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{{Short description|Russian-American actor (1899–1972)}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Akim Tamiroff
| native_name        = Ակիմ Թամիրով
| image              = Akim Tamiroff 1964.jpg
| caption            = Tamiroff in the Netherlands in 1964
| birth_name         = Hovakim Tamiryants
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1899|10|29}}
| birth_place        = [[Tiflis]] or [[Baku]], [[Russian Empire]]
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1972|9|17|1899|10|29}}
| death_place        = [[Palm Springs, California]], U.S.
| alma_mater         = [[Moscow Art Theatre]]
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1919–1972
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Tamara Shayne]]|1932}}
}}

'''Akim Mikhailovich Tamiroff'''{{efn|{{langx|hy|Ակիմ Թամիրով}}, {{langx|ru|Аким Михайлович Тамиров}}}} (born '''Hovakim Tamiryants''';{{efn|{{langx|hy|Հովակիմ Թամիրյանց}}}}<ref>{{cite wikisource|title=Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia|wslanguage=hy|wslink=Էջ:Armenia Encyclopedia.djvu/948|page=948}}</ref> October 29, 1899 – September 17, 1972) was an [[Armenian Americans|Armenian-American]] actor of film, stage, and television. One of the premier [[character actors]] of [[Golden Age of Hollywood|Hollywood's Golden Age]],<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=1972-09-19|title=Akim Tamiroff, Actor, Is Dead; Had Screen Career of 35 Years|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/09/19/archives/-akim-tamiroff-actor-is-dead1-had-screen-career-of-35-years-exert.html|access-date=2021-06-19|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Tamiroff developed a prolific career despite his thick accent, appearing in at least 80 motion pictures over a span of 37 years.<ref name="nyt" />

He was nominated twice for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for his performances in ''[[The General Died at Dawn]]'' (1936) and ''[[For Whom the Bell Tolls (film)|For Whom the Bell Tolls]]'' (1943), winning the first ever [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for the latter. [[Orson Welles]], a friend and oft-collaborator, praised him as "the greatest of all screen actors."<ref>{{Cite web|date=1965-10-24|title=This Hour has Seven Days: Chuvalo, Welles, and the Klan|url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/this-hour-has-seven-days-chuvalo-welles-and-the-klan|url-status=live|website=CBC Archives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104113758/http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/this-hour-has-seven-days-chuvalo-welles-and-the-klan |archive-date=2017-11-04 }}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Tamiroff was born Hovakim Tamiryants ({{langx|hy|Հովակիմ Թամիրյանց}}) to [[Russian Armenians|Armenian]] parents<ref>{{cite book |last=Adalian |first=Rouben Paul |author-link=Rouben Paul Adalian |date=2010 |title=Historical Dictionary of Armenia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QS-vSjHObOYC&pg=PA415 |location=Lanham, Maryland |publisher=Scarecrow Press |page=415 |isbn=978-0-8108-6096-4}}</ref> living in the [[Russian Empire]]. Different sources cite either [[Tiflis]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Parish |first=James Robert |author-link=James Robert Parish |date=1978 |title=Hollywood Character Actors |publisher=Arlington House |page=478 |isbn=0-87000-384-4}}</ref> (in modern-day [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]) or [[Baku]]<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |title=Akim Tamiroff, Actor, Is Dead; Had Screen Career of 35 Years |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/09/19/archives/-akim-tamiroff-actor-is-dead1-had-screen-career-of-35-years-exert.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 19, 1972 |access-date=March 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180324013209/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/09/19/archives/-akim-tamiroff-actor-is-dead1-had-screen-career-of-35-years-exert.html |archive-date=March 24, 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> (in modern-day [[Azerbaijan]]) as his places of birth. His father was an oil worker, and his mother a [[seamstress]]. He trained at the [[Moscow Art Theatre]] drama school for nine years from the age of 19,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i2hxJrlSE0AC&pg=PA74|title=Russians in Hollywood|isbn=9781555536862|last1=Robinson|first1=Harlow|year=2007}}</ref> where he was a pupil of [[Konstantin Stanislavski]]. During that time, he changed his name to the [[Russification|russified]] moniker Akim Mikhailovich Tamiroff ({{langx|ru|Аким Михайлович Тамиров}}).

