Jules Munshin (February 22, 1915 – February 19, 1970) was an American actor, comedian and singer who had made his name on Broadway when he starred in Call Me Mister. His additional Broadway credits include The Gay Life and Barefoot in the Park. On screen, he is best remembered for On the Town, in which he co-starred with Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly as sailors on leave in New York City.
Early life Munshin was born in New York City and began in show business shortly after graduating from high school. He was Jewish. He worked in Catskill resorts, then vaudeville and was a singer for the George Olsen band. While serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he played in Army shows such as The Army Play‐by‐Play and About Face, a touring show that featured Joe Louis.
Career In 1946 he joined the Broadway show Call Me Mister which dealt with the issues that servicemen encountered with return to civilian life. It ran to 734 performances.
In 1948 he moved from Broadway to film. He appeared in such Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musicals as Easter Parade (1948), Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949), On the Town (1949) and Silk Stockings (1957).
In August 1958 he appeared at the Aldwych Theatre in London's West End in a run of George Tabori's play Brouhaha with Peter Sellers in the lead role and also featuring Lionel Jeffries.New York Times, 28 August 1958 One of the September shows was televised on the BBC.Radio Times 18 September 1958 The show, which was directed by Peter Hall, ran until 28 February 1959.
Death Munshin died in New York City at the age of 54 from a heart attack, three days before his 55th birthday. He is buried in Long Island National Cemetery.Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1948 Easter Parade Headwaiter François 1949 Take Me Out to the Ball Game Nat Goldberg 1949 That Midnight Kiss Michael Pemberton 1949 On the Town Ozzie Sang "New York, New York" 1951 Nous irons à Monte Carlo Bullfighter in Musical Melange with Antoine (cameo appearance), Uncredited1953 Monte Carlo Baby Antoine 1956 G.E. Summer Originals TV series, Episode "It's Sunny Again"1957 Ten Thousand Bedrooms Arthur 1957 Silk Stockings Bibinski 1959 A Christmas Festival The Manager TV movie1960 Summer in New York TV movie1960 The Emperor's Clothes TV movie1964 Wild and Wonderful Rousseleau, TV Director 1967 Monkeys, Go Home! Monsieur Piastillio 1969 That Girl Harry Fields/Rudy Clarn TV series (2 episodes)1976 Mastermind Israeli Agent #1 (final film role, released posthumously)
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