April 14, 1924
Joseph Ruskin was born Joseph Richard Schlafman in Haverhill, Massachusetts. After graduating high school in Cleveland, he served in the US Navy and studied drama at Carnegie Mellon University and began acting at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. He continued his theatre work on the west coast, and served as officers in the acting unions.
He made his screen debut on a 1955 episode of “The Honeymooners” playing a member of Ralph’s lodge.
For Desilu, he did six episodes of “The Untouchables” from 1961 to 1963 playing various characters.
In August 1962 he did an episode of “Kraft Mystery Theatre” filmed at Desilu Studios.
He first worked opposite Lucille Ball on “The Lucy Show” in “Lucy and John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10) on November 21, 1966. He played John Wayne’s director, Joe.
In 1968 he played Galt in “The Gamesters of Triskelion”, an episode of Desilu’s hit series “Star-Trek”.
Ruskin played Ambassador Korlik of the Slobtoni Embassy (above right) in “Lucy’s Impossible Mission” (HL S1;E6) on “Here’s Lucy” in October 1968. A parody of Desilu-filmed “Mission: Impossible” on which Ruskin appeared as various foreign operatives in six episode (two of which were two-parters) from 1966 to 1972.
His final screen appearance was on an 2006 episode of “Bones” (above, second from right).
Ruskin died on December 28, 2013 at age 89. He was survived by his wife Barbara, daughter and three step-daughters.
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