Zev Buffman | |
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Born | 1930 Tel Aviv, Israel |
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Spouse(s) | Vilma Buffman |
Zev Buffman is a Broadway producer and current President and CEO of Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida. He has produced more than 40 Broadway shows. He partnered with Elizabeth Taylor to present her in her Broadway debut, The Little Foxes. Mr. Buffman is also the co-founding General Partner of the NBA Champion Basketball team the Miami Heat.
Zev Buffman was born in Tel Aviv, Palestine, in 1930. His parents were early pioneers from the Ukraine. His initial involvement in the performing arts began in 1947, while in the 89th Commandos. At the age of 16, he debuted as a stand-up comic throughout Israel, entertaining troops in periods of cease fire during the War of Independence. Zev served from 1947-1950, and returned for the Six Day War as well as the Yom Kippur War. He came to the United States as a foreign exchange student in 1951, moved to Hollywood, California, and worked as an actor while attending college. His first role was playing an Arab guard in the film Flight to Tangier. His most memorable film work was a role in the Cecil B. DeMille classic The Ten Commandments.
By 1960, he had produced his first Hollywood to Broadway-bound musical, Vintage 60, in partnership with Broadway’s David Merrick.
In 1962, Buffman purchased and renovated the historic Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida, and until 1971 he was the President/CEO/Owner He also established the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. In 1967 he ran the Parker Playhouse, Ft. Lauderdale's first theater, for 23 years.
From 1976-1990, he was President of the Jackie Gleason Performing Arts Center, located in South Miami Beach. He helped renovate the theater complex and brought in Broadway performers, including Julie Andrews, Liza Minnelli, Angela Lansbury and Yul Brynner. The opening of the 3,000-seat performing arts center was part of the real estate comeback of South Beach and the nearby Lincoln Mall.