Thursday, November 27, 2014

Mordecai Lawner obit

Mordecai Lawner, Actor Who Appeared in ‘Annie Hall,’ Dies at 86

 

He was not on the list.


Mordecai Lawner, a lifelong actor who appeared in Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall,” died of heart failure at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City on Thanksgiving. He was 86.

In Allen’s 1977 hit “Annie Hall,” Lawner played the father of Allen’s character Alvy Singer. In a flashback to Singer’s childhood living under the Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster, Lawner can be seen admonishing his wife for firing the cleaning woman.

“She has no money!” he proclaimed. “She’s got a right to steal from us! After all, who is she gonna steal from if not us?”

His other movie credits include “Ghostbusters II” and “A Fish in the Bathtub.”

Lawner was a regular on and Off Broadway. On Broadway in 1995, he played Stanley in “Death of a Salesman” in George C. Scott’s Circle in the Square production.

Lawner continued to perform in regional productions into his 80s, including “Tuesdays With Morrie” in Saratoga Springs, New York. He also recently traveled to Los Angeles to shoot an Esurance commercial airing now.

He often shared the stage with his wife Eugenia Thornton, who died in 2005. Lawner also taught at the High School of the Performing Arts, Neighborhood Playhouse and at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Lawner graduated from City College of the City University of New York. Except for a tour of duty in Germany in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and years teaching in the theater program at Carnegie Mellon, he lived in Manhattan most of his life.

Lawner was a member of Actors’ Equity, SAG and AFTRA.

He is survived by Carol Hershman, Bruce Birnbaum, Francine Falk Ross, Pamela Falk, Deborah Birnbaum and Sarah and Mitchell Langbert, along with many nephews and nieces.

 

Actor

Here's What I Like: Our Forefathers. And Now I'll Tell You Why

Short

Mr. Downey

2014

 

Aguaviva

Short

Thomas

2012

 

Alan Arkin, Paula Devicq, Manny Perez, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, and Joseph Lyle Taylor in 100 Centre Street (2001)

100 Centre Street

7.9

TV Series

2002

1 episode

 

Mark Ruffalo in The Beat (2000)

The Beat

6.3

TV Series

Shop Clerk

2000

1 episode

 

A Fish in the Bathtub (1998)

A Fish in the Bathtub

6.0

Bernie

1998

 

Tony Goldwyn, Camryn Manheim, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, Mehcad Brooks, and Odelya Halevi in Law & Order (1990)

Law & Order

7.8

TV Series

Leon Match

1991

1 episode

 

Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson in Ghostbusters II (1989)

Ghostbusters II

6.6

Man with a Ticket

1989

 

Kate & Allie (1984)

Kate & Allie

6.9

TV Series

1989

1 episode

 

Bill Daily, Heidi Helmer, Jason Marin, Connie Stevens, and Nita Talbot in Starting from Scratch (1988)

Starting from Scratch

7.2

TV Series

Frenelli

1988

1 episode

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Raw Deal (1986)

Raw Deal

5.6

Marcellino

1986

 

Billions for Boris (1984)

Billions for Boris

5.5

Painter

1984

 

Soup for One (1982)

Soup for One

5.5

Furniture Salesman

1982

 

The Wall (1982)

The Wall

6.9

TV Movie

1982

 

3-2-1 Contact (1980)

3-2-1 Contact

8.2

TV Series

Longshot

1980

6 episodes

 

Ring of Passion (1978)

Ring of Passion

7.3

TV Movie

Joe Jacobs

1978

 

Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in Annie Hall (1977)

Annie Hall

8.0

Alvy's Dad

1977

 

Hester Street (1975)

Hester Street

7.0

Waiter

1975

 

The Big Blue Marble (1974)

The Big Blue Marble

8.4

TV Series

Genevieve's father (1978)

1974–1983

 

James Earl Jones, Tamu Blackwell, Diahann Carroll, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Eric Jones, and Socorro Stephens in Claudine (1974)

Claudine

7.3

Process Server

1974

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