==Stage acting==
During his time at the Moscow Art Theatre, he became acquainted with fellow Armenian [[Nikita Balieff]]. Following the [[Russian Revolution]], Tamiroff and several other [[White émigré|émigrés]] joined Balieff in [[Paris]] to form the [[La Chauve-Souris]] touring revue.<ref name=":1" />

He arrived in the U.S. for the first time in January 1923 on a three-month tour with the revue and starred in a repertory of Russian plays directed by Stanislavski. He returned in November and stayed until 1924. His final trip with them was in October 1927 when he decided to stay permanently.<ref name="nyt" /><ref>[http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/sel_by_actor_index_2.php?actor_first=Akim&actor_last=Tamiroff 'Practice Fun' Music Studio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029152803/http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/sel_by_actor_index_2.php?actor_first=Akim&actor_last=Tamiroff|date=October 29, 2006}}. Dougmacaulay.com. Retrieved on April 1, 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Akim Tamiroff|url=http://theoscarsite.com/whoswho/tamiroff_a.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050201041942/http://theoscarsite.com/whoswho/tamiroff_a.htm|archive-date=February 1, 2005|access-date=September 2, 2016}}. theoscarsite.com. Retrieved on April 1, 2014.</ref> He joined the [[Theatre Guild]] in [[New York City]], where he met his wife [[Tamara Shayne]]. Both were later naturalized as United States citizens.
[[File:D0006a.jpg|thumb|1940, Akim Tamiroff as [[Dominique You]] on original program for movie [[The Buccaneer (1938 film)|The Buccaneer]], playing in a local cinema in [[Prilep]], [[North Macedonia|Macedonia]] ([[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]])]]

== Film and television career ==
[[File:Touch of Evil-Akim Tamiroff2.JPG|thumb|right|Tamiroff in ''[[Touch of Evil]]'' (1958)]]

Tamiroff's film debut came in 1932 in an uncredited role in ''[[Okay, America!]]''. He performed in several more uncredited roles until 1935, when he appeared in ''[[The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (film)|The Lives of a Bengal Lancer]]''. He also appeared in the lavish epic ''[[China Seas (film)|China Seas]]'' in 1935 with [[Clark Gable]], [[Wallace Beery]], [[Jean Harlow]], [[Rosalind Russell]] and [[Robert Benchley]]. The following year, he was cast in the titular role in ''[[The General Died at Dawn]]''. He appeared in the 1937 musical ''[[High, Wide, and Handsome]]'' with [[Irene Dunne]] and [[Randolph Scott]], and the 1938 proto-noir ''[[Dangerous to Know]]'' opposite [[Anna May Wong]], frequently singled out as his best role.<ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=Susan |author-link=Susan King (journalist) |date=August 26, 2012 |title=Cinecon film festival unearths some old treasures |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2012-aug-26-la-et-mn-cinecon-festival-classic-hollywood-20120827-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=March 1, 2018}}</ref>

In the following decade, he appeared in such films as ''[[The Buccaneer (1938 film)|The Buccaneer]]'' (1938) with [[Fredric March]], ''[[The Great McGinty]]'' (1940), ''[[The Corsican Brothers (1941 film)|The Corsican Brothers]]'' (1941), ''[[Tortilla Flat (film)|Tortilla Flat]]'' (1942) with [[Spencer Tracy]], [[Hedy Lamarr]] and [[John Garfield]], ''[[Five Graves to Cairo]]'' (1943) with [[Erich von Stroheim]] as [[Field Marshal]] [[Erwin Rommel]], [[Frank Borzage]]'s ''[[His Butler's Sister]]'' (1943), ''[[For Whom the Bell Tolls (film)|For Whom the Bell Tolls]]'' (1943) with [[Gary Cooper]] and [[Ingrid Bergman]],<ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=Susan |date=September 1, 1995 |title=HOME ENTERTAINMENT : New 'Bell' Tolls With Original Luster |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-01-ca-41350-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=March 1, 2018}}</ref> for which he received another Oscar nomination,<ref name="nyt" /> and [[Preston Sturges]]' ''[[The Miracle of Morgan's Creek]]'' (1944). Though ethnically [[Armenian people|Armenian]], his many character roles included such ethnicities as Russian, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, French, German, Greek, Egyptian, Polish, Turkish, Malayan, Tartar, Romani, and Jewish.

