RIP Theodore Bikel

[sprite75]

Theodore Bikel has passed on;

Actor Theodore Bikel, best known for his starring role as Tevye, the poor Jewish milkman, in the Broadway hit musical "Fiddler on the Roof," died on Tuesday at age 91 at a Los Angeles hospital, his publicist said.

The Austrian-born performer, who also created the stage role of Captain von Trapp in the original Broadway production of "The Sound of Music," died of natural causes, his spokesman, Harlan Boll, said in a statement.

Bikel began his run as Tevye in 1967 after the late Zero Mostel had originated the role. He went on to perform the part of the struggling Jewish dairyman, and such memorable songs as "Tradition" and "If I Were a Rich Man," more than 2,000 times, the most of any Broadway actor, Boll said.

Bikel's big-screen career spanned more than 150 appearances, including his 1951 movie debut as a German naval officer in the classic "The African Queen" and an Oscar-nominated turn as a southern sheriff opposite Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier in "The Defiant Ones."

He also played Sergey Rozhenko in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Yossel Koslov and Lenonn in Babylon 5, and a number of other roles.

[Allhallowsday]

Good night, THEODORE BIKEL. 

[BoyScoutKevin]

Good night, THEODORE BIKEL. 

And may the song of angels sing you to your grave.

There are two things I always--actually, three--I found remarkable about Mr. Bikel. And one thing I did not know.

What I did not know was how long a career he had in both TV and films. A career that stretched 60 years or from 1947 to 2007.

What I did know. (1st) He was not only well known as an actor, but as a recording artist, having over 30 records of various types to his credit.

(2nd) As a cast member of "My Fair Lady," which is 51 years old this year, he was the last surviving major cast member. He played a Hungarian in the film.

Which brings up the (3rd) thing I always found remarkable about the man. While many actors play many roles, they are often the same nationality or almost always the same. One exception was Mr. Bikel, who not only played a Hungarian in "My Fair Lady," but . . .?! also a(n) . . .

Arab -- several TV shows
Dutchman -- The Little Kidnappers
Frenchman -- The Prize and the Passion
Greek -- The Angry Hills
Italian -- Murder, She Wrote
Russian -- Fraulein
Serbian -- Moulin Rouge
Swede --- H.U.D.

And as a Jew born in Austria, who not only had to flee his country, when the Germans occupied it, but . . .?! as a Jew was in danger of being sent to a concentration camp, he never seemed to have any problems playing a German, which he did in more than one film.

Above Us the Waves
The African Queen
Betrayal
The Enemy Below,
etc.

No. Not only are we going to miss him, but . . .?! With the year slightly more than half over, we are going to be missing a lot more folk, as old age finally catches up with many of the actors from our youth.

R.I.P. Theodore

[Doc Daneeka]

He starred in one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes... :(