CHARACTER ACTORS: Akim Tamiroff

Akim Tamiroff (1899-1972) was a great master of his profession who contributed with his skills to the success of many pictures in and out of Hollywood. In Topkapi (1964), dir. Jules Dassin, he played a moody servant and cook in Istanbul. His exchange with Sir Peter Ustinov is the most insane conversation I have ever heard in a movie. I just wonder how much of it was improvised.