Trivia

As of his centenary in August 2019 he and his wife, Thia Persov, lived in Cambria, CA, where he did his artwork and used to teach acting.

His four children with his wife Thia Persov (b. 10/1/30) are: Jeffrey Jonathan Persoff (b. 5/18/55), New York City. Dan Deckel Persoff (b. 10/23/56), New York City. Perry Erez Persoff (b. 5/4/60), Los Angeles. Dahlia Persoff (b. 10/30/62), Los Angeles.

He was the cab driver in the famous "I coulda been a contender..." scene with Marlon Brando and Rod Steiger in the classic On the Waterfront (1954).

Once asked why he chose acting as a profession, he stated that the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe compelled him to prove himself worthy of his "gift of life".

When the Actors Studio was formed in 1947 he was in the first "beginners" class directed by Elia Kazan. Among his fellow students were Julie Harris, Steven Hill, Cloris Leachman, James Whitmore, Martin Balsam, Kim Hunter and Jocelyn Brando (Marlon Brando's sister). Of the persons on that list, Persoff was the last still living.

Lost his beloved wife Thia Persov, in 2021. They had been married for 70 years.

In his early career he worked under the name "Nick Perry" because he was afraid his Jewish name would alienate some prejudiced people.

He was the last surviving star of Some Like It Hot (1959).

Became a naturalized US citizen on 6/25/29.

Appeared in two films revolving around the life of Christ: The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).

In his early years he posed for painters who worked out of studios in Manhattan's Union Square.

Following the death of Norman Lloyd at the age of 106, Persoff became the oldest living male "Star Trek" actor at the age of 101, and Marsha Hunt became the oldest living "Star Trek" actor of either sex at 104. The three of them all appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987).

Persoff retired from acting in 2003 and pursued painting, specializing in watercolors.

Persoff was drafted by the U.S. Army in early 1942 and served during World War II until 1945. He was assigned to an acting company to entertain troops around the world.

His nickname was Nicky.

He was awarded the 1975 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Performance in a Supporting Role for "The Dybbuk" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

Nehemiah Persoff, who died at the age of 102 was quoted near the end as saying, "It's about damn time".

Oldest living collaborator of Alfred Hitchcock ( in The Wrong Man (1956) and two episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)) at the time of his death in April 2022.

His memoir, The Many Faces of Nehemiah, was published by The Autumn Road Company in July 2021.

Name pronounced "Nee-uh-my-ah, purse-off".

He was directed by five Oscar winning directors: Billy Wilder, Elia Kazan, Mike Nichols, George Stevens and Martin Scorsese, and two others who won on different categories (Barbra Streisand, who won in the Best Actress and Best Original Song categories) and Alfred Hitchcock, who received a special Oscar.