Paul Muni

Dynamic actor from the Yiddish stage who earned an Oscar nomination for his 1929 film debut in "The Valiant." Muni's performance as the volatile mob boss in "Scarface" (1932) led to a long-term contract with Warner Bros. and he made his mark in a series of critically acclaimed biopics, portraying the likes of Louis Pasteur and Emile Zola. He subsequently divided his time between the stage and screen, making intermittent film appearances until faltering eyesight ended his career in 1959.