Father of well known orchestra conductor Lorin Maazel.

In 1920, aged 17, he and 30 other young people were picked to perform at the Shubert Theater on Broadway, where he sang the Prologue to Pagliacci.

In 1977, he appeared in the screen role for which he is best known in George A. Romero's Martin.

As an actor, Maazel did not start an onstage career until he was 56 but proceeded to appear in stage plays for the Pittsburgh Playhouse, the Civic Light Opera, Little Lake Theater, Mountainview Playhouse, Odd Chair Playhouse and White Barn Theatre.

He was an American singer and actor of stage and screen.

He moved to Los Angeles, California and developed into a performer at nightclubs and for local television.

Maazel was born in New York City to Russian Jewish parents.