Tevye As A Dramatic Role
Zero Mostel and Chaim Topol are the two actors most associated with the role of Tevye. For the film version, the part ultimately went to Topol, as producer-director Norman Jewison felt that Mostel's portrayal was too broadly comic. Critic Pauline Kael warmly embraced Topol's performance, and he has appeared in several stage revivals of the show. He was also Oscar-nominated for his performance in the film version of Fiddler, but lost to Gene Hackman, who won for his performance in The French Connection.
Tevye is also the name of a 1939 film adaptation of Sholem Aleichem's story. In this adaptation, Tevye plays the role as a narrator of the events as well as a main character. He is portrayed as a gruff, somewhat intimidating character.
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