Josh Mostel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Josh Mostel
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Mostel in 2016
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| Born | December 21, 1946 New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–present |
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Joshua "Josh" Mostel (born December 21, 1946) is an American actor who has appeared in many movies and on Broadway plays. He is the son of the famous comic actor Zero Mostel.
Josh Mostel is best known for his roles in popular films. You might recognize him from movies like Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), City Slickers (1991), Billy Madison (1995), and Big Daddy (1999).
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Early Life and Family
Josh Mostel was born in New York City. His father, Zero Mostel, was a well-known actor famous for his funny roles. His mother, Kathryn Celia Harkin, was an actress, dancer, and writer. Growing up in a family of performers helped shape his future career.
Mostel's brother, Tobias Mostel, is a talented artist. He works with paint and ceramics and teaches art at colleges in Florida.
Acting Career
Starting on Stage
Mostel's career began in a very special way. As a child, he was a boy soprano, which is a young male singer with a high-pitched voice. He performed at the famous Metropolitan Opera in New York.
After graduating from Brandeis University, he made his first appearance on Broadway in 1971 in a play called Unlikely Heroes. He later appeared in other Broadway shows, including The Threepenny Opera in 1989 and My Favorite Year in 1992.
Famous Movie Roles
In 1973, Mostel played one of his most memorable movie roles as King Herod in the musical film Jesus Christ Superstar. This role helped make him a familiar face to audiences.
Throughout his career, he has played many supporting characters. He was one of Gordon Gekko's traders in Wall Street (1987). Many people know him as Barry Shalowitz in the comedy City Slickers (1991) and its sequel. He also played Principal Max Anderson in the Adam Sandler movie Billy Madison (1995) and Arthur Brooks in Big Daddy (1999).
Selected Roles
Josh Mostel has acted in dozens of movies and television shows. Here are some of his most well-known roles.
Popular Films
- Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) - as King Herod
- Harry and Tonto (1974) - as Norman Coombes
- Wall Street (1987) - as Ollie
- City Slickers (1991) - as Barry Shalowitz
- Billy Madison (1995) - as Principal Max Anderson
- The Basketball Diaries (1995) - as Counterman
- Rounders (1998) - as Zagosh
- Big Daddy (1999) - as Arthur Brooks
- State of Play (2009) - as Pete
Television Appearances
- The Equalizer (1987)
- Law & Order (2003)
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2012)
- Blue Bloods (2015)
- Hunters (2020)
