Paul Muni

Born

1895

Died

1967

From

Lemberg, Galicia, Austria-Hungary [now Lviv, Ukraine]·Montecito, California, USA

Height

1.75 m (5'9")

Credits on file

Decades active

Awards

In short · Acted for 11 decades — 44 credits, 3 Tony Award wins.

Remembered for

Ranked by community engagement + sustained interest across this person's credits in our database.

Recent & in release

1956
Award win
Tony Award — Best Actor in a Play
1936
Award win
Volpi Cup For Best Actor — Volpi Cup for Best Actor
1936
Award win
Academy Awards — Oscar — Actor in a Leading Role

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Biography

Paul Muni was born on September 22, 1895, in Lemberg, Austro-Hungarian Empire, to Salli and Phillip Weisenfreund, both of whom were professionals. His family was Jewish and spoke Yiddish. Paul received his education in New York and Cleveland public schools. He was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, with black hair and eyes, and weighing 165 pounds. He joined the Yiddish Art Theatre in New York in 1908 and remained there for four years before moving to other Yiddish theaters. In 1926, he made his first English-language appearance in the play "We Americans." From 1927 to 1928, he appeared in "Four Walls," "This One Man," "Counsellor-at-Law," and other productions. He began his film career with Fox in 1928. Throughout his career, he alternated between Broadway and Hollywood, becoming one of the more distinguished actors in either venue. Failing eyesight and poor health led to his retirement after his appearance in *The Last Angry Man* (1959).