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Paul Muni Biography

Birth Name:Meshilem Meier Weisenfrund

Birth Place:Lviv, Ukraine

Profession Actor, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Received an Oscar nomination for both his first and last screen appearances, "The Valiant" from 1929 and "The Last Angry Man" in 1959
Born to an acting family, he developed an affinity for makeup and often began playing characters much older while still in his teens
Quote: "I don-t want to be a star․ If you have to label me anything, I'm an actor - I guess․ A journeyman actor․ I think 'star' is what you call actors who can't act․"
After making his Broadway debut in 1926, he was signed to Fox Studios three years later and subsequently landed his first Oscar nomination with "The Valiant"
Despite only appearing in 25 films over the course of his career, he would become well-known for his biographical films, many roles for which he would complete rigorous preparations for prior to filming
Forced to remove his left eye via surgery in 1955, but would return to the stage only months later