1. Shmuel Rodensky was a Russian-born Israeli actor whose stage, film, and television career in Israel and West Germany spanned six decades.
27 Facts About Shmuel Rodensky
1. 2.
Shmuel Rodensky immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1924 and studied drama at the Eretz Israel Theatre in Tel Aviv.
3.
In 1968 Rodensky traveled to Hamburg to join the German-language production of Fiddler on the Roof, playing the lead role of Tevye the Dairyman.
4.
Shmuel Rodensky performed this role more than 1,400 times throughout West Germany and Switzerland.
5.
Shmuel Rodensky was the recipient of numerous honors in both Israel and West Germany, including the Federal Service Cross from the Federal Republic of Germany and the Israel Prize.
6.
Shmuel Rodensky was born in Smorgon, Russian Empire, in 1902.
7.
Shmuel Rodensky then traveled to Poland, entered Hamburg, Germany, on a forged Polish passport, and finally immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1924.
8.
Shmuel Rodensky studied at the studio of drama at the Eretz Israel Theatre in Tel Aviv and performed with a number of theatre companies between 1928 and 1948, including the Eretz Israel Theatre, Hakumkum, and Hamatate.
9.
At Habima, Shmuel Rodensky performed a wide variety of dramatic roles, including Iago in Othello and the cardinal in The Deputy.
10.
Shmuel Rodensky performed satire, as in Ephraim Kishon's 1953 play Yiddishpiel.
11.
Shmuel Rodensky formed a third, satirical trio with Jacob Timen and Esther Gamlielit of Hamatate.
12.
In 1965, Shmuel Rodensky replaced Bomba Tzur in the role of Tevye the Dairyman in the second year of the Israeli production of the musical Fiddler on the Roof, staged at the Godik Theater.
13.
Shmuel Rodensky went on to appear in 350 performances in Israel.
14.
Shmuel Rodensky briefly acted in a Yiddish-language production of the musical which was not as successful as the Hebrew-language ones.
15.
Shmuel Rodensky reprised the role of Tevye on screen in the 1968 Israeli film Tevye and His Seven Daughters.
16.
In 1968 Shmuel Rodensky traveled to Hamburg to join the German-language production of Fiddler on the Roof, titled Anatevka, which premiered on February 1.
17.
Shmuel Rodensky became popular throughout West Germany for his portrayal of Tevye, performing the role more than 1,400 times.
18.
Shmuel Rodensky appeared on the German-language recording of the Hamburg premiere.
19.
The last play in which Shmuel Rodensky acted was "The Spine", which premiered on January 10,1988 at the Habima Theatre.
20.
Shmuel Rodensky first appeared on screen in the 1935 Israeli film Zot Hi Ha'aretz.
21.
Shmuel Rodensky was cast as Reb Pinchas in the Israeli film Shnei Kuni Lemel, which was the Israeli entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1966.
22.
Shmuel Rodensky appeared in other film and television roles in West Germany and Switzerland.
23.
Shmuel Rodensky received numerous honors and awards in Israel and West Germany.
24.
Shmuel Rodensky was named a Worthy Citizen of Tel Aviv in 1982.
25.
Shmuel Rodensky received the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement in 1983 and the Meyer Margalit Prize in 1984.
26.
Shmuel Rodensky met his wife, stage actress Raya Nura Shein, when both were studying at the Eretz Israel Theatre.
27.
Shmuel Rodensky died of a heart attack in Tel Aviv on 18 July 1989.