The Arizona post., 1959-03-06
Hollywood Report
Movie Sheriff Formerly
A SfUdenf In Israel
BY HERBERT G.. LUFT

HOLLYWOOD-The twofsted sheriff in the Robert
Ryan starrer DAY of the Outlaw currently before the
cameras at the Anco studios in Hollywood formerly
Chaplins home lot, bulky young with swarthy
complexion and bushy beard under the wide-brmmed
Western hat tough guns1nger and towntaer certain
ly didn't look to like well educated Israeli who had
studied with Nachum Zemach and performed at the Cham
Der Theatre Yet, it was Jerusaembom Nehemiah Pers-
off, called Nick by his friends, man of many faces
The versatile character actor, recently has
the forefront submerges his personality to
his varied roles fight promoter in "The
Harder They Fall" bop musician in "The Wild Party"
A Mexican miner in "The Badlanders." AS Sgt. Lewis
in "Men in War; he driven to outburst of insane
fear by the discovery of sheer endless mine field.
In "Ths Angry Age" Italian movie made in Thai
land, Nick a Frenchman in love with Sivano
Mangano the Mel Ferrer picture Green Mansions" he
became a South American businessman Lately, he has
portrayed gangsers in two still unreeased films, Johnny
Torrio in "Al Capone and Little Napoean in the Marn
Monroe sarrer Some Like 1t Hot for the latter shaving
his comply with director Billy Wilders concept
mobSter
AS THE NOW 3Syear-old Persoff told me during
coffee break studio his father who early
his childhood had awakened in him his love for the
theatre The elder Persoff had come to Palestine from
Russia during the Czarist oppression his mother
Sabra they had settled at the edge of Jerusalem at Sha
ar Chesed Gaes of Mercy) Father Persoff active
in the amateur Zion theatre long before there any
legitimate stage in Eretz Israel
When Nick nine, the family moved to New York.
He to school in the Williamsburg district of Brook
lyn. The family had to America during the worst
period of the depresson Nicks older brother artistic
ally inclined and the father had to carry the full load of
responsibility
Nick, in order to support his folks, learned trade
the Hebrew technical institute seth st.
for electrician Later he managed to get
job maintenance at the Independent subway.
1888 the eighteeny yearod by sheer chance given
a oneword walkon in stage production of the American
Israel Balfour Players. Still working the dayshift
Garment Center electrician and maintenance man. he
gained his first professional experience with BenAris
"Pagod' theatre
AFTER HE HAD secured some financial security,
Nick accepted a scholarship at Erwin Piscators New
School for Social Research where he studied till 1912 and
later played in the schools studio theatre part in Dan
James "Winter Soldiers" The draft interrupted his
career After the war; Persoff went back Pscator and
joined BerAri in his memorable Hebrew
of The Merchant Of Venice" of 1947 The following
year he entered Lee Srasbergs Actors Studio where he
studied with such future luninaries Marion Barndo,
Tony Schwartz (CWtis) and Rod Steger
During short visit to Hollywood, Persoff got his
first movie role in George CUkorS Double
Life" 0947) The next year, Wak-On in NAKED City,
a picture made in New York. Writer Malvn Wald, who
then nominated for Academy Award recently not
only suggested Persoff for the "Al Capone' movie,
co-authored by him, but also brought the ISraeiborn
actor the attention OF this column.