Leonid Kinskey, a performer of Russian origin from St. Petersburg, Russia, embarked on a remarkable career in the entertainment industry, performing across Europe and a significant portion of Latin America before arriving in the United States.
By 1932, Kinskey had secured a small role as a radical in Ernst Lubitsch's comedy, Trouble in Paradise, marking the beginning of his extensive filmography. The following year, he played an agitator in the iconic comedy, Duck Soup.
Throughout his illustrious career, Kinskey appeared in over sixty films, often taking on roles that required him to portray foreigners and comedic characters. Some of his notable performances include Genflou in Les Misérables (1935),the snake charmer in the memorable scene from The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935),an Arab in The Garden of Allah (1936),Ivan in The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938),and Pierre in That Night in Rio (1941).
Kinskey's final film role was Dominiwski in The Man with the Golden Arm (1955). However, his most enduring and iconic role remains Sascha, the humorous bartender at Rick's Cafe Americaine, in the timeless classic, Casablanca (1942). This part was originally intended for Leon Mostovoy, but Kinskey replaced him due to his exceptional comedic skills and his close friendship with the film's star, Humphrey Bogart.
Kinskey's contract for Casablanca guaranteed him a generous two weeks' pay of $750 per week. He passed away on September 8, 1998, at the age of 95, in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
