Sam Levene, a renowned actor, originated the iconic role of "craps-shooter extraordinaire" Nathan Detroit in the groundbreaking American musical "Guys and Dolls" on Broadway in the original 1950 production.
Born on August 28, 1905, in Russia, Levene made his Broadway debut in 1927 in the melodrama "Wall Street", two years before "Variety" noted that the fabled temple of capitalism had "laid an egg".
Fifty-four years later, he appeared in his 39th and last Broadway show, "Horowitz and Mrs. Washington", a flop that lasted only four performances. Along the way, he was nominated for a Tony Award in 1961 as Best Actor in a Play for "The Devil's Advocate."
Levene also starred in the original Broadway production of Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys", playing Al Lewis to Jack Albertson's Willie Clark. However, the role in the 1975 movie "The Sunshine Boys" was originally earmarked for Jack Benny, who was replaced by his friend George Burns after Benny's death.
Burns went on to win an Oscar playing the role, another big one that got away from Levene.
