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Bynunsky Hyman
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born:
01 July 1883 Orany, Russia |
died:
22 June 1948 Camarillo State Hospital, Camarillo, California, United States of America (age 64) |
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Russian-born dwarf actor. As can be expected there are many variations of his name but most often it is "Hyman Binunsky". He came to the US in 1910 with his 63 year old widowed Mom as "Chaim Binunsky", a 28 year old "merchant--second hand dealer" born in Orany, Russia (now Ukraine). An 1882 birth year would have made his age 27 years, 8 months and 15 days. Their final destination was Boston, MA to live with the Mom's Brother. His birthday wasn't specified in the passenger list but his 1918 WWI Draft Card and 1920 citizenship Declaration of Intent he specifies 1883 and Vilno, Russia. He gives his occupation as "peddler". The 1920 Census for LA has him as an "actor--Motion Pictures". This is the first reference I find for him as an actor. I didn't find any sources for him on stage or in vaudeville but he seems to have moved around New York, I surmise as a "peddler". His citizenship Declaration is a signed document and he gives his height as 4'8" but in other sources he gives his height as 4'10" and 4'11". In October of 1920, "Hyman Binunsky" rented a room in a downtown Los Angeles hotel. The bellboy warned him to beware of the "athletic vampire" who frequented the halls and turned handsprings near guests "bubbling over with mirth and frivolity". Hyman went to bed and woke up when the "vampire" came over the transom and he found her going thru his pockets, taking $50. He confronted her. She ran out the door but left her fur coat behind. He went back to bed without reporting the incident because he figured that he had the fur coat worth $150! A little later he woke up and he found her back in the room with her fur coat in hand and she scampered out the open window and down the fire escape (the way she got in). Now he reported it to police to try to recover his $50! In 1927 he gave a publicity interview for the United Artists Pressbook for "Night of Love", which mentioned that he acted with all the beautiful actresses but never got kissed. He stated that he was born in July 1882 in Vilna, Russia and came here in 1910 and "went before the cameras" in 1918. He gave his personal description: High School grad. / Not married (but currently looking for a "blind blonde") / Height 4'10" / Weight 108 lbs. / Color of eyes--brown /Color of hair---none He died twelve years after being admitted to hospital for treatment of alcoholism and a stomach ailment. Upon recovery, he asked to be allowed to remain as a paying guest in the institution where he had made many friends. He is buried in Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura County, California, USA. |
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Real name: Chaim Binunsky Height: 4'8" |
Films listed on this page: complete Hal Roach filmography. |
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