Born in Brooklyn the third of four sons of Jewish immigrant tailor, Harry Finkel, from Warsaw, Poland, and his wife Mary, from Minsk, then part of Russia.
Born Philip Finkel, but adopted the Yiddish translation for Philip (Fyvush) for his career.
Fyvush appeared in the touring company of "Fiddler On The Roof" for 12 years. Initially he performed the role of the innkeeper, but ultimately assumed the lead role of Tevye.
Fyvush is Yiddish for Phillip, a name he used in school.
Has two sons: Ian, a musical arranger, and Elliot, a concert pianist.
In 2007, the 85-year-old character actor appeared in David Ives' play "New Jerusalem" at the Classic Stage Company in New York City. Finkel played a synagogue board member in the show, which focused on the 1656 banishment of philosopher Baruch de Spinoza from Amsterdam's Jewish community.