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Maurice Moscovich

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Maurice Moscovich
Born
Morris Maaskov

(1871-11-23)November 23, 1871
Odessa, Russian Empire
DiedJune 18, 1940(1940-06-18) (aged 68)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeHollywood Forever Cemetery
Years active1936–1940
SpouseRose Moscovich
Children3, including Noel Madison

Maurice Moscovich (born Morris Maaskov; November 23, 1871 – June 18, 1940) was a Russian American actor who was well-known for his roles in Yiddish theatre. His 14 films, which he made at the end of his life, include Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator.

Life and career

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Maurice Moscovich was born Morris Maaskov in Odessa, Tsarist Russia. He emigrated to the United States no later than 1897 and performed for decades in the Yiddish theatre in New York and appeared in two 1930 Broadway plays.[1]

In the last four years of his life, Moscovitch played supporting roles in 14 films. With his distinctive accent, he portrayed mostly wise and friendly old men, often with Jewish background. 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 Moskovich 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. The couple had three sons, including actor Noel Madison (1897-1975).

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1936 Winterset Esdras
1937 Make Way for Tomorrow Max Rubens
Lancer Spy Gen. Von Meinhardt
1938 Gateway Grandpa Hlawek
Suez Mohammed Ali
1939 Love Affair Maurice Cobert
Susannah of the Mounties Chief Big Eagle
In Name Only Dr. Muller
Rio Old Convict
The Great Commandment Lamech
Everything Happens at Night Dr. Hugo Norden
1940 South to Karanga Paul Stacco
The Great Dictator Mr. Jaeckel

References

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