- Sam Levene
Infobox actor
name = Sam Levene
imagesize = 150px
caption = Levene in "The Killers"
birthdate = birth date|1905|8|28|mf=y
birthplace =Russia
deathdate = death date and age|1980|12|28|1905|8|28|mf=y
deathplace =New York City ,United States Sam Levene (
August 28 ,1905 –December 28 ,1980 ) was an American Broadway and filmactor .Born in
Russia , Levene appeared in several Broadway plays andmusicals in the 1930s. In the mid-30s, he moved toHollywood to re-create his stage role in the movie "Three Men on a Horse", followed by "After the Thin Man ", both in 1936. He also appeared in manyfilm noir classics including "The Killers", "Brute Force", and "Crossfire". Levene made 36 films total during his Hollywood career.Levene was nominated for a 1961
Tony Award as Best Actor in a Play for "The Devil's Advocate ". Although not a good vocalist, he can be heard in the role ofNathan Detroit on the original cast recording of the musical "Guys and Dolls ", in which he appeared on Broadway. His solo number, "Sue Me," was written in one octave to compensate for his lack of singing ability. He lost the role toFrank Sinatra in the film adaptation. Levene also starred in the Broadway productions "Dinner at Eight " (1932), "Room Service " (1937), "Light Up the Sky " (1948), "Heartbreak House " (1959), "The Impossible Years " (1965), andNeil Simon 's "The Sunshine Boys " (1972), among many others.Levene's last film role was in the courtroom drama "...And Justice for All" (1979). Levene, who was
Jewish , died of a heart attack inNew York City .External links
*ibdb|15413
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