European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 17, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse It flu 0 actor As artist Zero at work in studio. Living Joy mystery is the main thing in life says Zoro. Like this scene. Up Uhi Zero Peers around self portrait Mirror in background shows painting. By Hal Boyle a staff writer Zero mostel May Well be the happiest fat Man in America. Heis 235 pounds of living Joy. The secret of his happiness get Ting lost he said. Being involved in something you can t is the main thing in life. Why should you have to understand everything regarded by Many As one of the most versatile performers in the history of the theater the Pudgy faced stringy haired actor spends More time at his first love painting than he does onstage or before the cameras. Since completing his Lith film the producers in which he stars As a Zany and impecunious Broadway show Man Zero has been contentedly spend ing his Days working alone at his ease Lin a third floor walkup studio in Man Hattan s wholesale Flower like to work in this area because the stuff florists Spray on their Flowers keeps Down vermin mostel said. This was George Gershwin first studio when he was a tin pan Alley King. I be had it now for Zero who never does anything quite like anyone else bore Little resemblance to the Public s idea of an artist. He wore a Brilliant pair of Blue Corduroy pants and a paint splotches Blue work shirt worn from Many washings. I m dirty admitted Zero Content edly. I love these old shirts. I have about 10 of them. They seem to last he once taught Art in his youth and is recognized As a genuinely talented Painter. Mostel is somewhat unorthodox in his like to fool around with new materials and tools. I Don t stick to brushes. I also use dental picks spoons and Finger scratches to get a particular has been the spice of Zero s life. He feels that the greatest prob Lem facing creative american artists in any Field is the Public s insistence that they be tend to want to identify you with one thing perhaps because that helps them to feel they can under stand you. That s All right if you can Only do one thing. But i like to do number of different things. I Don t like to do just one thing Ata time either. Before i Start on a film i prepare about 10 to 12 big canvases so i la have something to come Back to. And while i m doing the film or appearing in a play before i fall asleep at night i make dozens and dozens of preliminary drawings for my paint a Hostel won three Tony awards in a Row for his appearance in Rhinoceros a funny thing happened on the Way to the forum and fiddler on the but flattering As hit productions Are to his ego he dislikes Long runs. I simply Don t enjoy doing the something Over and Over and Over. A Plum Ber gets a longer vacation than an actor one week with since his Early lean Days As we artist and embryonic nightclub comic. Zero has always been somewhat suspicious of the real importance of Money in a Man s life. Some actors say they can t afford to take certain roles because the pay is too Low he said and then rolling his eyes heavenward in a look of cherubic unction he inquired but Tell me what really is the Dif Ference Between �75,000 and $110,000 or for that matter Between �100,000 and$500,000? Many people get mixed up about Money. They will accept the idea of paying $50 million for a naval vessel but balk at the idea of paying �2 Mil lion for a great painting. Yet which has the More lasting value asked what his next career goal was Zero rolled his eyes again and replied my Only unsatisfied goal is just to sit Here and do nothing except what 1 enjoy doing. If you get involved in some thing besides yourself if you do your work and get lost in it that s the goodlife. I m wednesday april 17, 1968 the stars and stripes Page u
