Bikel took on the part in 1967 and never entirely stopped appearing in more than 2 000 performances of fiddler.
Theodore bikel fiddler on the roof film.
Theodore bikel a prolific performer and political activist who created the role of captain georg von trapp in the original broadway production of the sound of music and defined the role of tevye.
The production won nine tony awards and was one of the longest running musicals in broadway history.
Zero mostel originated the role on broadway in 1964 but mr.
His latest film was a documentary about interpreting the work of yiddish author and playwright sholem aleichem who wrote fiddler on the roof bikel sings lyrics from fiddler on the roof in.
The following year bikel starred on broadway as capt.
Georg von trapp in the original 1959 production of the sound of music but many viewers knew him best for his portrayal of tevye in stage.
Zero mostel had originated tevye in 1964.
In 1969 bikel began acting and singing on stage as tevye in the musical fiddler on the roof a role he performed more often than any other actor to date.
Bikel who won fame playing tevye in fiddler on the roof doing more performances of the role than any other actor died tuesday morning of natural causes at the ucla medical center in los.
Michael buckner wireimage oscar and tony nominated character actor and folk singer theodore bikel who originated the role of captain von trapp in the sound of music on broadway and starred in.