In later years, Tamiroff appeared in ''[[Ocean's 11 (1960 film)|Ocean's 11]]'' (1960) with [[Frank Sinatra]] and [[Dean Martin]]'s [[Rat Pack]], ''[[Topkapi (film)|Topkapi]]'' (1964) with [[Peter Ustinov]] and [[Melina Mercouri]], ''Lord Jim'' with Peter O’Toole and ''[[Alphaville (film)|Alphaville]]'' (1965), ''[[Marquis de Sade: Justine]]'' (1969) by [[Jesús Franco]].  He also had a long collaboration with [[Orson Welles]] including ''[[Mr Arkadin]]'' (1955), ''[[Touch of Evil]]'' (1958) with [[Charlton Heston]], ''[[The Trial (1962 film)|The Trial]]'' (1962), and as [[Sancho Panza]] in Welles's unfinished version of ''[[Don Quixote (unfinished film)|Don Quixote]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Todd|author-link=Todd McCarthy|date=May 19, 1992|title=Don Quijote de Orson Welles Don Quixote of Orson Welles|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://variety.com/1992/film/reviews/don-quijote-de-orson-welles-don-quixote-of-orson-welles-1200429671/|access-date=March 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lim|first=Dennis|date=August 17, 2008|title='Quixote' eerily like Welles' life|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-17-ca-second17-story.html|access-date=March 1, 2018}}</ref>

== Awards ==
In 1944, Tamiroff was the first Golden Globe Award winner for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture]] for his work in ''[[For Whom the Bell Tolls (film)|For Whom the Bell Tolls]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Golden Globe Awards for 'Akim Tamiroff'|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/akim-tamiroff|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116002154/http://www.goldenglobes.com/person/akim-tamiroff|archive-date=January 16, 2016|access-date=March 24, 2018|website=Golden Globe Awards|publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

He was twice nominated for Academy Awards, both times for [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]. The first was for his work in ''[[The General Died at Dawn]]'', and the second was for his work in ''For Whom the Bell Tolls''.<ref name="nyt" /> Both these films starred [[Gary Cooper]].

For his contributions to the American film industry, Tamiroff received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] for motion pictures at 1634 Vine Street.<ref>{{cite web|title=Akim Tamiroff {{!}} Hollywood Walk of Fame|url=https://www.walkoffame.com/akim-tamiroff|access-date=March 1, 2018|publisher=[[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=September 19, 1972|title=Akim Tamiroff - Hollywood Star Walk|work=Los Angeles Times|url=http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/akim-tamiroff/|access-date=March 1, 2018}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Tamiroff's accepted birth year was 1899, although in at least two instances this appeared to be different. In his second trip to America in November 1923<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/?name=_Tamirov&birth=1896&birth_x=0-0-0&name_x=1_1|title=Ancestry.com|last=1923 passenger list|first=Birth year 1896|website=[[Ancestry.com]]}}</ref> his age is given as 27 and in the 1930 census as 32.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/?name=_Tameriroff&name_x=1_1|title=Ancestry.com|last=Census 1930|first=Tameriroff couple|website=[[Ancestry.com]]}}</ref> He married fellow actress [[Tamara Shayne]], with whom he performed nightclub acts,<ref name="nyt" /> in February 1933<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/?name=_Tamiroff&marriage=1933&marriage_x=0-0-0&name_x=1_1|title=Ancestry.com|last=Marriage date|website=[[Ancestry.com]]}}</ref> in [[Los Angeles]]. Yet, according to the above-mentioned 1930 census, the couple was living in [[Chicago]], Illinois, as married under the (misspelled) name Tameriroff.<ref name=":0" /> It appears also that this was his second marriage.

Tamiroff was fluent in five languages – Armenian, Russian, English, French, and Italian.

==Death==
Tamiroff died on September 17, 1972, from [[cancer]].<ref name="nyt" />

