Maurice Schwartz

Biography

Maurice Schwartz was an actor of the stage and screen who worked mainly in the United States and founded the Yiddish Art Theatre in New York City in 1918. A native of the Volhynia province in the Russian Empire, he rejoined his family on the Lower East Side after immigrating as a boy. He acted with traveling troupes and then joined David Kessler's Second Avenue Theatre company in 1911. With the Yiddish Art Theatre he produced a rotating repertoire of 150 plays until 1950 and ran an associated school that helped develop actors such as Paul Muni. His most praised roles included Shylock in The Merchant of Venice and the title role in King Lear. His Broadway work included The Inspector General and Anathema in 1928. His screen work included Tevye (1939), Mission to Moscow (1943), and Salome (1953).

69years old at death

Born June 18, 1890Sudylkiv
Died May 10, 1960Petah Tikva
Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
Also credited as Avram Moishe Schwartz

Movie Career

Films: 3
Career span: 14 years1939 to 1953

Every film, newest first

1953SalomeIMDb rating 5.8
1943Mission to MoscowIMDb rating 5.4
1939TevyeIMDb rating 6.8

Genres

Did you know?!

Behind the camera
Schwartz founded the Yiddish Art Theatre in 1918 by leasing the Irving Place Theatre in New York, aiming for a company devoted to superior literary works that would bring honor to the Yiddish stage.
Behind the camera
Schwartz started a school tied to his theater the next year, believing an actor learned from taking on many roles; Paul Muni played 40 roles in his productions.
First role
Schwartz was drawn to Hollywood through his acting success and made his silent film debut in 1910. Over the years 1910 to 1953 he acted in more than twenty films, mostly silents, and on several he also wrote, produced or directed.