Josh Mostel Explained

Josh Mostel
Birth Date:December 21, 1946
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Occupation:Actor
Yearsactive:1971–present
Spouse:
    Father:Zero Mostel

    Joshua Mostel (born December 21, 1946) is an American actor with numerous film and Broadway credits.[1] The son of Zero Mostel, he is best known for his supporting roles in films such as Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), Harry and Tonto (1974), Sophie's Choice (1982), City Slickers (1991), Billy Madison (1995), and Big Daddy (1999).

    Life and career

    Mostel was born in New York City, the son of Kathryn Celia, née Harkin, an actress, dancer, and writer, and Zero Mostel, a comic actor.[2]

    Tobias Mostel, his brother, is a painter, ceramic artist and professor of art, teaching at Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

    Mostel started his career as a boy soprano at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He graduated from Brandeis University. His Broadway debut was in 1971 with Unlikely Heroes. In 1973, Mostel had one of his more notable film performances as Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar. In 1979, Mostel briefly starred in Delta House, the television version of the film Animal House; he played Blotto Blutarsky, the brother of the character Bluto (played by John Belushi in the original film).

    On Broadway, he appeared in the 1989 revival of The Threepenny Opera as Money Matthew and as the frazzled head writer in the original 1992 production of My Favorite Year.He also played the part of "the best trader on the street", Ollie, one of Gordon Gekko's traders in Wall Street.

    Mostel lives in New York, with a summer home in Monhegan, Maine.

    Filmography

    Year Title Role
    1971 Going Home Mr. Bonelli
    1972 The King of Marvin Gardens Frank
    1973 Jesus Christ Superstar Herod Antipas
    1974 Harry and Tonto Norman Coombes
    1976 The Money Wheel-of-fortune operator
    Deadly Hero Victor
    1981 Dead Ringer Russell
    1982 Fighting Back Duster
    Sophie's Choice Morris Fink
    1983 Star 80 Private Detective
    1984 The Brother from Another Planet Casio Vendor
    Windy City Sol
    1985 Almost You David
    Compromising Positions Dicky Dunck
    Stoogemania Howard F. Howard
    1986 The Money Pit Jack Schnittman
    1987 Radio Days Abe
    Matewan Mayor Cabell Testerman
    Wall Street Ollie
    1989 Animal Behavior Mel Gorsky
    1991 City Slickers Barry Shalowitz
    Naked Tango Bertoni the Jeweler
    Little Man Tate Physics Professor
    City of Hope Mad Anthony
    1992 Nervous Ticks Saul Warshow
    1993 Searching for Bobby Fischer Chess Club Regular
    1994 The Chase Officer Figus
    Abe
    Barry Shalowitz
    1995 The Maddening Chicky Ross
    Billy Madison Principal Max Anderson
    The Basketball Diaries Counterman
    Let It Be Me Jordan
    1998 Great Expectations Jerry Ragno
    Rounders Zagosh
    Thicker Than Blood Kendall
    1999 The Out-of-Towners Dr. Faber
    Big Daddy Arthur Brooks
    2001 Knockaround Guys Mac McCreadle
    2009 State of Play Pete
    2016 The Congressman Bernie Gimpel
    2020 Hunters Rabbi Steckler

    Broadway productions

    Title Dates of Production
    Unlikely Heroes October 26, 1971 – November 13, 1971
    An American Millionaire April 20, 1974 – May 5, 1974
    A Texas Trilogy: Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander September 21, 1976 – October 30, 1976
    A Texas Trilogy: The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia September 22, 1976 – October 31, 1976
    Threepenny Opera November 5, 1989 – December 31, 1989
    My Favorite Year December 10, 1992 – January 10, 1993
    The Flowering Peach March 20, 1994 – April 24, 1994
    Getting Away with Murder March 17, 1996 – March 31, 1996

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: The New York Times. Windy City (1984) 'WINDY CITY'. Janet Maslin. Maslin, Janet. September 21, 1984.
    2. News: 1983-06-25 . Peggy Rajski, a Producer, Is Wed to Joshua Mostel . 2024-05-17 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
    3. Web site: Tobias Mostel – Broadway Cast & Staff . . 1 September 2022.
    4. News: Frances Winter, an Artist, Is Married to Tobias Mostel . 1 September 2022 . The New York Times . 2 May 1981.
    5. Web site: Art & Design Library . FSU Department of Art History . 1 September 2022 . en.
    6. Web site: Zero and Kate Mostel papers . archives.nypl.org . 1 September 2022.
    7. Web site: Adding Up to Zero . Toronto Jewish Film Festival . 1 September 2022.
    8. Web site: THE EXPLOSION OF A MYTH mixed media on paper, framed, signed and dedicated on verso - Tobias Mostel . Charlton Hall Galleries . 1 September 2022.
    9. Web site: Zero Mostel . . 1 September 2022 . en.
    10. https://arthistory.fsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2016/03/MusObj-Spg16-Invitation-1.pdf Art History Department, Florida State University. With special thanks to Tobias and Aileen Mostel.
    11. https://issuu.com/ollifsu/docs/spring_2013_newsletter OLLI Spring 2013 Newsletter
    12. Web site: Mary Aileen Mostel October 8, 1950 - April 9, 2018 . Abbey Funeral Home and Tallahassee Memory Gardens . 1 September 2022 . en.