"Mostel: If I appeared there, what if I did an imitation of a butterfly at rest? There is no crime in making anybody laugh. I don't care if you laugh at me. Congressman Jackson: If your interpretation of a butterfly at rest brought any money into the coffers of the Communist Party, you contributed directly to the propaganda effort of the Communist Party. Mostel: Suppose I had the urge to do the butterfly at rest somewhere? Congressman Doyle: Yes, but please, when you have the urge, don't have such an urge to put the butterfly at rest by putting some money in the Communist Party coffers as a result of that urge to put a butterfly at rest."
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Comedians from the United StatesActors from New York CityJews from the United StatesSingers from the United StatesTony Award winners
Original Language: English
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Testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), October 14, 1955, regarding Mostel's appearance at a Communist Party fundraiser.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Zero_Mostel
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Zero Mostel
Zero Mostel (February 28, 1915 – September 8, 1977) was a Brooklyn-born stage and film actor best known for his portrayal of comic characters such as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Pseudolus in the Broadway production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (and in the film version), and Max Bialystock in The Producers. He was blacklisted during the 1950s, and his testimony before HUAC was well publicized. He was a Tony Award and Obie Award winner.
2 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Zero Mostel →
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