Murray Gershenz
Murray Gershenz | |
---|---|
Born |
New York City, New York, U.S. | May 12, 1922
Died |
August 28, 2013 91) Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged
Cause of death | Heart attack |
Occupation | Actor, entrepreneur |
Years active |
1938–2013 (entrepreneur) 2001–2013 (acting) |
Children | 3 |
Website | http://murraygershenz.com |
Murray Gershenz (May 12, 1922 – August 28, 2013) was an American character actor and entrepreneur. He began his acting career late in life, at the age of 79, when he starred in a 2001 episode of Will & Grace.[1] He went on to perform a variety of character roles in films and on television. As an entrepreneur, he operated the Music Man Murray record store in Los Angeles for more than 50 years.[2]
Career
He acted in other television shows, such as Modern Family, The Sarah Silverman Show, Mad Men, Raising Hope, House, and Parks and Recreation.[1][3] He also appeared in films, such as I Love You, Man (2009), The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013), and The Hangover (2009), where he played Felix, an elderly man who fully disrobes in one scene.[1][3]
Personal life
Gershenz was born in New York City on May 12, 1922, and raised in a Jewish household. An avid vinyl record collector, at the age of 16, he began collecting records, which turned into a $1.5 million stockpile of over 300,000 records for his shop located in West Adams, Los Angeles, California.[3]
Gershenz was quoted as saying, "You never stop buying because you never know what someone is going to want."[3] His desire to sell his collection became the subject of a 2011 documentary film, titled Music Man Murray, after his nickname and the name of his store.[3] Presumably as a direct result of worldwide festival audiences' exposure to the film, in June 2013, he sold the entire collection to a buyer either from New York City or Brazil, sources vary on this detail and neither he nor the family have ever publicly released this information.
Death
Gershenz died of a heart attack on August 28, 2013, aged 91, in Los Angeles. He was survived by two sons and a daughter.[1][3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "The Hangover's scene stealer Murray Gershenz dies from heart attack aged 91". Daily Mail. August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
- ↑ William Yardley (September 7, 2013). "Murray Gershenz, Record Store Owner and Character Actor, Dies at 91". The New York Times.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kennedy, Gerrick D. (August 29, 2013). "Remembering 'Music Man Murray': Murray Gershenz dies at 91". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
External links
- Official website
- Murray Gershenz at the Internet Movie Database
- Gershen's Acting Demo Reel on YouTube