Maurice Schwartz
Maurice Schwartz, born Avram Moishe Schwartz (June 15, 1889 – May 10, 1960) was a Ukrainian-born theatre and film actor active in the United States. He founded the Yiddish Art Theatre in 1918 in New York City and its associated school. He was its theatrical producer and director. He also worked in Hollywood, mostly in silent films as an actor, but also as a film director, producer and screenwriter.
Early life and education
Schwartz was born Avram Moishe Schwartz in Sudlekov, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire, to Isaac, a grain dealer, and his wife Rose Schwartz, a Jewish family. Moishe was the oldest of three boys among the six siblings, and had three older sisters. Like many similar families, his immigrated to the United States in two parts. His father emigrated first in 1898 with the three teen-aged daughters, as they could all work to get started in New York and earn money for passage of the rest of the family. The following year, Isaac sent tickets for Rose and their sons. Rose and the boys made it to Liverpool, where they were to sail for the US, but got separated and she was forced to leave without Moishe. Without any English, he made his way to London, where he lived for two years, surviving with the help of strangers. His father located him in 1901, and they traveled together to New York when Moishe was twelve.