Theodore Bikel
Actor, singer, folk musician, cultural preservationist, 'Sound of Music' performer
Theodore Meir Bikel (May 2, 1924 – July 21, 2015) was an Austrian-American actor, singer, musician, and folk activist whose long and distinguished career spanned theater, film, television, and music. Born in Vienna, Bikel fled Nazi Europe as a teenager and eventually established himself as a major theatrical talent, earning a Tony Award nomination for his performance as Captain von Trapp in the original Broadway production of 'The Sound of Music'. His film career included notable roles in 'The Enemy Below' (1957) and numerous other productions, though he worked extensively in theater and considered it his primary artistic home. Beyond acting, Bikel was a passionate folk musician and cultural ambassador for Yiddish and Jewish culture, performing traditional songs and serving as a key figure in the American folk music movement of the 1960s and beyond. He was deeply committed to civil rights causes and performed at the 1963 March on Washington. Bikel also founded the Yiddish Folkways Project to preserve Eastern European Jewish musical traditions. His multilingual abilities, musical versatility, and commitment to preserving cultural heritage made him a unique figure in entertainment. Bikel's legacy encompasses his theatrical achievements, his contributions to music, and his lifelong dedication to cultural preservation and social justice, making him a respected elder statesman of twentieth-century entertainment.
Theodore Sturgeon
Science fiction author, pioneer of humanistic SF, creator of 'Sturgeon's Law'
Theodore White
Political journalist and author of 'The Making of the President' series
Theodore Dreiser
Pioneering novelist, author of 'Sister Carrie' and 'An American Tragedy'
Theodore Herzl
Founder of modern Zionism, journalist, visionary leader of Jewish state movement
Theodore Roosevelt
26th U.S. President, conservationist, progressive reformer, Nobel Peace Prize winner
Entertainment
American
1924
2015