🎬 S.Z. Sakall

About

S. Z. Sakall, born Jakab Grünwald (February 2, 1883, Budapest - February 12, 1955, Los Angeles), was a Hungarian-American character actor who had already built a career in Hungarian, German and British films before fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe for Hollywood in 1940. At Warner Bros. he became a fixture of 1940s comedies and musicals, typically cast as a flustered uncle or eccentric shopkeeper. He is best remembered as Carl the head waiter in Casablanca (1942) - a role he initially turned down. Studio boss Jack Warner gave him the nickname "Cuddles", which Sakall tolerated but never liked.