Probably what you’d call working-class, but we never wanted for anything. When I was born, it was the Great Depression. We lived in our own home in Montreal, but my father struggled, worked very hard and didn’t make a lot of money. I went to public schools and wore nice clothes for a young man, but there were no extended vacations and money was always tight. After I graduated from university, I got a job right out of college, acting in the theatre. It paid about $30, $40 a week, which meant you couldn’t eat too well. You didn’t do much laundry and you didn’t go to the movies. What did you study? My father said, “Why don’t you study business, and then you’ll be equipped when you go into business with me?” He had a small men’s clothing factory. I graduated from McGill University in Montreal with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Sounds like a very sensible career path. My father was very sensible. Given his circumstances, he had to be. Thusly, his offspring were equally sensible. That was ingrained in me since birth.

So what happens when you turn to acting, a career path that doesn’t guarantee a job? What’s the reaction? Great trepidation. My father didn’t want me to go into it. Young people are tantalised by the glamour of being an actor. The reality is you’re grubbing along on starvation wages. Is there any acting job that isn’t worth all the world’s riches? I wouldn’t be in a porno movie. [Laughs] Has that ever been an option?

Not that I was offered! But that’s something I wouldn’t do. And of late, it’s mostly based on the fact I don’t think anybody could take it: me nude on camera. RELIGION You grew up in a Jewish family. Was it very observant? Not at all. My father and mother had an observant religious life. They went to temple every Sabbath, prayed to God, and I was dragged along. I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual. I read avidly on philosophy and animals, plants and trees; how connected all of life is. What has being culturally Jewish given you?

There’s a value system. Giving to people. Being generous and charitable. Learning is an important aspect of being Jewish and connection with other Jewish people. There are so few, so it helps that everyone helps each other. Did you experience anti-Semitism growing up? A great deal. I was born in a city that was mostly Catholic. It was very difficult. I’m shaped by a lot of battles from six years old up until now. How did this anti-Semitism manifest itself? Fights, every day, with one or more kids my size or bigger. Somebody recently showed me a high school graduation book. There I was – a nice-looking boy – and my nickname was “Toughie” because I was always fighting and being attacked. Kids would all crowd around, yelling, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Did you experience anti-Semitism as an adult and professional actor? The university I went to had a quota. How I made it through the quota, I don’t know. You mean a Jewish quota? Oh yeah, there was a limit to the number of Jewish kids who could go to that university, no matter how qualified they were. That’s remarkably blatant discrimination.

In the US South they once had signs: “No blacks allowed.” Many signs also had: “No Jews allowed.” But at the end of World War II, Jewish young men came back tough. That’s when anti-Semitism began to change; when the Jewish soldiers said, “We’re not backing away from a fight.” BODIES How’s your health at the moment? Superb. I have a somewhat arthritic back that makes it difficult for me to run and even walk long distances, but it doesn’t stop me from riding a horse or working out in a swimming pool. You’ve exceeded the current life expectancy of American men (78) and Canadian men (82). What’s your secret?

[Laughs] I’m not expecting to die after this conversation. For me, getting up in the morning is either to go to work or ride a horse. So I’m going to keep myself in a physical condition to ride the horses and compete [in reining and driving]. For people who don’t ride horses, I imagine some people think, “Is that exercise? Isn’t the horse doing all the work?” Well, yes and no. The sport I do is a dash from the moment you get into the ring. You might run full gallop to the other end of the ring, slide 40 feet to a stop, do a 180-degree turn and go to the other end of the arena, slide and stop, do another rollback, go to the centre. You’re breathless. I did two hours of that this morning. Are you happy with your body in your 80s? I have a six-pack, but it’s slipped below my knees. [Laughs] I was in good shape at one time! But let me put it this way: I can attest to the fact that there is gravity.