Kid Pro Quo," Law & Order, NBC, 2003
• Pilots
• Nathan, Hereafter, NBC, 1975
• Steve and a student, Off Campus, CBS, 1977
• Kirby Taylor, Passion, CBS, 1991
• WRITINGS
• Teleplays
• Specials
• Author (with Mickey Lemle) of the television special Media Probes: TheLanguage Show.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals

• New York Post, April 7, 1994