BURSTYN, MIKE

BURSTYN, MIKE (1945– ), U.S. actor. Born to Yiddish-theater performers Pesach burstein and Lilian Lux in New York, he first appeared on stage at the age of three. Often billed as Motele, Burstyn toured the world with his parents and sister Susan from 1952 to 1962, moving from the United States to Argentina and then to Israel seeking out Yiddish audiences. In Israel, Burstyn kicked off his screen career with a small part in director Ephraim Kishon's Sallah Shabbati (1964), followed by roles in Shabbat Hamalka (1965), The Dybbuk (1968), and Hershelle (1977). However, Burstyn is best remembered for his Kinor David award-winning performance as Kuni Leml in The Two Kuni Lemls (1966) and Kuni Leml in Tel Aviv (1976). After serving in the Israeli Defense Forces in 1967, Burstyn performed in the Broadway production of The Megillah of Itzik Manger (1968–69) with his parents and then in Inquest (1970). He relocated to Holland in 1978, where he hosted The Mike Burstyn Show (1978–81), a TV variety program that also aired in Israel. In 1980, he played the lead of P.T. Barnum in the Tony Award-winning musical Barnum, and the lead in the musical comedy Ain't Broadway Grand (1993). His numerous off-Broadway performances include The Rothschilds (1990) and a turn as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (1997). Burstyn continued to appear on stage in such productions as Jolson (1998) and The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (2003) and on screen as a Mossad agent in Minotaur (1997). In 1999, Burstyn, his family, and the history of Yiddish theater were the subject of the documentary The Komediant. (Adam Wills (2nd ed.)