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Leonid Kinskey

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Leonid Kinskey Famous memorial

Birth
Saint Petersburg, Saint Petersburg Federal City, Russia
Death
8 Sep 1998 (aged 95)
Fountain Hills, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA
Burial
Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea
Memorial ID
View Source
Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of Sascha, the bartender, in "Casablanca" (1942). After working as a mime for the imperial theatre in his native Russia, he immigrated to the United States in 1924 to begin a career in American theatre appearing as a leading man on the stage. Upon meeting director Frank Tuttle during a dinner party at the home of singer Bing Crosby, he was so impressed by his dark good looks, distinctive voice, and professionalism, that he arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry starting with him appearing under his supervision per a supporting role in "The Big Broadcast" (1932). From there, he would go on to enjoy a successful career as a recognizable character actor appearing in over 120 features; often typecast as immigrants, white-collared workers, aristocrats, playboys, doctors, politicians, landlords, neighbors, curmudgeons, retail clerks, businessmen, faithful friends, reporters, detectives, musicians, waiters, chauffeurs, eccentrics, doormen, bellhops, soldiers, and, in his later years, patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Trouble in Paradise" (1932), "Duck Soup" (1933), "Hollywood Party" (1934), "I Live My Life" (1935), "A Son Comes Home" (1936), "Espionage" (1937), "A Trip to Paris" (1938), "Everything Happens at Night" (1939), "Down Argentine Way" (1940), "That Night in Rio" (1941), "Brooklyn Orchid" (1942), "Presenting Lily Mars" (1943), "Five Were Chosen" (1944), "Monsieur Beaucaire" (1946), "The Great Sinner" (1949), "Nancy Goes to Rio" (1950), "Honeychile" (1951), "Gobs and Gals" (1952), "The Man with the Golden Arm" (1955), "Glory" (1956), and "The Helen Morgan Story" (1957). During the advent of television, he became an even more familiar face appearing in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Lux Video Theatre," "The Spike Jones Show," "Telephone Time," "The People's Choice," "Peter Gunn," "The Alaskans," "Harrigan and Son," "The Millionaires," "Guestward Ho!," "The Detectives," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "Bachelor Father," "Pete and Gladys," "The Real McCoys," "77 Sunset Strip," "The Joey Bishop Show," "My Favorite Martian," "The Dick Powell Theatre," "Burke's Law," "The Rogues," "Honey West," "Perry Mason," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "Batman," "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.," "Good Morning World," "Daktari," "Mayberry R.F.D.," "O'Hara, U.S. Treasury," and "The Chicago Teddy Bears". During his career, he was a naturalized United States citizen, was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was an active parishioner of the Temple Israel of Hollywood, had been active as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, was one of the founding members of the Canyon Theatre Guild, and he was married to actress Iphigenie Castiglioni from 1942 to 1963 and artist Tina York from 1985 to 1998 (his first marriage ended upon her death, his second upon his own death, and both unions produced no children). Following his 1971 retirement, Kinskey spent the remainder of his life dividing time between his homes in Arizona and New York, was a generous benefactor for several libraries and hospitals, and was focused on charitable and religious causes, until his death from complications of a stroke.
Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of Sascha, the bartender, in "Casablanca" (1942). After working as a mime for the imperial theatre in his native Russia, he immigrated to the United States in 1924 to begin a career in American theatre appearing as a leading man on the stage. Upon meeting director Frank Tuttle during a dinner party at the home of singer Bing Crosby, he was so impressed by his dark good looks, distinctive voice, and professionalism, that he arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry starting with him appearing under his supervision per a supporting role in "The Big Broadcast" (1932). From there, he would go on to enjoy a successful career as a recognizable character actor appearing in over 120 features; often typecast as immigrants, white-collared workers, aristocrats, playboys, doctors, politicians, landlords, neighbors, curmudgeons, retail clerks, businessmen, faithful friends, reporters, detectives, musicians, waiters, chauffeurs, eccentrics, doormen, bellhops, soldiers, and, in his later years, patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Trouble in Paradise" (1932), "Duck Soup" (1933), "Hollywood Party" (1934), "I Live My Life" (1935), "A Son Comes Home" (1936), "Espionage" (1937), "A Trip to Paris" (1938), "Everything Happens at Night" (1939), "Down Argentine Way" (1940), "That Night in Rio" (1941), "Brooklyn Orchid" (1942), "Presenting Lily Mars" (1943), "Five Were Chosen" (1944), "Monsieur Beaucaire" (1946), "The Great Sinner" (1949), "Nancy Goes to Rio" (1950), "Honeychile" (1951), "Gobs and Gals" (1952), "The Man with the Golden Arm" (1955), "Glory" (1956), and "The Helen Morgan Story" (1957). During the advent of television, he became an even more familiar face appearing in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Lux Video Theatre," "The Spike Jones Show," "Telephone Time," "The People's Choice," "Peter Gunn," "The Alaskans," "Harrigan and Son," "The Millionaires," "Guestward Ho!," "The Detectives," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "Bachelor Father," "Pete and Gladys," "The Real McCoys," "77 Sunset Strip," "The Joey Bishop Show," "My Favorite Martian," "The Dick Powell Theatre," "Burke's Law," "The Rogues," "Honey West," "Perry Mason," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "Batman," "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.," "Good Morning World," "Daktari," "Mayberry R.F.D.," "O'Hara, U.S. Treasury," and "The Chicago Teddy Bears". During his career, he was a naturalized United States citizen, was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was an active parishioner of the Temple Israel of Hollywood, had been active as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, was one of the founding members of the Canyon Theatre Guild, and he was married to actress Iphigenie Castiglioni from 1942 to 1963 and artist Tina York from 1985 to 1998 (his first marriage ended upon her death, his second upon his own death, and both unions produced no children). Following his 1971 retirement, Kinskey spent the remainder of his life dividing time between his homes in Arizona and New York, was a generous benefactor for several libraries and hospitals, and was focused on charitable and religious causes, until his death from complications of a stroke.

Bio by: Lowell Thurgood



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