12 Facts About Joseph Wiseman

Joseph Wiseman was a Canadian-American theatre, film, and television actor.

Joseph Wiseman starred as the villain Julius No in the first James Bond film, Dr No, in 1962.

Joseph Wiseman was known for his role as crime boss Manny Weisbord on the television series Crime Story and his lengthy career on Broadway, where he was once called "the spookiest actor in the American theatre".

Wiseman was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Jewish parents Louis and Pearl Wiseman and was raised in New York City, United States.

Joseph Wiseman was an alumnus of John Adams High School, Queens, New York, and graduated June 1935, as was his Dr No co-star, Jack Lord.

Joseph Wiseman made his first major film appearance in 1951's Detective Story, where he recreated his performance from Broadway as an unstable small-time hood.

Joseph Wiseman's role as the titular Dr No in the first James Bond film by Eon Productions was a decision of producer Harry Saltzman, who cast Joseph Wiseman in the role in December 1961.

Joseph Wiseman had roles in a wide variety of other films: The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Seize the Day, Bye Bye Braverman.

Joseph Wiseman married Nell Kinard on August 25,1943, in New York, but they eventually divorced May 15,1964, in Durham, NC.

Joseph Wiseman was married to dancer, teacher and choreographer Pearl Lang from 1964 until her death in February 2009.

Joseph Wiseman had a daughter with Kinard, Martha Graham Wiseman.

Joseph Wiseman died on October 19,2009, at his home in Manhattan, aged 91, having been in declining health for some time.