==Legacy==
While Tamiroff may not be a household name now, his [[Malapropism|malapropistic]] performance as the boss in ''The Great McGinty'' is thought to have been the inspiration for the cartoon character [[Boris Badenov]],<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Corliss|first=Richard|author-link=Richard Corliss|date=October 23, 2010|title=Unsung Creator of Rocky and Bullwinkle Dies|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2028066-2,00.html|access-date=March 1, 2018}}</ref> the male half of the villainous husband-and-wife team Boris and Natasha on ''[[The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show]]''.<ref>[https://www.avclub.com/low-rated-and-barely-animated-rocky-bullwinkle-becam-1798239117 Low-rated and barely animated, Rocky & Bullwinkle became a TV touchstone]. Tv.avclub.com. Retrieved on July 8, 2013.</ref> He was also spoofed in a 1969 episode of the TV show ''[[H.R. Pufnstuf]]'' entitled "The Stand-in" in which a frog named "Akim Toadanoff" directs a movie on Living Island. He is mentioned in [[J.D. Salinger]]'s "[[Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut]]" (''[[The New Yorker|New Yorker]]'', 1942), and [[Walker Percy]]'s 1961 novel ''[[The Moviegoer]]''.<ref>''The Moviegoer''. (New York: Vintage, 1998), 165</ref>

==Filmography==
[[File:For Whom The Bell Tolls trailer ss 02.jpg|thumb|right|Tamiroff in the trailer for ''[[For Whom the Bell Tolls (film)|For Whom the Bell Tolls]]'' (1943)]]
[[File:Akim Tamiroff in Fiesta trailer.jpg|thumb|right|Tamiroff in the trailer for ''[[Fiesta (1947 film)|Fiesta]]'' (1947)]]

