Molly Picon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Molly Picon
|
|
|---|---|
Picon in Car 54, Where Are You? (1962)
|
|
| Born |
Małka Opiekun
February 28, 1898 New York City, US
|
| Died | April 5, 1992 (aged 94) |
| Resting place | Mount Hebron Cemetery, New York City |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1904–1984 |
| Spouse(s) |
Jacob Kalich
(m. 1919; died 1975) |
Molly Picon (born Malka Opiekun) was a famous American actress. She was born on February 28, 1898, and passed away on April 5, 1992. Molly was known for her work in plays, movies, radio, and TV shows. She also wrote songs and told stories.
She started her acting journey in Yiddish theater and films, becoming a big star. Later, she also acted in English-language plays and movies.
Contents
Molly Picon's Early Life
Molly Picon's real name was Malka Opiekun. Her family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when she was three years old.
Molly Picon's Acting Career
Molly became a huge star in the Yiddish Theatre District in New York City. She performed in plays there for seven years. In the 1920s, she was so popular that many shows even had her adopted name, Molly, in their titles. In 1931, she opened her own theater, called the Molly Picon Theatre.
Movies and Radio Shows
Molly Picon acted in many films, starting with silent movies. Her first films were made in Europe. One of her earliest and most famous Yiddish-language films was East and West. This movie was made in Vienna in 1923. It showed the differences between Jewish cultures in the "New World" (like America) and the "Old World" (like Eastern Europe). In the film, Molly played a young woman from the US who travels with her father to Galicia.
In 1934, Molly had her own musical comedy radio show called The Molly Picon Program. It was broadcast on WMCA in New York City. She also starred in other radio shows, like I Give You My Life and Molly Picon's Parade.
English-Language Roles
Molly Picon started acting in English-language plays in 1940. On Broadway, she starred in the musical Milk and Honey in 1961.
Her first big English movie role was in Come Blow Your Horn (1963), where she acted with Frank Sinatra. One of her most famous movie roles was playing Yente the Matchmaker in the 1971 film Fiddler on the Roof.
Molly also appeared in many TV shows. She played Molly Gordon in an episode of Gomer Pyle, USMC. She also had a regular role as Mrs. Bronson in the comedy show Car 54, Where Are You?. Later, she appeared in the movie For Pete's Sake (1974). Her last roles were playing Roger Moore's mother in the comedies Cannonball Run (1981) and Cannonball Run II (1984).
Molly Picon's Books
Molly Picon wrote two books about her life. In 1962, she wrote So Laugh a Little, which was about her family. In 1980, she published her autobiography, Molly!, which told her own life story.
Molly Picon's Personal Life
Molly Picon was married to actor and playwright Jacob Kalich. They were married from 1919 until he passed away in 1975. They did not have any children.
Molly Picon's Legacy
Molly Picon left behind a lasting impact:
- A room filled with her special items was displayed at the Second Avenue Deli in New York City.
- A Broadway theater was briefly named the Molly Picon Theatre in 1943.
- She was recognized for her amazing work and was added to the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1981.
- A play about her life, called Picon Pie, was performed off-Broadway from 2004 to 2005.
- In 2007, she was featured in a film called Making Trouble, which celebrated Jewish female comedians.
- Some of the costumes she wore in her plays are now shown at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia.
Filmography
Molly Picon appeared in many films and TV shows throughout her career. Here are some of them:
- 1923 – East and West as Mollie
- 1936 – Yiddle with His Fiddle as Itke aka Judel
- 1938 – Mamele as Khavtshi Samet aka Mamele
- 1948 – The Naked City as a Soda-Selling Shopkeeper
- 1961-1963 – Car 54, Where Are You? as Mrs. Rachel Bronson (3 episodes)
- 1963 – Come Blow Your Horn as Mrs. Sophie Baker
- 1968 – Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. as Molly Gordon (1 episode)
- 1971 – Fiddler on the Roof as Yente
- 1974 – For Pete's Sake as Mrs. Cherry
- 1981 – The Cannonball Run as Mom Goldfarb
- 1984 – Cannonball Run II as Mom Goldfarb
Images for kids
-
Picon in Car 54, Where Are You? (1962)
-
Jacob Kalich (second from left), Picon's husband, in the comedy play Mezrach und Maarev, 1921
-
Picon and Jim Nabors in Gomer Pyle USMC (1968)
See also
In Spanish: Molly Picon para niños
