Trivia

Greenstreet had a great theatrical career before making his film debut in The Maltese Falcon (1941). He is reported to have acted in every major Shakespearean play and committed 12,000 lines of Shakepearean verse to memory.

Of the only 23 movies he appeared in, nine were with co-star Peter Lorre.

While appearing at Bryn Mawr College in '"As You Like it," his girth caused him to crash through the floor. after he emerged in sight of the audience, he delivered his next line without breaking stride.

Author Tennessee Williams wrote his one-act play "The Last of My Solid Gold Watches" with Sydney Greenstreet in mind, and dedicated it to him.

His little-known Cyrus Redblock role was recycled into another same-name character for the series Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), episode "The Big Good-Bye". Played fittingly by the late Lawrence Tierney.

Partially inspired the appearance of Jabba the Hut in the "Star Wars" series. When asked what the intergalactic gangster should look like by the designer, George Lucas replied, "A big blob, a huge mass of matter." The designer immediately thought of Greenstreet in Casablanca (1942). At one point during the production, a fez was placed on the final Jabba's head, to make him look like Greenstreet.

His film career lasted a mere eight years and ended more than seventy years ago, yet he is one of the best remembered and most recognizable of all film actors.

Starred as the title character on NBC Radio's "The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe" (1950-1951).

His performance in The Maltese Falcon (1941) was the inspiration for the Marvel Comics Spider-Man and Daredevil villain The Kingpin.

Interred at Forest Lawn, Glendale, California, USA, in the Utility Columbarium area of the Great Mausoleum (not accessible for public viewing).

Karen Burroughs Hannsberry has a short biography of him in her book "Bad Boys: The Actors of Film Noir".

He has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: The Maltese Falcon (1941) and Casablanca (1942).

Son of John (1847-1913) and Ann (née Baker) Greenstreet (1852-?).

His characters in The Maltese Falcon (1941) and Casablanca (1942) were the inspiration for the Star Wars character Jabba The Hutt.

Father of John Ogden Greenstreet (September 30, 1920-March 4, 2004).

Honored as "Star of the Month" on Turner Classic Movies for November 2021.

For years and up to this date (11/11/21), DirecTV's movie cast listings continue to state Greenstreet's place of birth as Kenosha, Wisconsin.