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1932
| ''[[Okay, America!]]''
| Bit Role
| rowspan="9" | Uncredited
|-
| rowspan="7" | 1933
| ''[[Clear All Wires!]]''
| Moscow Hotel Clerk
|-
| ''[[Gabriel Over the White House]]''
| Delegate to The Debt Conference
|-
| ''[[The Barbarian (1933 film)|The Barbarian]]''
| Colonel
|-
| ''[[Professional Sweetheart]]''
| The Hotel Waiter
|-
| ''[[Storm at Daybreak]]''
| Gypsy Fiddler
|-
| ''[[The Devil's in Love]]''
| Adjutant
|-
| ''[[Queen Christina (film)|Queen Christina]]''
| Pedro
|-
| rowspan="12" | 1934
| ''[[Fugitive Lovers]]''
| Deaf-Mute Bus Passenger
|-
| ''[[Sadie McKee]]''
| Riccori
|
|-
| ''[[The Great Flirtation]]''
| Paul Wengler
|
|-
| ''[[Whom the Gods Destroy (1934 film)|Whom the Gods Destroy]]''
| Peter Korotoff
|
|-
| ''[[Straight Is the Way]]''
| Mr. Slavko
| rowspan="2" | Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Now and Forever (1934 film)|Now and Forever]]''
| French Jeweller
|-
| ''[[Chained (1934 film)|Chained]]''
| Pablo
|
|-
| ''[[The Scarlet Empress]]''
| Granin
| rowspan="3" | Uncredited
|-
| ''[[The Merry Widow (1934 film)|The Merry Widow]]''
| Maxim's Manager
|-
| ''[[Lady by Choice]]''
| Poupolis
|-
| ''[[The Captain Hates the Sea]]''
| General Salazaro
|
|-
| ''[[Here is My Heart]]''
| Manager of Hotel
|
|-
| rowspan="14" | 1935
| ''[[The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (film)|The Lives of a Bengal Lancer]]''
| Emir
|
|-
| ''[[The Merry Widow (1934 film)|La Veuve joyeuse]]''
| Le Turc
|
|-
| ''[[The Winning Ticket]]''
| Giuseppe
|
|-
| ''[[Rumba (1935 film)|Rumba]]''
| Tony
| Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Naughty Marietta (film)|Naughty Marietta]]''
| Rudolpho
|
|-
| ''[[Black Fury (film)|Black Fury]]''
| Sokolsky
|
|-
| ''[[Reckless (1935 film)|Reckless]]''
| Chef At Wedding
| Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Go into Your Dance]]''
| Mexican In La Cucaracha Cantina
|
|-
| ''[[Paris in Spring]]''
| Cafe Manager
|
|-
| ''[[China Seas (film)|China Seas]]''
| Paul Romanoff
|
|-
| ''[[The Gay Deception]]''
| Spellek
|
|-
| ''[[The Big Broadcast of 1936]]''
| Boris
|
|-
| ''[[Two-Fisted]]''
| Taxi Driver
|
|-
| ''[[The Last Outpost (1935 film)|The Last Outpost]]''
| Mirov
| Uncredited
|-
| rowspan="7" | 1936
| ''[[The Story of Louis Pasteur]]''
| Dr. Zaranoff
|
|-
| ''[[Desire (1936 film)|Desire]]''
| Major Avilia
|
|-
| ''[[Woman Trap (1936 film)|Woman Trap]]''
| Joe Ramirez De La Valle
|
|-
| ''[[Anthony Adverse]]''
| Carlo Cibo
|
|-
| ''[[The General Died at Dawn]]''
| General Yang
| Nominated- [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]]
|-
| ''[[The Jungle Princess]]''
| Karen Neg
|
|-
| ''[[I Loved a Soldier]]''
| Unknown
| Unfinished
|-
| rowspan="6" | 1937
| ''[[Her Husband Lies]]''
| Ed "Big Ed" Bullock
|
|-
| ''[[The Soldier and the Lady]]''
| Ogareff
|
|-
| ''[[King of Gamblers]]''
| Steve Kalkas
|
|-
| ''[[The Great Gambini]]''
| The Great Gambini
|
|-
| ''[[High, Wide, and Handsome]]''
| Joe Varese
|
|-
| ''[[This Way Please]]''
| Tartar Chieftain
| Uncredited
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1938
| ''[[The Buccaneer (1938 film)|The Buccaneer]]''
| Dominique You
|
|-
| ''[[Dangerous to Know]]''
| Stephan Recka
|
|-
| ''[[Spawn of the North]]''
| "Red" Skain
|
|-
| ''[[Ride a Crooked Mile]]''
| Mike Balan
|
|-
| rowspan="6" | 1939
| ''[[Paris Honeymoon]]''
| Mayor Peter Karloca
|
|-
| ''[[King of Chinatown]]''
| Frank Baturin
|
|-
| ''[[Union Pacific (film)|Union Pacific]]''
| Fiesta
|
|-
| ''[[The Magnificent Fraud]]''
| Jules LaCroix / President Alvarado
|
|-
| ''[[Honeymoon in Bali]]''
| Tony, The Window Washer
|
|-
| ''[[Disputed Passage]]''
| Dr. "Tubby" Forster
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1940
| ''[[The Way of All Flesh (1940 film)|The Way of All Flesh]]''
| Paul Kriza
|
|-
| ''[[Untamed (1940 film)|Untamed]]''
| Joe Easter
|
|-
| ''[[The Great McGinty]]''
| The Boss
|
|-
| ''[[North West Mounted Police (film)|North West Mounted Police]]''
| Dan Duroc
|
|-
| ''[[Texas Rangers Ride Again]]''
| Mio Pio
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1941
| ''[[New York Town]]''
| Stefan Janowski
|
|-
| ''[[The Corsican Brothers (1941 film)|The Corsican Brothers]]''
| Baron Colonna
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1942
| ''[[Reap the Wild Wind]]''
| The Lamb (voice)
| Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Tortilla Flat (film)|Tortilla Flat]]''
| Pablo
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1943
