Maurice Moscovich

Maurice Moscovitch
Born Morris Maaskov
(1871-11-23)November 23, 1871
Odessa, Mykolaiv Governorate, Russian Empire
Died June 18, 1940(1940-06-18) (aged 68)
Los Angeles, California US
Resting place Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Years active 1899–1940
Spouse(s) Rose Moscovitch (b.1872 - d. 1944)
Children Anton Maaskoff, Harry Madison, Noel Madison

Maurice Moscovitch (November 23, 1871 – June 18, 1940) was a Russian Jewish theatre actor who appeared in films such as The Great Dictator.

Life and career

Maurice Moscovitch was born in the former Russian Empire in Odessa. He emigrated to the USA on September 20, 1890[1] and performed for decades in the Yiddish theatre in New York and appeared in two 1930 Broadway plays.[2] In the last four years of his life, Moscovitch played supporting roles in 14 films. With his distinctive accent, he mostly portrayed wise, friendly, often Jewish old men. He played a shopkeeper in the highly praised Make Way for Tomorrow (1937) and the art dealer Maurice Cobert in Love Affair (1939) with Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer.

His last film was Charlie Chaplin's Hitler-satire The Great Dictator, in which he played the Barber's friendly Jewish neighbour, Mr. Jaeckel, who flees into exile to his brother.

Maurice Moskovitch died at the age of 68, following surgery. At the time of his death, he was playing the role of a dancing master in Dance, Girl, Dance. His role had to be quickly rewritten for actress Maria Ouspenskaya. He is buried with his wife Rose (1872–1944) at the Beth Olam Cemetery in Hollywood.[3]

He got married to Rose Bouym in 1891[4] and they had three sons. His son Noel Madison (1897-1975) was also a character actor.

Filmography

References

  1. ↑ Passenger list. "Ancestry.com".
  2. ↑ Maurice Moscovich at the Internet Broadway Database
  3. ↑ Maurice Moscovich at Find a Grave
  4. ↑ Marriage date. "Ancestry.com".
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