Cy Schindell
Encyclopedia
Seymour "Cy" Schindell was an American actor who appeared in 37 Three Stooges
short subject
s, mostly as a heavy.
with 19 fights from 1926-1928. He was later bitten by the acting bug, and found work as an extra at Columbia Studios, most notably appearing with comedy team the Three Stooges
. Schindell was also a skilled stuntman
, performing many pratfalls himself. His ability to deliver straight, tough dialogue ("youse mugs") made him a natural for parts as heavies. Shorts like Calling All Curs
, Nutty But Nice
and Fright Night
gave Schindell a chance to bully the Stooges around to great effect. The ex-puglist also twice had the chance to be knocked cold by the trio, only to the have the Stooges (concealed behind a curtain) maneuver the unconscious Schindell like a puppet in the films Matri-Phony
, Fright Night and Fling in the Ring
. Schindell also memorably played Chizzilini, a parody of Benito Mussolini
, in the short I'll Never Heil Again
.
Besides the Three Stooges
, he also appeared briefly in It's a Wonderful Life
as "Nick" the bouncer
, as well as numerous film appearances playing mainly blue collar roles such as a truck driver, a butcher and a policeman.
. While on Guadalcanal
, he developed a severe case of jungle rot
, which eventually developed into terminal cancer
. Knowing he was dying, Schindell worked constantly during his illness to assure his family would be financially secure after his death.
Schindell died on August 24, 1948, and was buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery
, Los Angeles
, California. His final film appearance was in 1948
's Three Stooges film Crime on Their Hands
; heavy makeup was used to mask Schindell's cancer-ridden face.
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
short subject
Short subject
A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. No consensus exists as to where that boundary is drawn: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all...
s, mostly as a heavy.
Career
Brooklyn-born Schindell was born Seymour Schindel in 1907. He was a former middleweight boxerBoxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
with 19 fights from 1926-1928. He was later bitten by the acting bug, and found work as an extra at Columbia Studios, most notably appearing with comedy team the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
. Schindell was also a skilled stuntman
Stuntman
A stuntman or stunt performer is someone who performs dangerous stunts.Stuntman may also refer to:*The Stunt Man, a 1980 film starring Peter O'Toole*Stuntman , a 2002 video game**Stuntman: Ignition, its sequel...
, performing many pratfalls himself. His ability to deliver straight, tough dialogue ("youse mugs") made him a natural for parts as heavies. Shorts like Calling All Curs
Calling All Curs
Calling All Curs is the 41st short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges, first released on August 25, 1939. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
, Nutty But Nice
Nutty But Nice
Nutty but Nice is the 47th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
and Fright Night
Fright Night (film)
Fright Night is the 98th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
gave Schindell a chance to bully the Stooges around to great effect. The ex-puglist also twice had the chance to be knocked cold by the trio, only to the have the Stooges (concealed behind a curtain) maneuver the unconscious Schindell like a puppet in the films Matri-Phony
Matri-Phony
Matri-Phony is the 63rd short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.- Plot :...
, Fright Night and Fling in the Ring
Fling in the Ring
Fling in the Ring is the 159th short film starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
. Schindell also memorably played Chizzilini, a parody of Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
, in the short I'll Never Heil Again
I'll Never Heil Again
I'll Never Heil Again is the 56th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
.
Besides the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
, he also appeared briefly in It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern....
as "Nick" the bouncer
Bouncer (doorman)
A bouncer is an informal term for a type of security guard employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs or concerts to provide security, check legal age, and refuse entry to a venue based on criteria such as intoxication, aggressive behavior, or attractiveness...
, as well as numerous film appearances playing mainly blue collar roles such as a truck driver, a butcher and a policeman.
Military service and illness
Schindell enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during the 1920s and returned to active service for World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. While on Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
, he developed a severe case of jungle rot
Tropical ulcer
Tropical ulcer is a lesion occurring in cutaneous leishmaniasis. It is caused by a variety of microorganisms, including mycobacteria...
, which eventually developed into terminal cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. Knowing he was dying, Schindell worked constantly during his illness to assure his family would be financially secure after his death.
Schindell died on August 24, 1948, and was buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery
Los Angeles National Cemetery
The Los Angeles National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in West Los Angeles, at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard. The cemetery was dedicated in 1889. Interred there are war veterans, from the Spanish-American war, World War I, World War II, Korean War,...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California. His final film appearance was in 1948
1948 in film
The year 1948 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Laurence Olivier's Hamlet becomes the first British film to win the American Academy Award for Best Picture.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :...
's Three Stooges film Crime on Their Hands
Crime on Their Hands
Crime on Their Hands is the 112th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
; heavy makeup was used to mask Schindell's cancer-ridden face.