Louis Zorich facts for kids

Louis Zorich (born February 12, 1924 – died January 30, 2018) was an American actor. He was known for playing Burt Buchman, the father of Paul Buchman, in the TV show Mad About You. This popular show was on NBC from 1993 to 1999.

Early Life and Education

Louis Zorich was born in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were immigrants from Croatia. He went to Earle Elementary School. Later, he studied at Roosevelt University. He also attended the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago. This school is now part of DePaul University. Louis's nephew, Chris Zorich, became a professional football player. Louis Zorich served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Theatre Career

Zorich started his career on Broadway in 1961. His first show was Becket, starring famous actors Laurence Olivier and Anthony Quinn. In 1969, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in Hadrian VII.

In 1973, Zorich and his wife started their own theatre company. It was called the Whole Theatre Company. It was the first professional theatre in Montclair, New Jersey. They ran the theatre for 18 years.

In 1976, Zorich was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. This was for his role as Tony in the play They Knew What They Wanted. Tony was a grape farmer from Napa Valley. In 1993, he played Mr. Maraczek in the Broadway musical She Loves Me. Zorich once said that actors often feel nervous before going on stage. He also taught acting at HB Studio in New York City.

Film and Television Roles

Louis Zorich appeared in many movies and TV shows. In the movie Fiddler on the Roof (1971), he played the Russian Constable. He was also a cab dispatcher in the comedy For Pete's Sake (1974).

In The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), Zorich played a kind Greek restaurant owner. A critic said he was "funny as a nice, helpful, harassed coffee-shop owner." He played Ben, the older brother of Willy Loman, in a TV movie of Death of a Salesman (1985). Zorich also appeared as a rich millionaire in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988). He was in an episode of the crime show Columbo.

He co-starred in the TV series Brooklyn Bridge. In this show, he played the family grandfather, Jules Berger. He once said that this role was the best match for his personality. He felt he was easygoing, just like the character. He also mentioned that TV shows like Brooklyn Bridge helped actors become more well-known.

Personal Life

Louis Zorich was married to Olympia Dukakis. She was an Academy Award-winning actress. They were married for 56 years, from 1962 until his death. They had three children together. Louis Zorich passed away in his apartment in Manhattan. He was 93 years old when he died on January 30, 2018.

Filmography