Eugene Blau(1930-1979)
- Actor
Born to Hungarian/Russian parents in Chicago, Illinois, he showed
dramatic talent from an early age. By 10 years old, he was an
accomplished violinist. He had a love of music all his life, directing
opera, and becoming a cantor later in life. In the early
60's, he formed a comedy theater Review in Cleveland together with Avery Schreiber
called "The Party". Blau was extremely active in Los Angeles theater in
the
1960's, producing, directing and acting in dynamic new productions of John Dos Passos,
Tennessee Williams,
Eugène Ionesco and
Samuel Beckett, always to brilliant
reviews. Emigrating to Israel, Blau acted in and co-wrote the legendary
television shows
The Adventures of Scooterman (1972)
and The Amazing World of Dr. Halfbaked (1972). The shows were pioneers in early Israeli
educational television, and are still loved and remembered by more than
one generation of Israelis who grew up learning English with them. The
shows also featured a very young
Gary David Goldberg, who went on to
produce Family Ties (1982) and
Spin City (1996). Blau passed away
in New York City on April 12, 1979, survived by his wife Lois, and
their son and daughter.