Harry Grey
From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
For other people named Harry
Grey, see Harry Grey (disambiguation).
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Harry Grey
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Born
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Died
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Occupation
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Author, writer
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Nationality
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Russian
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Notable works
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The Hoods
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Herschel Goldberg,
better known as Harry Grey (November 2, 1901 – October 1, 1980), was an
American writer. His first book, The Hoods (1952), was the model for the
film, Once Upon a Time in America by Sergio
Leone, where his part was played by Robert
De Niro.[1]
This was one of the few autobiographies of real gangsters. It is believed that
the real name of the author was Goldberg and that his memoir, partially
factual, partially subconsciously altered, and partially fictional, was written
when Goldberg was incarcerated in the Sing-Sing
prison.
After The Hoods, Grey
published two more books, Call Me Duke (1955) and Portrait of a
Mobster (1958), also based on his experience as a gangster, but these have
had much less success.
Contents
Biography
Grey’s real name was Herschel
Goldberg. Born in Kiev, Russia (now Ukraine) in 1901, son of Israel and Celia
Goldberg, emigrated to the United States in 1905 and dropped out of school in
the seventh grade. He was the brother of Hyman Goldberg, a syndicated columnist and
food critic for the New York Post and author of several books including “Our
Man in the Kitchen”, a compilation of recipes from his column as “Prudence
Penny”.
In 1912, Goldberg’s father
became seriously ill and had to be taken to hospital for an operation. During
his stay in hospital, Celia began cooking meals for men in the neighborhood who
were saving money to bring their families to America from Europe. When Israel
came out of hospital he found that Celia had a flourishing business and Israel
started a restaurant. All the children, including Harry and Hyman, helped out.
In 1932, Grey married Mildred
Becker, a college graduate and had three children, Beverle, Harvey, and Simeon.
After being hospitalized by an accident in his fifties, Harry decided to write
about life in the twenties and thirties and the syndicates that controlled
businesses in New York. To protect himself and his family he changed the family
name to Grey.
Grey died in October 1980,
shortly before filming of Once Upon a Time in America began.
In December 1999, Harry’s son
Simeon sponsored a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars for his father under
the name of Harry “Noodles” Grey. Biographical details are attached to this
star. Palm Springs Walk of Stars dedication[3]
Bibliography
1.
The Hoods
2.
Call Me Duke
See also
1.
David "Noodles" Aaronson
– a character in The Hoods.
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