| ''[[Five Graves to Cairo]]''
| Farid
|
|-
| ''[[For Whom the Bell Tolls (film)|For Whom the Bell Tolls]]''
| Pablo
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture]]<br/>Nominated- [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]]
|-
| ''[[His Butler's Sister]]''
| Popoff
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1944
| ''[[The Miracle of Morgan's Creek]]''
| The Boss
|
|-
| ''[[The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1944 film)|The Bridge of San Luis Rey]]''
| Uncle Pio
|
|-
| ''[[Dragon Seed (film)|Dragon Seed]]''
| Wu Lien
|
|-
| ''[[Can't Help Singing]]''
| Prince Gregory Stroganovsky
|
|-
| 1945
| ''[[Pardon My Past]]''
| Jim Arnold
|
|-
| 1946
| ''[[A Scandal in Paris]]''
| Emile Vernet
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1947
| ''[[Fiesta (1947 film)|Fiesta]]''
| Chato Vasquez
|
|-
| ''[[The Gangster (1947 film)|The Gangster]]''
| Nick Jammey
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1948
| ''[[My Girl Tisa]]''
| Mr. Grumbach
|
|-
| ''[[Relentless (1948 film)|Relentless]]''
| Joe Faringo
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1949
| ''[[Outpost in Morocco]]''
| Lieutenant Glysko
|
|-
| ''[[Black Magic (1949 film)|Black Magic]]''
| Gitano
|
|-
| 1953
| ''[[Desert Legion]]''
| Private Plevko
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1954
| ''[[They Who Dare]]''
| Captain George One
|
|-
| ''[[You Know What Sailors Are (1954 film)|You Know What Sailors Are]]''
| The President of Agraria
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1955
| ''Cartouche''
| Il Marchese Di Salpiere
|
|-
| ''[[The Widow (1955 film)|The Widow]]''
| Carlo Serra
|
|-
| ''[[Mr. Arkadin]]''
| Jakob Zouk
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1956
| ''[[The Black Sleep]]''
| Odo
|
|-
| ''[[Anastasia (1956 film)|Anastasia]]''
| Boris Andreevich Chernov
|
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst]]''
| Colonel Peng
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1958
| ''[[Touch of Evil]]''
| Joe "Uncle Joe" Grandi
|
|-
| ''[[Me and the Colonel]]''
| Szabuniewicz
|
|-
| 1959
| ''[[Desert Desperadoes]]''
| The Merchant
|
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Ocean's 11]]''
| Spyros Acebos
|
|-
| rowspan="6" | 1961
| ''La moglie di mio marito''
| Presidente Agenzia Pubblicitaria
|
|-
| ''[[The Bacchantes (film)|The Bacchantes]]''
| Teiresias
|
|-
| ''[[Romanoff and Juliet (1961 film)|Romanoff and Juliet]]''
| Vadim Romanoff
|
|-
| ''[[The Last Judgment (1961 film)|The Last Judgment]]''
| The Director
|
|-
| ''[[The Italian Brigands]]''
| 'O Zingaro
|
|-
| ''[[Ursus and the Tartar Princess]]''
| Khan of the Tartars
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1962
| ''[[Invasion 1700]]''
| [[Onufry Zagłoba|Jan Onufry Zagłoba]]
|
|-
| ''[[The Reluctant Saint]]''
| Bishop Durso
|
|-
| ''[[The Trial (1962 film)|The Trial]]''
| Bloch
|
|-
| ''[[A Queen for Caesar]]''
| [[Pompey|Gnaeus Pompeius]]
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1964
| ''[[The Black Tulip (1964 film)|The Black Tulip]]''
| Marquis de Vigogne
|
|-
| ''[[Panic Button (1964 film)|Panic Button]]''
| Pandowski
|
|-
| ''[[Topkapi (film)|Topkapi]]''
| Gerven, The Cook
|
|-
| ''Spuit Elf''
| Bakker / Brandmeester
|
|-
| rowspan="7" | 1965
| ''[[Le bambole]]''
| Monsignor Arcudi
| Segment: "Monsignor Cupido"
|-
| ''[[Lord Jim (1965 film)|Lord Jim]]''
| Schomberg
|
|-
| ''[[Crime on a Summer Morning]]''
| Frank Kramer
|
|-
| ''[[Alphaville (film)|Alphaville]]''
| Henri Dickson
|
|-
| ''[[Marco the Magnificent]]''
| [[Rashid ad-Din Sinan|The Old Man of the Mountain]]
|
|-
| ''[[Marie-Chantal contre le docteur Kha]]''
| Professor Lambaré / Dr. Kha
|
|-
| ''[[The Liquidator (1965 film)|The Liquidator]]''
| Sheriek
|
|-
| rowspan="6" | 1966
| ''[[Adultery Italian Style]]''
| Max Portesi
|
|-
| ''[[Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.]]''
| Tanamashu
|
|-
| ''[[I nostri mariti]]''
| Cesare
| Segment: "Il marito di Olga"
|-
| ''[[After the Fox]]''
| Okra
|
|-
| ''Un gangster venuto da Brooklyn''
| Joe Montano
|
|-
| ''[[Hotel Paradiso (film)|Hotel Paradiso]]''
| Anniello
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1967
| ''[[The Vulture (1967 film)|The Vulture]]''
| Professor Hans Koniglich
|
|-
| ''[[A Rose for Everyone]]''
| Basilio
|
|-
| ''Monsieur Lecoq''
| Unknown
| Unfinished
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1968
| ''O tutto o niente''
| Pigsty / Dean Light
|
|-
| ''[[The Girl Who Couldn't Say No]]''
| Uncle Egidio
|
|-
