Maury Chaykin

Maury Alan Chaykin (July 27, 1949 – July 27, 2010) was an American–Canadian actor, best known for his portrayal of Rex Stout's fictional detective Nero Wolfe in the A&E series A Nero Wolfe Mystery, as well as for his work as a character actor in many films and television programs. His film appearances include The Kidnapping of the President, WarGames, Twins, Dances with Wolves, My Cousin Vinny, Devil in a Blue Dress, Cutthroat Island, The Mask of Zorro, Entrapment and Mystery, Alaska. Television wise, he starred as Sam Blecher in the first two seasons of the Canadian dramedy Less Than Kind, and made guest appearances in Seeing Things, Philip Marlowe, Private Eye, The Twilight Zone, Street Legal, La Femme Nikita, Due South, Lexx, Andromeda, CSI, Stargate SG-1, Entourage, Boston Legal and Eureka. Personal life Chaykin was born to Jewish parents in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Irving J. Chaykin (1912–2007), was born in Brooklyn, and was a professor of accountancy at City College of New York. His mother, Clarice Chaykin (née Bloomfield, 1921–2012), was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but raised in Montreal, Quebec, since the age of three. She graduated from Beth Israel Hospital nursing school in Newark, New Jersey. Chaykin's maternal uncle, George Bloomfield (1930–2011), was a veteran Canadian director, producer, writer and actor who directed Chaykin in a number of projects for film and television. Raised in New York City, Chaykin studied drama at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. He subsequently moved to Toronto, Ontario, where he resided until his death. Chaykin's first marriage, to Canadian producer Ilana Frank, ended in divorce. He was subsequently married to Canadian actress Susannah Hoffmann, with whom he had one daughter, Rose. Best known for having played Jen Pringle in the Anne of Avonlea series, Hoffmann had a supporting role in a 2002 episode of the television series A Nero Wolfe Mystery, in which Chaykin starred.