(1915-1977) Born Samuel Joel Mostel, Zero was a comedic actor extraordinaire on stage and screen. His career came to a halt when he was subpoenaed in 1955 to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings. The subsequent blacklisting did not stop him from making a successful comeback on Broadway in the 1960s. The musicals “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “Fiddler on the Roof” both earned him Tony Awards.