Saul Rubinek was born in a refugee camp in Germany, where his father managed a Yiddish Repertory Theatre company. This early exposure to the world of theatre had a profound impact on Rubinek's future, shaping his trajectory as a child actor in both Canadian theatre and radio.
By the time he was 20, Rubinek had already become a member of the prestigious Stratford Shakespearean Festival company in Stratford, Ontario, and later co-founded, acted, and directed Theatre Le Hibou, Theatre Passe-Muraille, and Toronto Free Theatre. His early training in film and television as an actor for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation provided a solid foundation for his future career.
Rubinek's transition to the United States began with his work at the Public Theater in New York, marking the start of a long and illustrious career in U.S. and Canadian television, film, and theater that spans over four decades.
In 1997, Rubinek made his directorial debut with the feature film Jerry and Tom, which was based on the play he had previously directed. The film was produced in partnership with his wife, Elinor Reid, and was an official entry in competition at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998. He went on to direct the features Club Land and Bleacher Bums for Showtime/Paramount.
Rubinek's work behind the camera also includes the award-winning indie film Cruel But Necessary, which he directed and his wife produced. The film was a critical and commercial success, and its DVD is available from The National Center for Jewish Film at Brandeis University.
In addition to his work in film and television, Rubinek has also written a non-fiction book titled "So Many Miracles", which was published in 1987. The book chronicles his parents' survival during World War II, and a documentary of the same title, which Rubinek wrote and produced, was released in 1988. The documentary was a critical and commercial success, and its DVD is also available from The National Center for Jewish Film at Brandeis University.
Rubinek's most recent project is the play "Terrible Advice", which was produced in 2011 in London by The Chocolate Factory. The play stars Scott Bakula, Andy Nyman, Caroline Quentin, Sharon Horgan, and is directed by the renowned Frank Oz.
