Mike Mazurki

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Mike Mazurki
Born December 25, 1907
Tarnopol, Galicia, Austria-Hungary
Died December 9, 1990
Glendale, California

Mike Mazurki (December 25, 1907[1] or 1909[2] - December 9, 1990) was an American actor and professional wrestler who appeared in over 100 movies. His towering 6' 5" presence and intimidating face usually got him roles playing tough guys, thugs, strong men, and gangsters.

Mazurki was born Mikhail Mazurwski in Tarnopol, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (now Ternopil, Ukraine). He immigrated to the United States at the age of six, and graduated from Manhattan College with a Bachelor of Arts degree.[1] He became a professional athlete in three sports, primarily wrestling, but also football and basketball.[1][3]

He was discovered by Josef von Sternberg and given a bit part in his film The Shanghai Gesture (1941).[3] This led to a long film and television career. Possibly his most memorable role was that of slow-witted thug Moose Malloy in the 1944 film noir Murder, My Sweet, opposite Dick Powell. He also played a wrestler called "The Strangler" in Night and the City (1950). In fact, he continued to wrestle during his acting career. His slurred speech was reportedly due to a wrestling injury to his Adam's apple.[1]

Mazurki made guest appearances on many well-known television shows, among them Gilligan's Island, I Dream of Jeannie, Bonanza and Gunsmoke, to name just a few. He played a yacht hand in an episode of Perry Mason titled "The Case of the Missing Button," in which he threatened Mason and Paul Drake with a set of brass knuckles. He was also a regular on a short-lived sitcom, The Chicago Teddy Bears.[1]

In 1965, he co-founded and became the first president of the Cauliflower Alley Club, an association of professional wrestlers. A photograph of his cauliflower ear forms the logo of the organization.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Hal Erickson. Mike Mazurki Biography. All Movie Guide. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  2. ^ Mike Mazurki Biography (1909-)
  3. ^ a b Mike Mazurki Biography. Yahoo! Movies.

[edit] External links

Professional wrestling
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NAME Mazurki, Mike
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Actor
DATE OF BIRTH December 25, 1907
PLACE OF BIRTH Tarnopol, Galicia, Austria-Hungary
DATE OF DEATH December 9, 1990
PLACE OF DEATH Glendale, California
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