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Sam Levene

Sam Levene was an American  Broadway and film actor. Born in Russia, Levene appeared in several Broadway plays and musicals in the 1930s. In the mid-30s, he moved to Hollywood to re-create his stage role in the movie Three Men on a Horse, followed by After the Thin Man, both in 1936. He played a small but vital role in the 1939 film classic Golden Boy as William Holden's taxi driving brother-in-law "Siggie". He also appeared in many film noir classics including The Killers, Brute Force, and Crossfire. Sam Levene appeared in 49 films total during his Hollywood career. Levene was nominated for a 1961 Tony Award as Best Actor in a Play for The Devil's Advocate. Although not a good vocalist, he can be heard in the role of Nathan Detroit on the original cast recording of the musical Guys and Dolls, in which he appeared on Broadway. His solo number, "Sue Me," was written in one octave to compensate for his lack of singing ability. He lost the role to Frank Sinatra in the film adaptation. Levene also starred in the Broadway productions Dinner at Eight (1932), Room Service (1937), Light Up the Sky (1948), Heartbreak House (1959), The Impossible Years (1965), and Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys (1972), among many others. Levene's last film role was in the courtroom drama ...And Justice for All (1979). Levene died of a heart attack in New York City.


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Born:
Aug 28, 1905 In Russia
Movie/TV Credits:
50
First Appeared:
In the movie The Talk of Hollywood 1929-12-10
Latest Project:
Movie James Stewart: A Wonderful Life 1988-11-22
Known For
Poster of The Money
Poster of I Dood It
Poster of Three Men on a Horse
Filmography
Movie James Stewart: A Wonderful Life Self (archive footage) 1988-11-22
Movie Last Embrace Sam Urdell 1979-05-04
Movie ...And Justice for All Arnie 1979-10-19
Movie The Royal Family Oscar Wolfe 1977-11-09
Movie The Money Lou Maurice 1976-05-31
Movie God Told Me To Everett Lukas 1976-10-22
Movie Such Good Friends Uncle Eddie 1971-12-16
Movie A Dream of Kings Cicero 1969-12-15
Movie Act One Richard Maxwell 1963-12-26
Movie The World of Sholom Aleichem Mendele 1959-12-14
Movie Kathy O' Ben Melnick 1958-09-24
Movie Designing Woman Ned Hammerstein 1957-05-16
Movie Sweet Smell of Success Frank D' Angelo 1957-07-04
Movie Slaughter on 10th Avenue Howard Rysdale 1957-09-01
Movie The Opposite Sex Mike Pearl 1956-11-15
Movie Three Sailors and a Girl Joe Woods 1953-11-23
Series Omnibus Unknown 1952-11-09
Movie Guilty Bystander Captain Tonetti 1950-04-20
Movie With These Hands Alexander Brody 1950-06-15
Series The Colgate Comedy Hour Unknown 1950-09-10
Movie Dial 1119 John D. Faron 1950-11-03
Movie The Babe Ruth Story Phil Conrad 1948-09-16
Series Studio One Unknown 1948-11-07
Movie Boomerang! Morning Record's Reporter Dave Woods 1947-02-28
Movie A Likely Story Louie 1947-04-18
Movie Crossfire Samuels 1947-08-15
Movie Brute Force Louie Miller #7033 1947-07-16
Movie Killer McCoy Happy 1947-12-01
Movie The Killers Lt. Sam Lubinsky 1946-08-30
Movie The Purple Heart Lt. Wayne Greenbaum 1944-02-25
Movie Follow the Boys Sgt. Leo Andreof (archive footage) (uncredited) 1944-05-05
Movie Action in the North Atlantic Abel 'Chips' Abrams 1943-06-12
Movie I Dood It Ed Jackson 1943-09-01
Movie Shoe Shine Boy Lucky 1943-12-25
Movie Whistling in Brooklyn Creeper 1943-12-01
Movie Gung Ho! Leo 'Transport' Andreof 1943-12-20
Movie Grand Central Murder Inspector Gunther 1942-05-01
Movie Sing Your Worries Away Smiley Clark 1942-03-06
Movie The Big Street Horsethief 1942-08-13
Movie Sunday Punch Roscoe 1942-05-08
Movie Destination Unknown Victor, Elena's Aide 1942-10-09
Movie Married Bachelor Cookie Farrar 1941-10-16
Movie Shadow of the Thin Man Lieutenant Abrams 1941-11-21
Movie Golden Boy Siggie 1939-09-05
Movie Yellow Jack Busch 1938-05-19
Movie The Mad Miss Manton Lieutenant Brent 1938-10-21
Movie The Shopworn Angel 'Leer' 1938-07-15
Movie Three Men on a Horse Patsy 1936-11-21
Movie After the Thin Man Lt. Abrams 1936-12-25
Movie The Talk of Hollywood Film Buyer 1929-12-10