Theatre Register

Hy Anzell

Shows · Hy Anzell

Actor 1923–2003 On stage 1946–1979

Hy Anzell (September 7, 1923 – August 23, 2003) was a Yiddish-speaking American actor. He originated the role of the flower shop owner, "Mr. Mushnik", in the original off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors with Ellen Greene and Lee Wilkof. He was also in the original 1976 Broadway cast of Checking Out. He appeared in dozens of films and television programs. He had roles in a number of films directed by Woody Allen, beginning with Bananas, and notably including Annie Hall (in which he had his best-known movie role as Uncle Joey Nichols). He died of natural causes at age 79. Anzell was Jewish.

On stage 6 productions, 33 years

1946 Beggar's Holiday Broadway Theatre · Original · directed by Nicholas Ray 111 perf.
1961 Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole Morosco Theatre · Original · directed by Jerome Chodorov 84 perf.
1962 Seidman and Son Belasco Theatre · Original · directed by Carmen Capalbo 216 perf.
1975 Yentl Eugene Oneill Theatre · Original · directed by Robert Kalfin 223 perf.
1976 Checking Out Longacre Theatre · Original · directed by Jerry Adler 15 perf.
1979 Manny Century Theatre · Original · directed by Harold J. Kennedy 31 perf.

Each row is a staging this name appears in the cast list of, read from the production record rather than from the person record. The person record names works instead, and a work cannot say which run somebody was in — that is how Elaine Stritch ends up filed under Show Boat 1927 when she was in the 1994 revival. No row here says what part was played, because no cast list records it.

In the literature6 passages

  • CAST Raymond Serra (Manny), Pierre Epstein who was succeeded by Fredrick Sirasky (Sam), Frances Helm (Gladys), Paul Guskin (Thalberg), Hy Anzell (Harry), Maxine Taylor-Morris (Margarita), Loren Haynes (Eddie, Jr.), Myra Chason (Debbie), Suni Castrilli (Understudy)theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1978-79, v. 35 (Willis).txt
  • THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK with Carl Low, Jacqueline Coslow, Saylor Creswell, Lori Putnam, Sally Mercer, Margot Tenney, Hy Anzell, Joan de Marrais, Gilbert Cole, Eugene Troobnick ABSURDtheatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1978-79, v. 35 (Willis).txt
  • CAST Paul Sorvino (Beep-ity-Beep), Janet Sarno (Gracie), Jay Acovone (Larry), Hy Anzell (Fat the Miser), Michael J. Aronin (Sonny Swap), Frank Bongiorno (Sibby), Leonard D’John (Nunzie Clark Gable), Martin Donegan (E.B.), Ross Fenton (Richie), Andrewtheatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1979-80 Season, v. 36 (Willis).txt
  • Fyvush Finkel, Faith Prince, Brad Moranz Top: Lee Wilkof, Ellen Greene, Hy Anzelltheatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1982-83 Season, v. 39 (Willis).txt
  • Ruth Jaroslow, Mitch Kreindel, Kurt Fuller, Laura Esterman, Hy Anzell in "K vetch" (Martha Swope)theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1986-87 Season, v. 43 (Willis, John).txt
  • from a previous marriage, Khalil McGhee-Anderson, stepdaughters Hannah and Laila, and several sisters. Hy Anzell, 79, New York, New York-born actor, died August 24, 2003, in in Duke Fresno, California, of natural causes. He debuted on Broadway in 1946theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 2003-04 Season, v. 60 (Willis).txt

Passages naming this person, found by keyword across 178 books. A keyword match is not a biography, and a common name will pull in the wrong one.

What this page does not know

  • What this person played. No cast list we hold records a character against a performer.
  • Which of the credits above the roles on this record — actor — apply to. The roles sit on the person and never on a credit, so a director who also acted looks the same here as one who did not.

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