From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Samuel Joel Zero Mostel February 28 1915 September 8 1977 was an American actor of stage and screen best known for his portrayal of comic characters such as Tevye onstage in Fiddler on the Roof Pseudolus onstage and onscreen in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Max Bialystock in the original film version of The Producers He was blacklisted during the 1950s and his testimony before the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities was wellpublicized He was a Tony Award and Obie Award winner Description above from the Wikipedia article Zero Mostel licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia