Leo Fuchs

• Name — Leo Fuchs • Born — 15 May 1911 • Died — 31 December 1994 • Occupation — actor

Fuchs was born into a Yiddish theatrical family: his father, Yakov Fuchs, was a character actor; his mother, Róża Fuchs (Ruzha Fuchs), was "a leading lady of the musical theatre who perished in the Holocaust of the 1940s," shot dead by Nazi Germans. He began acting (in Polish) when he was five years old, and was praised when he performed at the Warsaw cabaret Qui Pro Quo (theatre) when he was 17.

His American debut was at the Second Avenue Theater in the Yiddish Theater District in Lucky Boy with Moishe Oysher in 1929. He moved to New York City in 1935. In his prime, he was known as "The Yiddish Fred Astaire", appearing both on Broadway and in film. In 1936, he married fellow actor Mirele Gruber and toured with her through Poland for a year. In 1937, he made two movies, the short I Want to Be a Boarder (in which he sang his famous song Trouble) and I Want to Be a Mother with Yetta Zwerling. In 1940, he starred in Amerikaner Shadkhen (American Matchmaker). He divorced in 1941 and later married Rebecca Richman. Starting in the 1960s, Fuchs performed in English-language plays and television, as well as Hollywood films, including The Story of Ruth (1960). Two of his best-known roles were in The Frisco Kid (1979), in which he played with Gene Wilder, and as Hymie Krichinsky in the film Avalon (1990). He died in Los Angeles in 1994.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1937 — I Want to Be a Mother — Khaim Bok • 1940 — Americaner Shadchen — Nat Silver / Uncle Shya • 1941 — Mazel Tov Yidden • 1950 — Monticello, Here We Come • 1960 — The Story of Ruth — Sochin • 1972 — Awake and Sing — Jacob — PBS - TV • 1979 — The Frisco Kid — Chief Rabbi • 1990 — Avalon — Hymie Krichinsky — (final film role)

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1961 — The Tab Hunter Show — Pandro Tremaine — Episode "The Movie Set" (alternate title "A Star Is Born") • 1962 — Wagon Train — Mr. Levy — Episode "The Levy-McGowan Story" • 1963 — Mister Ed — Mr. Rasmussen — Episode "Patter of Little Hooves" • 1970 — Green Acres — Uncle Fedor — Episode "Uncle Fedor" • 1972 — Sanford and Son — Herman Goldstein — Episode “The Shootout”

Leo Fuchs was recorded at birth as Avrum Leib Fuchs. The authorities additionally record the heading Avrum Leib Fuchs. His recorded language was English. He was the child of Yakov Fuchs and Ruzha Fuchs.

Leo Fuchs is recorded as actor, coupletist and singer.