Sam Jaffe was born March 8, 1891 in New York City. As a child, he appeared in Yiddish theater productions with his mother who was a prominent actress. He studied engineering at Columbia University and then worked for several years as a math teacher before turning to acting as a career. He began to work in film in 1934 and continued throughout the rest of his life. He co-starred in the American TV series Ben Casey as Dr. David Zorba from 1961 to 1965 and had many guest starring roles on other series. Jaffe died of cancer in Beverly Hills, California on March 24, 1984.

Sam Jaffe (1891-1984)

Partial Filmography

• Nothing Lasts Forever (1984)
• Rio Abajo (1984)
• Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)
• Gideon's Trumpet (TV, 1980)
• QB VII (TV, 1974)
• Saba of Sonora (TV, 1973)
• Ghost Story (TV, 1972)
• Enemies (TV, 1971)
• The Tell-Tale Heart (1971)
• Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
• The Old Man Who Cried Wolf (TV, 1970)
• Quarantined (TV, 1970)
• The Dunwich Horror (1970)
• The Great Bank Robbery (1969)
• Guns for San Sebastian (1969)
• Tarzan's Jungle Rebellion (1967)
• A Guide for the Married Man (1967)
• Ben Casey (TV series, 1961-1965)
• The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958)
• The Spies (1957)
• The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
• I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1951)
• Under the Gun (1951)
• The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
• Rope of Sand (1949)
• The Accused (1949)
• Gentlemen's Agreement (1947)
• 13 Rue Madeleine (1947)
• Gunga Din (1939)
• Lost Horizon (1937)
• We Live Again (1934)
• The Scarlet Empress (1934)