Born on 15 May 1888 in Pitshayev, Volin region. Father -- a merchant. Learned in a cheder and with a private teacher -- Hebrew and Russian.

At the age of thirteen he arrived in America to his father, who often took him to the Yiddish theatre, which brought out in him a pull to the stage, and at the age of fifteen he became a co-founder of the "Peoples Crown Dramatic Society" (among the members were the future actors Irving Honigman and Philip Augenblik), with E. playing the role of "Karl". The club existed for three years, during which time there also performed the future actors Hyman Rapaport, Maurice Schwartz, Sam Auerbach, Hershl Kaufman and Joseph Schwartzberg. At the same time, E. was a member in the "Progressive Dramatic Club", where he participated in the offering of Gordin's "Devorahle myukhst".

Professionally he began to act in the Metropolitan Singer Hall in Brownsville, and after traveled around to act across the surrounding areas, and he became engaged to Leo Largman in Baltimore.

 He returned to New York, where E. became a co-founder of the actor's union Local 18, and participated several times in single productions in the province. Later he acted some seasons with David Levenson in Cleveland, with David Kessler in the Lyric Theatre in Brooklyn, and eight seasons -- with breaks -- with Max Gabel.