Zero Mostel

Biography

Samuel Joel “Zero” Mostel (February 28, 1915 – September 8, 1977) was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of comic characters such as Tevye onstage in Fiddler on the Roof, Pseudolus onstage and onscreen in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Max Bialystock in the original film version of The Producers. He was blacklisted during the 1950s, and his testimony before the House Committee on Un-American Activities was well-publicized. He was a Tony Award and Obie Award winner.

Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

The Merv Griffin Show

The Dick Cavett Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Muppet Show

All Movies (38)

• Remembering Gene Wilder2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Mel Brooks: Unwrapped2018 · as Self (archive footage)
• Mel Brooks: Make a Noise2013 · as Self (archive footage)
• Hitler: The Comedy Years2007 · as Max Bialystock (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards2005 · as Pseudolus ("A Funny Thing Happened on the ...") (arch. foot.)
• Broadway's Lost Treasures2003 · as Tevye (segment "Fiddler On The Roof")
• The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years1986 · as Self (archive footage)
• Muppet Treasures1985 · as Self
• Best Boy1979 · as Self
• Watership Down1978 · as Kehaar (voice)
• Ride of the Valkyrie1977
• The Little Drummer Boy: Book II1976 · as Brutus (voice)
• The Front1976 · as Hecky Brown
• Mastermind1976 · as Inspector Hoku Ichihara
• Journey into Fear1975 · as Kopelkin
• Fore Play1975 · as President / Don Pasquale
• Once Upon a Scoundrel1974 · as Carlos del Refugio
• Rhinoceros1974 · as John
• Marco1973 · as Kublai Khan
• Saga of Sonora1973 · as Heavy Harry
• Old Faithful1973 · as Ranger Zeppel
• The Hot Rock1972 · as Abe Greenberg
• The Angel Levine1970 · as Morris Mishkin
• The Great Bank Robbery1969 · as Rev. Pious Blue
• Great Catherine1968 · as Potemkin
• The Producers1968 · as Max Bialystock
• Red, White, and Zero1968
• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum1966 · as Pseudolus
• Carol + 21966 · as Self
• Waiting for Godot1961 · as Estragon / Gogo
• The World of Sholom Aleichem1959 · as Melamed / Maxel
• The Model and the Marriage Broker1951 · as George Wixted
• The Guy Who Came Back1951 · as Boots Mullins
• Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell1951 · as Emmett
• Sirocco1951 · as Balukjiaan
• The Enforcer1951 · as 'Big Babe' Lazich
• Panic in the Streets1950 · as Raymond Fitch
• Du Barry Was a Lady1943 · as Rami / Taliostra

All TV Shows (12)

• The Muppet Show1976 · as Self - Special Guest Star
• The Electric Company1971 · as Spell Binder (voice)
• The Flip Wilson Show1970 · as Self
• The Dick Cavett Show1968 · as Self - Guest
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In1968 · as Self
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In1968 · as Self (uncredited)
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Nominee
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Presenter
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Performer
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self