Theodore Bikel

Biography: Heavily-built Viennese actor, guitarist, and singer Theodore Bikel emigrated to Palestine in his teens and first appeared in stage productions in Tel Aviv. He then went on to study drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He made his London stage debut in 1948, and seven years did the same on Broadway. His first onscreen role was a German naval officer in John Huston's The African Queen (1952); thanks to his talent for accents, he went on to play many different nationalities. Nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work in The Defiant Ones (1958). He is also a celebrated folk singer and is active in New York City politics.