- Theodore Bikel, The Blue Angel, 1958. Jacobi headed the list for the compere and magician of Lola-Lola’s cabaret show before he was called away for The Diary of Anne Frank. Like Mai Britt in Marlene Dietrich’s most famous role, Bikel was no match for the original, Kurt Gerron – “killed by the Nazis, ” reported the original director Josef von Sternberg, “after being forced to direct a film for them, showing how well the Jews were treated.”
- Jack Kruschen, The Apartment, 1959. The brilliant auteur Billy Wilder wrote Dr Dreyfuss for Jacobi but his Broadwauy producer would not give time off for the comedy. Kruschen won the role and a support Oscr nomination. Wilder made it up to Jacobi three years later – making him Moustache in Irma La Douce, 1962.
Birth year: 1913Death year: 2009Other name: Casting Calls: 2