Job Actor
Years active 1926—1954
Known for Roly-poly, beaming, bespectacled; excitable or befuddled uncles, eccentric neighbors or businessmen
Top Roles Schwab, Adolph Hubbell, Felix Hofer, Uncle Lazlo Lazlo, J. Maxwell Bloomhaus
Top GenresComedy, Musical, Romance, Drama, Biographical, Action
Top TopicsRomance (Comic), Show Business, Broadway
Top Collaborators (Director), (Producer), (Director), (Producer)
Shares birthday with Elaine Stritch, Bonita Granville, George M. Merrick  see more..

S.Z. Sakall Overview:

Character actor, S.Z. Sakall, was born Jacob Gero on Feb 2, 1883 in Budapest, Austria-Hungary [now Hungary]. Sakall died at the age of 72 on Feb 12, 1955 in Los Angeles, CA .

MINI BIO:

Roly-poly and bespectacled, character actor S. Z. 'Cuddles' Sakall appeared in over 100 films, playing his share of excitable or befuddled uncles, and eccentric businessmen or neighbors. He started his career in Hungarian and German silent films and early talkies, but is probably best remembered for his Hollywood era films including The Devil and Miss Jones, Ball of Fire, Casablanca, Christmas in Connecticut, The Dolly Sisters, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Cinderella Jones and In the Good Old Summertime.

"Everything is hunky dunky!" -S. Z. Sakall

(Source: article by Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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BlogHub Articles:

TCM Summer Under the Stars: Day Four — S.Z. “Cuddles” Sakall

By shadowsandsatin on Aug 3, 2020 From Shadows and Satin

was unforgettable. , the featured player for Day Four of TCM?s Summer Under the Stars, is making his first-ever appearance in this annual celebration. Known for his amiable demeanor, his smiling eyes, and a lovable presence that led to his nickname ?Cuddles,? Sakall was never ... Read full article


By Amanda Garrett on Nov 14, 2015 From Old Hollywood Films

Today, I'm looking at the life and career of the beloved old Hollywood character actor . Here he is as Otto Oberkugen in In the Good Old Summertime (1949). This article is part of the What a Character! blogathon hosted by Once Upon a Screen, Outspoken & Freckled, and Paula's Cinema... Read full article


Supporting Players:

By Amanda Garrett on Dec 9, 2014 From Old Hollywood Films

Hungarian actor 's portly frame and fractured English were a much-loved addition to many old Hollywood films in the 1940s and 1950s, including Casablanca, Christmas in Connecticut and In the Good Old Summertime. Sakall was born Jacob Gero on Feb. 2, 1883, in Budapest to a Jewish family... Read full article


Mini Tribute: Character Actor S. Z. “Cuddles” Sakall

By Annmarie Gatti on Feb 2, 2013 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Born February 2, 1883 Character Actor S. Z. “Cuddles” Sakall! Character Actor S. Z. “Cuddles” Sakall appeared in over 100 films. He started his career in Hungarian and German silent films and early talkies, but is probably best remembered for his Hollywood era films including... Read full article


See all articles

S.Z. Sakall Quotes:

Schmidt: He's talking to a salami. He thinks it's a fan dancer.


[after observing the gambling tables at Rick's]
Customer: Are you sure this place is honest?
Carl: Honest? As honest as the day is long!


Alexander Yardley: [Elizabeth's baby needs medical attention] I don't want anything to happen to that baby. It will ruin my circulation.
Felix Bassenak: It won't do the baby no good, neither.


read more quotes from S.Z. Sakall...



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S.Z. Sakall Facts
The initials preceding his name are from the Hungarian for Szoke Szakall, meaning 'blonde beard', so called because he wore one as a young actor to look older.

All three of his sisters perished in Nazi concentration camps.

Second wife was Ann Kardos, who was the sister of László Kardos. László's wife, Lenka, was the sister of director Joe Pasternak.

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