Fyvush Finkel
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Fyvush Finkel (born October 9, 1923 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American actor. He is famous for his role as lawyer Douglas Wambaugh on the television series Picket Fences, for which he earned an Emmy Award in 1994. He is also known for his portrayal of Harvey Lipschultz, a crotchety old United States History teacher, on the FOX TV series Boston Public. Finkel has made guest appearances on Hollywood Squares, The Simpsons, and Chicago Hope.
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[edit] Early career
Portly and grandfatherly, with what some might consider stereotypical Jewish mannerisms, Finkel was a fifty-year veteran of Yiddish theater whose career received a shot in the arm in the early 90s as he became a regular on the acclaimed CBS dramatic series Picket Fences(1992-96). Finkel first appeared on the stage at the age of nine, acting for almost thirty-five years in the thriving Yiddish theaters of the Lower East Side as well as performing as a standup comic in the Catskill's so-called Borscht Belt. While never a big star, he worked regularly until the venues began dying out in the early 1960s. He landed a small part in the national touring company of Fiddler on the Roof (1965), eventually making his Broadway debut in the role of Tevye the milkman in 1970 in the long-running Broadway company. Between Broadway and the touring company Finkel spent twelve years with the production. Nearly two decades later, Finkel's work in the New York Shakespeare Festival production of a Yiddish classic Crown Cafe (1989) earned him an OBIE Award.
[edit] Recent Career
Finkel made his film debut in the detective comedy Off Beat (1986) and more small roles in films followed. It was his appearance as a shyster lawyer in Sidney Lumet's "Q & A" (1990) that led "Picket Fences" producer-writer David E. Kelley to cast Finkel in the regular role of public defender Douglas Wambaugh. Though the character was not conceived as Jewish, Finkel brought that quality to Wambaugh, a man who though at times may act a bit deviously, is fundamentally concerned with providing his clients with the best defense possible. For the role Finkel earned a 1994 Emmy Award, announcing at the televised ceremonies that he had waited 51 years for that moment. Following the end of Picket Fences, the actor had a regular role on the short-lived revival of Fantasy Island (ABC, 1998) and then reteamed with writer-producer Kelley to play the spunky history teacher Harvey Lipschultz in Boston Public (Fox, 2000-2004).
[edit] Awards
- American Comedy Award Picket Fences 1993.
- Emmy Best Supporting Actor in a Dramatic Series Picket Fences 1993-1994.
- OBIE Award Performance "Cafe Crown" 1988-1989.
[edit] Milestones
- 1931 Began his career in Yiddish theater at age 9. (date approximate)
- 1966 Signed for the national company of "Fiddler on the Roof"; started off playing the innkeeper; eventually graduated to the leading role.
- 1970 Broadway debut as Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof"
- 1981 Again starred in a Broadway revival of "Fiddler on the Roof"
- 1986 TV special debut on HBO, "Robert Klein on Broadway"
- 1987 TV-movie debut, "Seize the Day", on PBS's "American Playhouse"
- 1989 Returned to Broadway in the revival of "Cafe Crown"
- 1990 Conceived and toured one-man-show, "Finkel's Follies"
- 1992 - 1996 TV series debut in regular role, "Picket Fences" (CBS); played attorney Douglas Wambaugh; won Emmy Award
- 1996 Created one-man stage show "Fyvush Finkel--From Second Ave to Broadway"; sons Elliot and Ian accompanied him with a full orchestra for musical segments; premiered Off-Broadway in 1997.
- 1998 Returned to series TV in "Fantasy Island" (ABC)
- 2000 Reteamed with David E Kelley on the Fox fall drama series "Boston Public"; played history teacher Harvey Lipschultz
