Josh Mostel

Biography

Josh Mostel is an American actor known for supporting roles in film and on Broadway. Born in New York City in 1946, he is the son of the comic actor Zero Mostel, and he began his performing life singing boy soprano parts with the Metropolitan Opera in New York before earning a degree from Brandeis University. His Broadway debut came in 1971 with Unlikely Heroes, and in 1973 he played Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar, one of his more notable film performances. He went on to appear in Harry and Tonto (1974), Sophie's Choice (1982), City Slickers (1991), Billy Madison (1995) and Big Daddy (1999). On television he portrayed Blotto Blutarsky in the 1979 series Delta House, and his stage credits include The Threepenny Opera, My Favorite Year and Getting Away With Murder. He also had a role in Wall Street as the trader Ollie.

79years old

Turns 80 on December 21in 69 days

Born December 21, 1946New York City
Star sign: SagittariusLast day of the sign, on the Capricorn cusp
Also credited as Joshua Mostel and Joshua Elias Mostel

Movie Career

Films: 27
Career span: 53 years1972 to 2025

Genres

Drama59%, 16 films
Comedy44%, 12 films
Crime15%, 4 films
Romance11%, 3 films
Adventure7%, 2 films

First and latest

Josh Mostel movies on Netflix

Bad Shabbos2025IMDb rating 6.4as Saul
Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles2019IMDb rating 7.6as Himself
Beneath the Harvest Sky2013IMDb rating 6.1as Principal
State of Play2009IMDb rating 7.1as Pete
Big Daddy1999IMDb rating 6.5as Arthur Brooks
The Out-of-Towners1999IMDb rating 5.5as Dr. Faber
Great Expectations1998IMDb rating 6.8as Jerry Ragno
Rounders1998IMDb rating 7.3as Zagosh
Billy Madison1995IMDb rating 6.4as Principal Max Anderson
The Basketball Diaries1995IMDb rating 7.3as Counterman
The Maddening1995IMDb rating 4.8as Chicky Ross
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold1994IMDb rating 5.6as Barry Shalowitz
The Chase1994IMDb rating 5.9as Officer Figus
Searching for Bobby Fischer1993IMDb rating 7.3as Chess Club Regular
Tracey Ullman Takes on New York1993IMDb rating 8.2
City Slickers1991IMDb rating 6.8as Barry Shalowitz
City of Hope1991IMDb rating 7.3as Mad Anthony
Little Man Tate1991IMDb rating 6.6as Physics Professor
Naked Tango1990IMDb rating 5.7as Bertoni the Jeweler
Matewan1987IMDb rating 7.9as Mayor Cabell Testerman
Radio Days1987IMDb rating 7.4as Abe
The Money Pit1986IMDb rating 6.4as Jack Schnittman
Star 801983IMDb rating 6.8as Private Detective
Sophie's Choice1982IMDb rating 7.5as Morris Fink
Harry and Tonto1974IMDb rating 7.3as Norman
Jesus Christ Superstar1973IMDb rating 7.4as King Herod
The King of Marvin Gardens1972IMDb rating 6.4as Frank

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Billy Madison1995 Comedyas Principal Max Anderson
IMDb rating 6.4169K votes
Big Daddy1999 Comedy, Dramaas Arthur Brooks
IMDb rating 6.5254K votes
State of Play2009as Pete
IMDb rating 7.1168K votes
The Money Pit1986as Jack Schnittman
IMDb rating 6.468K votes
Great Expectations1998as Jerry Ragno
IMDb rating 6.861K votes
Sophie's Choice1982as Morris Fink
IMDb rating 7.556K votes
Jesus Christ Superstar1973as King Herod
IMDb rating 7.433K votes
City Slickers1991as Barry Shalowitz
IMDb rating 6.868K votes

Most often with

John Sayles directed two of these films. David Paymer appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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David Paymer