| ''[[Great Catherine (film)|Great Catherine]]''
| Sergeant
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1969
| ''[[100 Rifles]]''
| General Romero
| Deleted role
|-
| ''[[Marquis de Sade: Justine]]''
| Du Harpin
|
|-
| ''[[The Great Bank Robbery (1969 film)|The Great Bank Robbery]]''
| Papa
|
|-
| ''Death of a Jew''
| Inspector Mehdaloun
|
|-
| 1972
| ''[[Don Quixote (unfinished film)|Don Quixote]]''
| [[Sancho Panza]]
| Unfinished, filmed between 1955 and 1969
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1952
| ''[[Schlitz Playhouse of Stars]]''
| Unknown
| Episode: "Trouble in Pier Twelve"
|-
| 1954
| ''The Black Forest''
| Baron Von Moribund
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1955
| ''The Chocolate Soldier''
| Major Ludek
| Television film
|-
| ''[[The Best of Broadway]]''
| Nick Verdis
| Episode: "Broadway"
|-
| ''[[Climax!]]''
| Albert Ganz
| Episode: "To Wake at Midnight"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1956
| ''[[Four Star Playhouse]]''
| Mendoza
| Episode: "One Forty Two"
|-
| ''[[Ethel Barrymore Theatre (TV series)|Ethel Barrymore Theatre]]''
| [[Pancho Villa]]
| Episode: "This Is Villa"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1957
| ''[[Playhouse 90]]''
| Mr. Anagnos
| Episode: "The Miracle Worker"
|-
| ''[[Producers' Showcase]]''
| General Otakar Zandek
| Episode: "The Great Sebastians"
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1958
| ''[[DuPont Show of the Month]]''
| The Governor
| Episode: "Cole Porter's 'Aladdin'"
|-
| ''[[Matinee Theatre]]''
| Unknown 
| Episode: "The Inspector General"
|-
| ''[[The Rifleman]]''
| Cesar Tiffauges
| Episode: "New Orleans Menace"
|-
| 1959
| ''[[The DuPont Show with June Allyson]]''
| Tony
| Episode: "Love Is a Headache"
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1960
| ''[[Tales of the Vikings]]''
| Eyulf
| 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Johnny Ringo (TV series)|Johnny Ringo]]''
| Andy Baranov
| Episode: "The Assassins"
|-
| ''[[Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse]]''
| Captain Farago
| Episode: "Thunder in the Night"
|-
| 1961
| ''[[Wagon Train]]''
| Joe Muharich
| Episode: "The Joe Muharich Story"
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1962
| ''[[Route 66 (TV series)|Route 66]]''
| Sam Benjamin
| Episode: "Blues for the Left Foot"
|-
| ''[[The Dick Powell Show]]''
| Inspector Boulanger
| Episode: "View from the Eiffel Tower"
|-
| ''[[Kraft Television Theatre]]''
| Captain Farago
| Episode: "Thunder in the Night"
|-
| 1962–1963
| ''[[Naked City (TV series)|Naked City]]''
| Emil Pappas / Demetru Lapesku
| 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1963
| ''[[The Defenders (1961 TV series)|The Defenders]]''
| John Solasky
| Episode: "The Trial of Twenty-Two"
|-
| ''[[Breaking Point (1963 TV series)|Breaking Point]]''
| Goldstein
| Episode: "A Pelican in the Wilderness"
|-
| 1966
| ''[[The Man from U.N.C.L.E.]]''
| Chairman Georgi Koz
| Episode: "The Jingle Bells Affair"
|-
| 1969
| ''[[Then Came Bronson]]''
| "Papa Bear"
| Episode: "Pilot"
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons-inline}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{TCMDb name}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* [http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/05/the_multirussia.html Akim Tamiroff at WFMU]
* [http://theoscarsite.com/whoswho/tamiroff_a.htm Akim Tamiroff] at Katz's Film Encyclopedia
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061029152803/http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/sel_by_actor_index_2.php?actor_first=Akim&actor_last=Tamiroff Akim Tamiroff at Great Character Actors]

{{GoldenGlobeBestSuppActorMotionPicture 1943-1960}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tamiroff, Akim}}
[[Category:1899 births]]
[[Category:1972 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Armenian male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Baku]]
[[Category:Male actors from Tbilisi]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American people of Armenian descent]]
[[Category:Armenian male actors]]
[[Category:Armenian people from the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (film) winners]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in California]]
[[Category:Russian people of Armenian descent]]
[[Category:Soviet emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:White Russian emigrants to France]]
[[Category:Moscow Art Theatre School alumni]]
[[Category:Method actors]]