Eli Mintz facts for kids
Eli Mintz (born Edward Satz, 1 August 1904 – 8 June 1988) was an American actor. He was known for playing Uncle David in The Goldbergs TV show and movie. Eli Mintz was born in what is now Lviv, Ukraine, and later moved to the United States to become an actor.
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Eli Mintz's Early Life and Career
Eli Mintz was born in a city called Lemberg in 1904. His father was a tailor. Eli started acting when he was a child in the theater. His very first play was called The Dybbuk.
In 1927, Eli came to the United States. He worked on a steamship called Lituania as a waiter. He wanted to become an actor in America, just like his brother, Ludwig Satz, who was already acting in New York City.
Before he became a full-time actor, Eli worked different jobs in New York City. He was a waiter, a presser (someone who irons clothes), and a clothing salesman. In the 1930s, he finally started getting acting jobs in Yiddish theater. Yiddish theater was a type of play performed in the Yiddish language, which was spoken by many Jewish people. At this time, he chose the stage name Eli Mintz. He did this so his acting career would be separate from his brother's.
Becoming a Star: The Goldbergs
Eli Mintz got his first big acting chance in 1948. He was chosen to play Uncle David in a Broadway play called Me and Molly. This play was based on a very popular radio show called The Goldbergs.
Another actor, Menasha Skulnick, usually played Uncle David on the radio. But he couldn't do the play. Since Menasha Skulnick was Eli's friend, he suggested that Eli get the role. Eli did such a great job as Uncle David that he was asked to play the part again. He played Uncle David in The Goldbergs television show, which was on TV from 1949 to 1956. He also played the character in The Goldbergs movie in 1950.
Later Career and Life
After The Goldbergs TV show ended, Eli Mintz kept acting. He performed in many plays on Broadway. Some of these plays included The 49th Cousin (1960–1961) and Jimmy Shine (1968–1969).
He also appeared in several movies. These included The Proud Rebel (1958), Murder, Inc. (1960), and Stardust Memories (1980). Eli Mintz was also in many TV shows. He appeared on shows like Studio One and Ben Casey. In 1980, he was even nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award. This was for his role as a character named Locksmith on the TV show All My Children.
Eli Mintz was married to Hasha, and they had two daughters, Leona and Iva. He also had four grandchildren. Eli Mintz passed away in 1988 at the age of 83. He died from pneumonia in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.
Eli Mintz's Films
- She (1935) - (uncredited role)
- The Goldbergs (1950) - Uncle David
- The Proud Rebel (1958) - Mr. Gorman
- Murder, Inc. (1960) - Joe Rosen
- Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) - Tailor
- Boardwalk (1979) - Friedman
- Stardust Memories (1980) - Old Man (his last film role)
