Salem Ludwig
Encyclopedia
Salem Ludwig was an American character actor
and acting instructor.
Born in Brooklyn
, New York
, Ludwig was blacklist
ed in 1957 and could only find minimal stage work. He had many film and television credits and remained active, even after his 90th birthday, until his death at age 91. A biographical film, An Actor's Life was made by budding director/actress Carol Schaye, who wanted to portray actors as talented, working individuals rather than just the character they see. He was represented by Theatrical Agent Archer King
.
He is known for many films including: Life on the Ledge (2005, Grandfather), Unfaithful (2002, Man with Suitcase), Fast Food, Fast Women (2001, Leo), The Business of Strangers
(2001, Man at Pool), The Object of My Affection
(1998, Mr Shapiro), I'm Not Rappaport
(1996, Walter), For Love Or Money (1993, Customer), Family Business
(1989, Nat), Heartburn
(1986, Judge), Endless Love
(1981, Mr Switzer), The Arab Conspiracy (1976, Ghassan Kaddara), I Love You, Alice B. Toklas
(1968, Mr Fine), What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968), Three Sisters
(1966, Ferapont), America, America
(1963, Odysseus Topouzoglou), and Never Love a Stranger (1958, Moishe Moscowitz).
His television roles included attorney
Solomon Rabinowitz, in an early episode of All in the Family
("Archie's Aching Back"); Rabinowitz memorably advised Archie Bunker
not to pursue a whiplash
case, telling him "In a court of law, nothing beats a station wagon
full of nun
s." (The nuns would all have been witnesses against Archie.)
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
and acting instructor.
Born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Ludwig was blacklist
Blacklist
A blacklist is a list or register of entities who, for one reason or another, are being denied a particular privilege, service, mobility, access or recognition. As a verb, to blacklist can mean to deny someone work in a particular field, or to ostracize a person from a certain social circle...
ed in 1957 and could only find minimal stage work. He had many film and television credits and remained active, even after his 90th birthday, until his death at age 91. A biographical film, An Actor's Life was made by budding director/actress Carol Schaye, who wanted to portray actors as talented, working individuals rather than just the character they see. He was represented by Theatrical Agent Archer King
Archer King
Archer King is an American theatrical agent, producer and actor.King acted in the Broadway productions Summer Night and Stop Press in 1939. These were followed by service in World War II...
.
He is known for many films including: Life on the Ledge (2005, Grandfather), Unfaithful (2002, Man with Suitcase), Fast Food, Fast Women (2001, Leo), The Business of Strangers
The Business of Strangers
The Business of Strangers is a 2001 motion picture that tells the story of an eventful night shared between a middle-aged businesswoman and her young assistant....
(2001, Man at Pool), The Object of My Affection
The Object of My Affection
The Object of My Affection is a 1998 romantic comedy film, adapted from the book of the same title by Stephen McCauley, and starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd. The story concerns a pregnant New York social worker who develops romantic feelings for her gay best friend, and the complications...
(1998, Mr Shapiro), I'm Not Rappaport
I'm Not Rappaport
I'm Not Rappaport is a play by Herb Gardner originally staged by Seattle Repertory Theatre in 1984. Its Broadway debut production, directed by Daniel Sullivan, starring Judd Hirsch, Cleavon Little, Jace Alexander, and Mercedes Ruehl, opened on November 19, 1985 at the Booth Theatre, where it ran...
(1996, Walter), For Love Or Money (1993, Customer), Family Business
Family Business (film)
Family Business is a 1989 film directed by Sidney Lumet with a screenplay by Vincent Patrick, based on his novel. It stars Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman and Matthew Broderick.-Plot synopsis:...
(1989, Nat), Heartburn
Heartburn (film)
Heartburn is a 1986 American drama film directed by Mike Nichols. The screenplay by Nora Ephron is based on her semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, which was inspired by her tempestuous second marriage to Carl Bernstein and his affair with Margaret Jay. Rachel is a food writer at a New...
(1986, Judge), Endless Love
Endless Love (film)
Endless Love is a 1981 romantic drama film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt. The screenplay by Judith Rascoe was adapted from the novel by Scott Spencer...
(1981, Mr Switzer), The Arab Conspiracy (1976, Ghassan Kaddara), I Love You, Alice B. Toklas
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas is a 1968 comedy film starring Peter Sellers, directed by Hy Averback and featuring music by Harpers Bizarre. The film is set in the counterculture of the 1960s. The addition cast includes David Arkin, Jo Van Fleet, Leigh Taylor-Young, in her film debut, and a cameo by...
(1968, Mr Fine), What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968), Three Sisters
The Three Sisters (1966 film)
The Three Sisters is a 1966 film directed by Paul Bogart. It stars Geraldine Page and Shelley Winters.-Cast:*Geraldine Page as Olga*Shelley Winters as Natalya*Kim Stanley as Masha*Sandy Dennis as Irina*Kevin McCarthy as Vershinin...
(1966, Ferapont), America, America
America, America
America, America is a 1963 American dramatic film directed, produced and written by Elia Kazan, from his own book.-Plot:...
(1963, Odysseus Topouzoglou), and Never Love a Stranger (1958, Moishe Moscowitz).
His television roles included attorney
Attorney at law
An attorney at law in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients. Alternative terms include counselor and lawyer...
Solomon Rabinowitz, in an early episode of All in the Family
All in the Family
All in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, a new show, Archie Bunker's Place, picked up where All in the Family had ended...
("Archie's Aching Back"); Rabinowitz memorably advised Archie Bunker
Archie Bunker
Archibald "Archie" Bunker is a fictional New Yorker in the 1970s top-rated American television sitcom All in the Family and its spin-off Archie Bunker's Place, played to acclaim by Carroll O'Connor. Bunker is a veteran of World War II, reactionary, bigoted, conservative, blue-collar worker, and...
not to pursue a whiplash
Whiplash (medicine)
Whiplash is a non-medical term describing a range of injuries to the neck caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck associated with extension. The term "whiplash" is a colloquialism...
case, telling him "In a court of law, nothing beats a station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
full of nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s." (The nuns would all have been witnesses against Archie.)