Leonid Kinskey

Leonid Kinskey was a Russianborn film and television actor who enjoyed a long career. Kinskey is best known for his role as Sascha in the film Casablanca .

Kinskey was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. He fled the Russian Revolution and acted on stage in Europe and South America before arriving in New York City in 1921. He joined the road production of Al Jolsons musical Wonder Bar, before making his first film appearance, in Trouble in Paradise . His looks and accent helped him gain supporting roles in several movies, including the Sylvanian agitator in the Marx Bros. film Duck Soup . He told Aljean Harmetz, author of Round Up the Usual Suspects The Making of Casablanca, that he was cast in his bestknown role, Sascha in Casablanca, because he was a drinking buddy of star Humphrey Bogart. He replaced Leo Mostovoy because the latter was deemed not funny enough.

Source: Wikipedia