Joseph Greenwald (circa 1878 – April 1, 1938)
was an American actor who died on stage after having a heart attack.
Early years
A native of New York's lower East Side, Greenwald dropped out of school at age 10 and began selling newspapers in front of the
Thalia Theater. Over time, he became familiar to the theater's staff, leading to his initial involvement with the theater when the stage manager asked Greenwald if he would like to replace a fired call boy. Watching the actors, especially
Morris Moscovitch, stirred his desire to become an actor.
Career
Greenwald's first venture as a performer ended with his employer telling him that he was no good and refusing to pay him. Undeterred, Greenwald joined a
repertory theatre company at a salary of $25 per week, part of which went to buy his costumes and wigs. He played 38 parts (all characters 50 or older) in 44 weeks. From there, he went into vaudeville.
[
He eventually progressed from five-times-a-day performances in vaudeville to portraying Solomon Levy in a touring company of '']Abie's Irish Rose
''Abie's Irish Rose'' is a popular comedy by Anne Nichols, which premiered in 1922. Initially a Broadway theatre, Broadway Play (theatre), play, it has become familiar through repeated stage productions, films and radio programs. The basic premi ...
''.[ Greenwald's role of Greek restaurateur Nick Papadakis in ''The Postman Always Rings Twice'' initially presented a problem as he sought to find someone whose Greek accent he could imitate. After several unsuccessful efforts, he heard a fur dyer in the shop of his wife's furrier. After they had a couple of dinners and spent three or four evenings together, Greenwald had the accent that he needed.
On old-time radio, Greenwald portrayed the husband of ]Gertrude Berg
Gertrude Berg (born Tillie Edelstein; October 3, 1899 – September 14, 1966) was an American actress, screenwriter, and producer. A pioneer of classic old-time radio, radio, she was one of the first women to create, write, produce, and star in a ...
's character in '' House of Glass''.
Death
On April 1, 1938, Greenwald suffered a heart attack while portraying Joe Bonaparte in a production of ''Golden Boy'' in Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara (, meaning ) is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States excepting A ...
. Only when cast members shouted for curtains to be drawn did the audience realize that his collapse was not part of the play.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greenwald, Joseph
1870s births
1938 deaths
20th-century American male actors
American male stage actors
American male radio actors
Broadway theatre people
Year of birth uncertain