Harvey Keitel never hid his opinion and even treated it as a reason to be proud. He was born on May 13, 1939 in New York in a family of Jewish immigrants. His mother Miriam came from Romania, and his father Harry was Polish. – It runs in my veins. My father’s family came from Biłgoraj. I’ve heard a lot of stories about this city, but I’ve never had the opportunity to visit it. Somehow fate throws me to different parts of our globe, but it has never sent me to Poland – a few years ago in an interview, adding that Polish cuisine has a special place in his heart.
He was kicked out of school, and then he served in the army. If it weren’t for depression, he probably wouldn’t have become interested in acting
However, he never learned his father’s native language. Although his grandparents spoke Polish even after moving abroad, his parents wanted him and his siblings to master English as best as possible, especially since Harvey had significant difficulties with stuttering as a child. He was also not a good boy, because he used to… steal the neighbors’ pigeons. Not only was he not successful at school, but he also caused a lot of behavioral problems, which led to him leaving school at the age of 16. That’s when he joined the army, and while serving in the Marines, he gained refinement and self-confidence.
After three years, he finished his service and returned to New York. Initially, he took various jobs until he finally became a court reporter. He enjoyed the stability of his job, but after more than a decade, he began to feel like he was burning out. When he fell into depression, he decided to change his life and then, at the suggestion of a friend, he went to acting classes, which turned out to be a hit. During the day, he took care of his duties in court, and spent his evenings at the Actors’ Studio, where he learned from such great stars as Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg.
He appeared in Scorsese’s directorial debut. A role in another of his films opened the door to Keitel’s career
He made his screen debut in 1967 in the first film “Who’s Knocking on My Door”. Later, they collaborated several more times, and one of their most outstanding joint projects is “Mean Streets”, which turned out to be a ticket to a great career for Keitel. Although he usually appears in the background, his way of creating villains is inimitable. His best roles are considered to include, among others: “Bad Lieutenant” or “Bugsy”, for which he even received a nomination. Critics have never spared him praise, arguing that he is not properly appreciated, but he does not pay attention to awards and distinctions. – Success is not about rewards. Success is continuity, a process of discovery. I’ve been lucky enough to appear in films that were very popular, but there were also some that were much less well-known that I’m just as proud of – some time ago.
Although Harvey Keitel celebrated his 85th birthday on May 13, 2024, he does not intend to slow down and retire. The mini-series “The Tattooist of Auschwitz”, in which he played one of the main roles, will soon premiere, and as many as 10 more productions with his participation are waiting for the premiere. – I don’t think anyone loses their skills as they get older. As long as you are committed and interested, nothing can take that away from you. This is how I am surprised all the time. Old age is actually full of youthful things, he argued in an interview.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
