Biography
Molly Picon — actress (yiddish) with roots in the Russian Empire
Molly Picon was an American actress and the most beloved performer in the history of Yiddish theatre — known as the Queen of Second Avenue. She performed in Yiddish theatre for over 50 years before transitioning to Broadway, film, and television, including a memorable role in Fiddler on the Roof.
Russian Connection
Tracing the roots — USA
Born in New York in 1898 to parents who had emigrated from Kyiv (Russian Empire), Picon grew up in the Yiddish-speaking immigrant world of Philadelphia and New York's Lower East Side. Her career — preserving the Yiddish theatrical tradition for decades — was an act of cultural devotion to the world her parents' generation had carried from Ukraine and the Russian Empire.
Family Tree
Subject
Molly Picon🇺🇸 USA
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Parents
Kyiv
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Origin
USA🇷🇺
Key Achievements
A career defined by ambition
01
Most beloved performer in the history of Yiddish theatre — Queen of Second Avenue
02
50+ year career in Yiddish theatre across USA, Europe, and South America
03
Fiddler on the Roof (film, 1971) — Yente the Matchmaker
04
For the Love of Mike (Broadway, 1960)
05
Yiddish film star — Yiddle with His Fiddle (1936)
"As long as there is Yiddish theatre, there is Jewish life."
Molly Picon
Sources