Joe Grifasi

David Strathairn

Ellen Burstyn

Adam Sandler

Jack Palance

John SaylesDirector, 2 films

Films together

David Paymer4 films together, 1991 to 2025
David Paymer's page
- Bad Shabbos2025IMDb rating 6.4Mostel as SaulPaymer as Richard
- City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold1994IMDb rating 5.6Mostel as Barry ShalowitzPaymer as Ira Shalowitz
- Searching for Bobby Fischer1993IMDb rating 7.3Mostel as Chess Club RegularPaymer as Kalev
- City Slickers1991IMDb rating 6.8Mostel as Barry ShalowitzPaymer as Ira Shalowitz
Joe Grifasi3 films together, 1987 to 1999
Joe Grifasi's page
- The Out-of-Towners1999IMDb rating 5.5Mostel as Dr. FaberGrifasi as Arresting Cop
- City of Hope1991IMDb rating 7.3Mostel as Mad AnthonyGrifasi as Pauly
- Matewan1987IMDb rating 7.9Mostel as Mayor Cabell TestermanGrifasi as Fausto
David Strathairn2 films together, 1987 to 1991
David Strathairn's page
- City of Hope1991IMDb rating 7.3Mostel as Mad AnthonyStrathairn as Asteroid
- Matewan1987IMDb rating 7.9Mostel as Mayor Cabell TestermanStrathairn as Police Chief Sid Hatfield
Ellen Burstyn2 films together, 1972 to 1974
Ellen Burstyn's page
- Harry and Tonto1974IMDb rating 7.3Mostel as NormanBurstyn as Shirley
- The King of Marvin Gardens1972IMDb rating 6.4Mostel as FrankBurstyn as Sally
Adam Sandler2 films together, 1995 to 1999
Adam Sandler's page
- Big Daddy1999IMDb rating 6.5Mostel as Arthur BrooksSandler as Sonny Koufax
- Billy Madison1995IMDb rating 6.4Mostel as Principal Max AndersonSandler as Billy Madison
Jack Palance2 films together, 1991 to 1994
Jack Palance's page
- City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold1994IMDb rating 5.6Mostel as Barry ShalowitzPalance as Duke Washburn
- City Slickers1991IMDb rating 6.8Mostel as Barry ShalowitzPalance as Curly
John SaylesDirector, 2 films, 1987 to 1991
All films by John Sayles
- City of Hope1991IMDb rating 7.3Mostel as Mad Anthony
- Matewan1987IMDb rating 7.9Mostel as Mayor Cabell Testerman
Also two films together13 more actors
- Jeff DanielsState of Play (2009) and Radio Days (1987)
- Chris CooperGreat Expectations (1998) and Matewan (1987)
- Joe MantegnaSearching for Bobby Fischer (1993) and The Money Pit (1986)
- Billy CrystalCity Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) and City Slickers (1991)
- Daniel SternCity Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) and City Slickers (1991)
- Kristy SwansonBig Daddy (1999) and The Chase (1994)
- Noble WillinghamCity Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) and City Slickers (1991)
- Bruno KirbyThe Basketball Diaries (1995) and City Slickers (1991)
- Kevin TigheCity of Hope (1991) and Matewan (1987)
- Nell CampbellGreat Expectations (1998) and Tracey Ullman Takes on New York (1993)
- Jace AlexanderCity of Hope (1991) and Matewan (1987)
- Patricia WettigCity Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) and City Slickers (1991)
- Lindsay CrystalCity Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) and City Slickers (1991)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Josh Mostel's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$892 million

19 of the 27 films have a worldwide figure.

19Worldwide figure
4US gross only
1Never in cinemas
3Figure not found

Top grosser

Big Daddy1999Arthur Brooks$235 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 83% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Big Daddy1999as Arthur Brooks
$235M26.3% of the total
2
City Slickers1991as Barry Shalowitz
$179M20.1% of the total
3
State of Play2009as Pete
$88M9.8% of the total
4
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold1994as Barry Shalowitz
$72M8.1% of the total
5
Great Expectations1998as Jerry Ragno
$55M6.2% of the total
6
The Money Pit1986as Jack Schnittman
$55M6.2% of the total
7
Sophie's Choice1982as Morris Fink
$30M3.4% of the total
8
The Out-of-Towners1999as Dr. Faber
$29M3.3% of the total