Joseph Ruskin

Joseph Ruskin (born Joseph Richard Schlafman; April 14, 1924 – December 28, 2013) was an American character actor.

Joseph Ruskin
Ruskin and Barbara Feldon in an episode of Get Smart
Born
Joseph Richard Schlafman

(1924-04-14)April 14, 1924
Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedDecember 28, 2013(2013-12-28) (aged 89)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActor
Years active1955–2013

Early life

Ruskin was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts. After graduating high school in Cleveland, he served in the U.S. Navy and studied drama at Carnegie Mellon University and began acting at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Although he gained his greatest recognition in television and film, he continued to appear on stage throughout his career.[1]

Career

Ruskin appeared in an episode of The Outer Limits, called "Production and Decay of Strange Particles". He played in The Time Tunnel episode, "Revenge of the Gods", as well as two separate, two-part Mission: Impossible episodes: "Old Man Out" and "The Slave". He had a non-credited voice role of one of the Kanamits in The Twilight Zone episode, "To Serve Man", a season after playing the genie in another episode, "The Man in the Bottle". Ruskin also appeared in the Hogan's Heroes episode "The Gestapo Takeover". In 1960, Ruskin appeared as Reed Benton in the TV western series Lawman in the episode titled "The Escape of Joe Killmer". In 1964, he appeared in an episode of the comedy-drama Kentucky Jones.

His film appearances include The Magnificent Seven (1960), Prizzi's Honor (1985), Indecent Proposal (1993) and Smokin' Aces (2006).[2]

Star Trek

In Star Trek: The Original Series, Ruskin played the part of Galt in "The Gamesters of Triskelion", an episode of the second season, originally aired on January 5, 1968.

He appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), portraying the Klingon Tumek. He appeared as this character in two episodes of DS9, "The House of Quark" and "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places", which aired in October 1994 and October 1996, respectively. In between these episodes, he was cast as a Cardassian informant in the third season episode "Improbable Cause".

Following this, Ruskin appeared in his only Star Trek film role, cast as a Son'a officer in Star Trek: Insurrection. He made an appearance in Star Trek: Voyager in the episode "Gravity", first airing on February 3, 1999, in which he played a Vulcan master.

Ruskin's final Star Trek appearance was in Star Trek: Enterprise. He appeared as a "Suliban" doctor in the pilot episode "Broken Bow", which aired on September 26, 2001.

Union activity

Ruskin became a board member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in 1976 and served on its board until 1999. He also became the first Western Regional Vice President of Actors' Equity Association in 1979. For his dedication and service Actors Equity gave him its Lucy Jordan Award in 2003 and Patrick Quinn Award in 2013. SAG bestowed its Ralph Morgan Award in 2011.[2]

Death

Ruskin died on December 28, 2013 at a hospital in Santa Monica, California. He is survived by his wife Barbara, daughter and three step-daughters.[1]

Partial filmography

References
  1. "Actor Joseph Ruskin Dies at 89". The Hollywood Reporter. December 30, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  2. "R.I.P. Joseph Ruskin". Deadline Hollywood. December 30, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
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