Myron G. Nussbaum (December 29, 1923 – December 23, 2023) was an American actor and director.
Early years Myron Nussbaum (he adopted "G." while in the Army, to avoid the "no middle initial" descriptor in roll call) was born in New York City to a Jewish family on December 29, 1923,"Mike Nussbaum, the Oldest Working Jewish Actor, Tells All." Hodes, Laura. The Jewish Daily Forward. Forward.com Published November 9, 2015. Accessed February 25, 2016. and grew up in the Albany Park area of Chicago. He married soon after he returned to Chicago following military service during World War II. His Army assignments included being chief of the message center for General Dwight D. Eisenhower, in which he dispatched the official notification of Germany's surrender. For 20 years, he worked with his brother-in-law in an extermination business.
Career Nussbaum's acting career started in community theatre in the 1950s. In the 1960s, he was active in a developing professional theatrical community in Chicago, meeting a young David Mamet in the process. He appeared in many of Mamet's plays both on and off Broadway, as well as in Chicago. His films include Field of Dreams, House of Games, Things Change, Fatal Attraction and Men in Black.
As a director, his work has included Where Have You Gone, Jimmy Stewart? (2002) by Art Shay.
Nussbaum also appeared in local TV commercials for Chicago's Northwest Federal Savings (with the jingle, "It's Northwest Federal Savings time, sixty-three hours a week"). He also did national commercials for United Airlines and Scope mouthwash.
Nussbaum continued to act through his 90s, and he was still working on theatre projects up until his death in 2023.
Personal life and death Nussbaum was married to Annette Brenner from 1949 until her death in 2003. He married Julie Brudlos in 2004. He had three children with his first wife, Jack, Karen, and Susan.
Nussbaum died at his Chicago home on December 23, 2023, six days shy of his 100th birthday.
Recognition Nussbaum received the following Jeff Awards: Year Award Play 1977 Director - Play Lunching 1997 Actor in a Principal Role - Play Racing Demon 2001 Special Award --- 2011 Actor in a Supporting Role - Play Broadway Bound 2014 Actor in a Supporting Role - Play Smokefall 2015 Actor in a Supporting Role - Play The Price
Filmography Film + Year Title Role 1997 Early Edition Yuri Rosanov 1969 The Monitors Exercise Chief 1971 T.R. Baskin Office Manager 1974 Harry and Tonto Old Age Home Clerk 1978 Towing Phil 1987 House of Games (film) Joey 1987 Fatal Attraction Bob Drimmer 1988 Things Change Mr. Green 1989 Field of Dreams Principal 1990 Desperate Hours Mr. Nelson 1992 Gladiator Doctor 1995 Losing Isaiah Dr. Jamison 1995 Steal Big Steal Little Sam Barlow, Clifford Downey's Attorney 1997 Men In Black Gentle Rosenberg 2005 The Game of Their Lives Johnny Abruzzo 2006 Dirty Work Gaga 2008 Osso Bucco Uncle Sil 2020 Tom of Your Life Father McMurphy
Television
+ Year Title Role Notes 1987 The Equalizer Harry Dawson Episode: "First Light" 1992–1996 The Commish Ben Metzger 3 episodes 1993 Love, Honor & Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage Gaspar DiGregorio TV movie 1993 Gypsy Weber, Los Angeles Theatre Manager TV movie imdb.com. Accessed January 8, 2023. 1997 The X-Files Dr. Charles Goldstein 1 episode 1997 Early Edition Yuri Rosanov TV movie
References
External links
Personal remembrances Illinois Arts Alliance Arts Legend citation Goodman Theatre Artist Bio Mike Nussbaum Is 90 and Can Do More Pushups than You
Mike Nussbaum Papers at the Newberry Library