Cy Schindell

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Cy Schindell
Born	Seymour Schindel March 4, 1907(1907-03-04) Brooklyn, New York
Died	August 24, 1948 (aged 41) Hollywood, California
Years active	1933-1948

Seymour "Cy" Schindell (March 4, 1907 - August 24, 1948)^{[citation needed]} was an American actor who appeared in 37 Three Stooges short subjects,^[1] mostly as a heavy.

1 Career
2 Military service and illness
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Career

Schindell was born Seymour Schindel. He was a former middleweight boxer with 19 fights from 1926-1928,^[2]. He was later bitten by the acting bug, and found work as an extra at Columbia Studios, most notably appearing with comedy team the Three Stooges. Schindell was also a skilled stuntman, performing many pratfalls himself. His ability to deliver straight, tough dialogue ("youse mugs") made him a natural for parts as heavies.^[3] Schindell memorably played Chizzilini, a parody of Benito Mussolini in the short I'll Never Heil Again.

Besides the Three Stooges, he also appeared briefly in It's a Wonderful Life as a bouncer as well as numerous film appearances playing mainly blue collar roles such as a truck driver, a butcher and a policeman.^[3]

[edit] Military service and illness

Schindell was drafted in the marines during World War II. While on Guadalcanal, he developed a severe case of jungle rot, which eventually developed into terminal cancer. Knowing he was dying, Schindell worked constantly during his illness to assure his family would be financially secure after his death.^[3]

Schindell's final film appearance was in 1948's Three Stooges film Crime on Their Hands. Excessive makeup was used to mask Schindell's cancer-ridden face. Schindell is buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, California.