Joshua Mostel is an American actor on film and stage with numerous Broadway credits. He was born on December 21, 1946, in New York City. He is the son of comedian Zero Mostel and dancer and writer Kathryn Harkin. He has a brother named Tobias, an artist, and professor of art.
Josh Mostel is most known for supporting roles in several comedies, but his Broadway career is also substantial. Mostel’s career began early as a boy soprano at the Metropolitan Opera of New York. He would later graduate from Brandeis University.
Josh Mostel is still working today and divides his time between New York City and Monhegan, Maine.
Who is Josh Mostel’s father?
Joshua Mostel’s father is the comedy legend, Zero Mostel. (February 28, 1915 – September 8, 1977). Zero Mostel is most famous for his three major roles in stage and film adaptations of Fiddler on the Roof, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He also starred in the original film The Producers (1968).
Zero Mostel’s expansive career is filled with stage, film, and singing roles. He won multiple awards while alive and posthumously, including the American Theater Hall of Fame. He also was an actor who was blacklisted during the 1950s, given his testimony and comments regarding the House Un-American Activities Committee.
He not only played the character of Tevye in the 1964 run of Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway, but he also repressed the role in 1971 and 1976. He would also star as Pseudolus on the stage, and screen versions of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Who is his mother?
Josh Mostel’s mother was Katheryn “Kate” Harkin (1919 – January 22, 1986). Katheryn Harkin was a theatrical actress who began her career as a child actress and dancer, working with the Littlefield Ballet Company of Philadelphia.
Harkin also appeared as a member of the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. This is where she met Zero Mostel, whom she married in 1944.
As an actress, she would appear on Broadway, such as in the show “The Ladies of the Corridor” and “Three Men on a Horse.” She also co-wrote a book with Madeline Gilford titled “170 Years of Show Business.”
When did he start acting?
Joshua Mostel’s career began as a child as a boy soprano, but his first acting job was on Boadway with the 1971 play Unlikely Heroes.
In 1973 he would make a splash in a film playing Herod Antipas in Jesus Christ Superstar. However, his first two film roles were in 1971’s Going Home and 1972’s The King of Marvin Gardens.
What roles is he known for?
Josh Mostel’s first significant role that brought him success and notice was 1973’s Jesus Christ Superstar.
In this musical drama Jesus Christ Superstar, directed by Normal Jewison, Joshua Mostel played the regional roman ruler King Herod Antipas, who ultimately dismisses Jesus as a fraud.
For decades, Mostel would continue to work in film and on stage and find himself working with Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions across two famous films.
The first was 1995’s Billy Madison, where Josh Mostel played Principal Max Anderson, who finds his character blackmailed into lying about Adam Sandler’s character, Billy. Anderson is blackmailed by the revelation that Anderson was a masked wrestler before his work as a principal who accidentally killed a man in the ring.
The second film was 1999’s Big Daddy, where he played the character of Arthur Brooks.
Recently, Mostel has been on the Amazon Prime series Hunters as Rabbit Steckler. He was also a featured actor in the 1987 drama Wall Street, where he played Ollie.
Who was he in Mr. Robot?
Josh Mostel appeared in the conspiracy drama Mr. Robot. He played the character Bo. His character can be seen in season three’s first and eighth episodes. He played the lead character’s landlord.
Was Josh Mostel ever on Seinfeld?
Josh Mostel was never on Seinfeld. He is often confused for Wayne Knight. This is especially given Wayne Knight’s appearance during his time on Seinfeld.
Josh Mostel was also never in Jurrasic Park. He is often confused with Wayne Knight because Joshua Mostel and Wayne Knight had similar appearances.
Is Josh Mostel related to Wayne Knight?
Josh Mostel and Wayne Knight are not related. Often their similar appearances for a time have led to confusion in audiences where their appearances are confused. This is, humorously enough, an example of the Mandela Effect.
What is he doing now?
Josh Mostel is still working, having shifted gears from film to television since 2010 or so. He initially took small roles in series such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Blue Bloods.
He has a role in 2017 in Mr. Robot. In 2020 and took on a multi-episode role on Hunters and also appeared on The Blacklist.
His last film role was 2016’s The Congressman, starring Treat Williams. Prior to that was Growing Up & Other Lies in 2014, which starred Adam brody, Wyatt Cenac, and Danny Jacobs.
Is he married?
Josh Mostel was married to Peggy Rajski from 1983 to 1998. They are currently divorced. In 2016 he married Kim Murdock. She may or not be an author. Details on his second marriage are not particularly well-known.
Who is Peggy Rajski?
Peggy Rajski is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, former dean of LMU’s School of Film and Television, and founder of the non-profit The Trevor Project. The non-profit was named after her Academy Award-winning short film Trevor (1994), about a teen who deals with the fallout of being outed in high school.
Who is his brother?
Joshua Mostel’s brother is Tobias Mostel. Tobias Mostel is an art instructor at Tallahassee community college and works as an art instructor for Florida State University.
This is in addition to his own artwork.
Does he have kids?
Joshua Mostel does not appear to have children. Celebrities sometimes keep aspects of their lives private. So this may be a case where Mostel has not made his children known to the public.
