Jon Silo

Jon Silo (born Abraham Jonathan Margolis; July 22, 1907 – August 4, 1996) was an Austrian-born American actor, comedian, and humorist.^[1] Over a career spanning more than four decades, he performed extensively on the Broadway stage and became a prolific character actor on classic American television.^[1] Later in life, following significant personal health challenges, he gained recognition for pioneering "Laugh Therapy" for rehabilitation patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.^[2]

Silo was born Abraham Jonathan Margolis in Klagenfurt, Austria, on July 22, 1907.^[1] He immigrated to the United States and settled in New York to pursue a professional career in the performing arts.^[1] While he initially worked under his birth name, he eventually adopted Jon Silo as his permanent stage name.^[1]

Silo established a strong presence on the New York stage during the 1950s, displaying a strong affinity for both musical theater and character comedy.^[1] His notable Broadway credits on the Internet Broadway Database include, Springtime Folly in which he played the comedic role of George Baroff at the John Golden Theatre and Can-Can, he appeared in the original Broadway run of this celebrated Cole Porter musical at the Shubert Theatre, portraying multiple character roles including a policeman and a cafe waiter, while also understudying the role of Theophile.^[3]

Later he appeared in The Passion of Josef D. and he portrayed Russian General Lavr Kornilov in Paddy Chayefsky's biographical drama about Josef Stalin at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. He also toured and performed in regional productions of classic musicals, including Oklahoma!.^[2]

With the rise of broadcast television in the 1950s and 1960s, Silo transitioned seamlessly into on-screen character acting, where casting directors frequently relied on his impeccable comedic timing and mastery of European regional accents.^[1]

He appeared in The Dick Van Dyke Show and Silo holds a distinct place in the show's history.^[4] He was the very first guest actor to appear in the first-ever filmed episode of the series, "The Meershatz Pipe", playing both an elevator operator and John the Barber.^[5] Then he appeared in The Munsters and he played a comedic Russian sailor in the maritime-themed episode "Herman, the Master Spy".^[6] Later he worked in My Favorite Martian and he made multiple character appearances, playing a vendor and a waiter across different episodes.^[7]

He was a frequent star in a vast landscape of iconic shows, including Have Gun – Will Travel, The Outer Limits, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Mission: Impossible, and Kojak.^[8]

On the big screen, Silo contributed memorable supporting parts to several major Hollywood studio films such as The Story of Ruth, That Touch of Mink, and The Fortune Cookie.^[9]

Later in life, Silo survived a debilitating stroke and a subsequent triple-bypass heart surgery.^[2] Impressed by his unyielding optimism and rapid recovery, his physician, Dr. Harry Glassman, recruited Silo to volunteer and share his positive mindset with other recovering patients.^[2]

This led Silo and his wife, Ruth, to establish the "Laugh Therapy" program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.^[2] Operating on a bimonthly schedule, the couple led dedicated humor sessions for patients recovering from severe neurological, spinal, and orthopedic injuries.^[2] Silo utilized a mixture of physical comedy, traditional jokes, and classic Yiddish storytelling to boost patient morale and aid psychological recovery.^[2]

Outside of clinical volunteering, Silo was a highly respected storyteller within the Jewish community, frequently performing comedic benefit shows for philanthropic organizations such as B'nai B'rith.^[1]

Silo married actress Ruth Silo on October 9, 1941.^[10] The couple raised their family in New York before relocating to Los Angeles to follow Jon's acting career.^[10] The couple remained married for 55 years until his death.^[2] Their daughter, Susan Silo, became a widely recognizable child actress in the 1960s before transitioning into a prolific, award-winning voiceover career in American animation.^[10]

Jon Silo died on August 4, 1996, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 89.^[2]

• Jon Silo at IMDb