Salem Ludwig

Salem Ludwig
Born(1915-07-31)July 31, 1915
DiedApril 1, 2007(2007-04-01) (aged 91)
Years active1938 - 2007

Salem Ludwig (July 31, 1915 – April 1, 2007) was an American character actor and highly esteemed acting instructor.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Ludwig was blacklisted in 1957 and could only find minimal stage work. He had many film and television credits and remained active, even after his 90th birthday, until his death at age 91. A biographical film, An Actor's Life was made by budding director/actress Carol Schaye, who wanted to portray actors as talented, working individuals rather than just the character they see.[1] He was represented by Theatrical Agent Archer King.

He is known for many films including: Life on the Ledge (2005, Grandfather), Unfaithful (2002, Man with Suitcase), The Business of Strangers (2001, Man at Pool), Fast Food, Fast Women (2000, Leo), The Object of My Affection (1998, Mr Shapiro), I'm Not Rappaport (1996, Walter), For Love Or Money (1993, Customer), Family Business (1989, Nat), Heartburn (1986, Judge), Endless Love (1981, Mr Switzer), The Arab Conspiracy (1976, Ghassan Kaddara), I Love You, Alice B. Toklas (1968, Mr Fine), What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968), Three Sisters (1966, Ferapont), America, America (1963, Odysseus Topouzoglou), and Never Love a Stranger (1958, Moishe Moscowitz).

His television roles included attorney Solomon Rabinowitz, in an early episode of All in the Family Rabinowitz memorably advised Archie Bunker not to pursue a whiplash case, telling him "In a court of law, you can't beat a station wagon full of nuns." (The nuns would all have been witnesses against Archie.) He also played 2 roles on the NBC-TV afternoon daytime soap opera The Doctors in 1967 as Dr. Roth and again in 1975 as George Watson. in 1985 he played Jules Rosenfeld, the dry cleaner, in the CBS-TV comedy series Kate & Allie.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1958 Never Love a Stranger Moishe Moscowitz
1963 America, America Odysseus Topouzoglou
1966 Three Sisters Ferapont
1968 What's So Bad About Feeling Good? Witter Uncredited
1968 I Love You, Alice B. Toklas Mr. Fine
1974 The Rehearsal
1976 The Arab Conspiracy Ghassan Kaddara
1981 Endless Love Mr Switzer
1986 Heartburn Judge
1986 Désordre Réceptionniste
1989 Family Business Nat
1993 For Love Or Money Customer
1996 I'm Not Rappaport Waiter
1997 Lesser Prophets Uncle Paulie
1998 Wrestling with Alligators Old Man
1998 The Object of My Affection Mr Shapiro
2000 Fast Food Fast Women Leo
2001 The Business of Strangers Man at Pool
2002 Unfaithful Man with Suitcase
2005 Life on the Ledge Grandfather
2007 The Savages Mr. Sperry
2009 A Killing on Brighton Beach Moisheh (final film role)

References