Maurice Moscovitch

• Name — Maurice Moscovich • Birth Name — Morris Maaskov • Born — 23 November 1871 • Birthplace — Odessa, Russian Empire • Died — 18 June 1940 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Resting Place — Hollywood Forever Cemetery • Years Active — 1936–1940 • Spouse — Rose Moscovich • Children — 3, including Noel Madison

Maurice Moscovich was born Morris Maaskov in Odessa, Tsarist Russia. He emigrated to the United States no later than 1897 and performed for decades in the Yiddish theatre in New York and appeared in two 1930 Broadway plays. In the last four years of his life, Moscovitch played supporting roles in 14 films. With his distinctive accent, he portrayed mostly wise and friendly old men, often with Jewish background. He played a shopkeeper in the highly praised Make Way for Tomorrow (1937) and the art dealer Maurice Cobert in Love Affair (1939) with Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. His last film was Charlie Chaplin's Hitler-satire The Great Dictator, in which he played the Barber's friendly Jewish neighbour, Mr. Jaeckel, who flees into exile to his brother. Maurice Moskovich died at the age of 68, following surgery. At the time of his death, he was playing the role of a dancing master in Dance, Girl, Dance. His role had to be quickly rewritten for actress Maria Ouspenskaya. He is buried with his wife Rose (1872–1944) at the Beth Olam Cemetery in Hollywood. The couple had three sons, including actor Noel Madison (1897-1975).

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1936 — Winterset — Esdras • 1937 — Make Way for Tomorrow — Max Rubens • Lancer Spy — Gen. Von Meinhardt • 1938 — Gateway — Grandpa Hlawek • Suez — Mohammed Ali • 1939 — Love Affair — Maurice Cobert • Susannah of the Mounties — Chief Big Eagle • In Name Only — Dr. Muller • Rio — Old Convict • The Great Commandment — Lamech • Everything Happens at Night — Dr. Hugo Norden • 1940 — South to Karanga — Paul Stacco • The Great Dictator — Mr. Jaeckel