Norman Perlmutter, known professionally by his stage name of Norman Lloyd is a famous American film, television and Broadway actor. Lloyd is also a director and producer and is one of the rare people in the business to have worked in every major facet of the entertainment industry. In a career spanning eight decades, Lloyd is regarded as a 103-year-old living legend and is the oldest working actor in Hollywood.
Lloyd made his feature film debut in 1942 with Alfred Hitchcock’s Nazi spy film ‘Saboteur’. He later served as an actor, director and producer on Hitchcock’s anthology TV series ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’. Lloyd has starred in more than 60 films and TV shows and is best known for his portrayals of Dr. Daniel Auschlander on the TV series ‘St. Elsewhere’, Dr. Isaac Mentor in the sci-fi series ‘Seven Days’ and as Mr. Nolan in the 1989 film Dead Poets Society. He also appeared as Mr. Letterblair in 1993 film ‘The Age of Innocence’.
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Early Life and Education
Born as Norman Perlmutter on 8 November 1914, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Lloyd was raised in a Jewish household in Brooklyn, New York by his parents, accountant turned salesman Max Perlmutter, who later owned a furniture store and his wife bookkeeper Sadie Horowitz Perlmutter. Lloyd had two younger sisters named Ruth and Janice. Lloyd made his professional acting debut at age 9.
At age 15, Lloyd graduated high school and enrolled into New York University to study law but dropped out after his sophomore year in the wake of the great Depression of 1929 which rendered people jobless and businesses futile. Lloyd auditioned at the Eva Le Gallienne’s Civic Repertory Theatre, New York City at age 17 and became May Sarton’s youngest apprentice. He also simultaneously joined Sarton’s Apprentice Theatre in the state of New Hampshire. The group performed at Harvard University and although Lloyd was not a Harvard alumnus he was allowed to perform on stage there.
Career Rise
Lloyd continued to perform with theatre stalwarts like May Sarton, Elia Kazan, Orson Wells, Marc Connelly and John Houseman among others and became a Broadway sensation. He was selected in the critics’ list of Ten Best Performers which was the Tony Awards equivalent of the era. Lloyd made his silver screen debut in 1942 with Alfred Hitchcock’s Nazi Spy film ‘Saboteur’ in which he played the antagonist Frank Fry. Lloyd was then type-cast in negative roles. Some of his films at the time include ‘The Southerner’. ‘The Unseen’, ‘A Letter for Evie’, ‘Young Widow’, ‘The Black Book’ Etc. He also served as an assistant cinematographer on Lewis Milestone’s 1948 film ‘Arch of Triumph’.
During the 1950’s Lloyd served as both producer and director, in addition to being a film and television actor. He was best known for his work in the TV series ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ which ran from 1957-1961 in which he appeared in several episodes in different roles. From 1982-1998, Lloyd appeared as Dr. Daniel Auschlander in the popular TV series ‘St. Elsewhere’. He starred as the authoritative headmaster Mr. Nolan in the 1989 acclaimed film ‘Dead Poet’s Society’. Lloyd portrayed Dr. Isaac Mentor in the sci-fi series ‘Seven Days’ that aired from 1998-2001 and guest starred on several TV shows. He was last seen in the 2015 film ‘Trainwreck’, a role he played at the age of 99.
Normal Lloyd – Young Pictures
Personal Life
Lloyd met actress Craven while they were cast in the Elia Kazan’s play “Crime”. The couple started dating and got married in 1936. Together, they had two children, a son and a daughter, actress Josie Lloyd. Lloyd and Craven were married for 75 years until she died at the age of 98 in August 2011. Their marriage was considered one of Hollywood’s rare successful marriage.
Lloyd is an avid tennis player and is one of the oldest living celebrities. He celebrated his 100th birthday on November 8, 2014.
Norman Lloyd – Net Worth
Lloyd has an estimated net worth of approximately $5 Million.