Sam Levene

Who was Sam Levene?

Sam Levene was an American Broadway and film actor. He made his Broadway debut in 1927 with five lines in a play titled Wall Street, and over a span of nearly 50 years, appeared on Broadway in 37 Shows, of which 33 were the original Broadway Productions, many now considered legendary. Levene made his film debut in 1936 as Patsy recreating the same role he had created on Broadway in Three Men on a Horse. Levene also appeared in the USO Tour of this same Show; the Radio Version; the Musical version that opened on Broadway called Let It Ride as well as the 1969 Broadway Revival of the play directed by George Abbott, the original Broadway Director and co-author.

Levene also starred in the Broadway productions Dinner at Eight, Room Service, Light Up the Sky, Heartbreak House, The Impossible Years, and Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys, among many others. Although not known as a singer, he can be heard in the role of Nathan Detroit on the original cast recording of the musical Guys and Dolls, in which he appeared on Broadway. His solo number, "Sue Me," was written in one octave to compensate for his lack of vocal range. He lost the role to Frank Sinatra in the film version.