# Otto Berman

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{{Short description|American accountant}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2016}}
'''Otto Biederman''', known as '''Otto "Abbadabba" Berman''' (August 10, 1891 – October 24, 1935) was an [accountant](/source/accountant) for [American](/source/United_States) [organized crime](/source/organized_crime). He is known for having coined the phrase "Nothing personal, it's just business."{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

==Biography==
===Early life===
Berman was born in a Jewish family in [New York City](/source/New_York_City). At age fifteen, he was arrested and tried for attempted [rape](/source/rape) but was found [not guilty](/source/Acquittal). He later became an accountant, well known for his ability to figure complex mathematical equations and algebraic expressions in a matter of seconds, without the use of paper or pen. He met and befriended writer [Damon Runyon](/source/Damon_Runyon). Runyon based his recurring character '''Regret''' on Berman, portrayed by character actor [Lynne Overman](/source/Lynne_Overman) in the movie version of Runyon's story, ''[Little Miss Marker](/source/Little_Miss_Marker_(1934_film))''.

===1930s===
In the 1930s Berman became the accountant for, and advisor to, gangster [Dutch Schultz](/source/Dutch_Schultz). Berman was the handicapper for Cincinnati's Coney Island track in 1935, prior to his death. A Coney Island badge was located in his pocket. Locals identified him with the nickname "Abba Dabba".<ref>''Dayton Herald'', 24 October 1935, p. 14</ref>

===Death===
On October 23, 1935, Berman was having a meeting at the Palace Chophouse tavern in [Newark, New Jersey](/source/Newark%2C_New_Jersey), with Schultz and gunmen Abe Landau and [Bernard "Lulu" Rosenkrantz](/source/Bernard_Rosencrantz) when assassins hired by [Lucky Luciano](/source/Lucky_Luciano) burst into the room. Berman was hit by several bullets as well as buckshot from a 12-gauge shotgun. He was the first of the four men to die, at 2:20 the next morning.<ref>{{cite web|work =Manchester News |title = Guerilla artist hangs banner off Mancunian Way in protest at Manchester Metropolitan University's dismantling of homeless camp |date = November 25, 2015 |url =https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/guerilla-artist-hangs-banner-mancunian-10499939}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work =Hollywood Most Wanted |title =Otto Berman |url =http://www.hollywoodmostwanted.com/map/otto-berman}}</ref>

A photo of his bullet-riddled body appeared alongside a photo of Schultz undergoing surgery in the next morning's newspaper, under the headline, "Schultz, Five Pals Shot". In fact, only four others were shot: Berman, Landau, Rosenkrantz, and Marty Krompier, one of Schultz's lieutenants. The accompanying article claimed that Berman was a gunman for Schultz. An angry [Damon Runyon](/source/Damon_Runyon) quickly submitted an editorial to the newspaper, defending Berman.<ref>{{cite web|work =Manchester News |title = Guerilla artist hangs banner off Mancunian Way in protest at Manchester Metropolitan University's dismantling of homeless camp |date = November 25, 2015 |url =https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/guerilla-artist-hangs-banner-mancunian-10499939}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work =Hollywood Most Wanted |title =Otto Berman |url =http://www.hollywoodmostwanted.com/map/otto-berman}}</ref>

Berman is buried next to his parents in Mount Carmel Cemetery in [Glendale](/source/Glendale%2C_Queens), [Queens](/source/Queens).

==In popular culture==
In the novel ''[Billy Bathgate](/source/Billy_Bathgate)'', Berman appears as the mentor to the main character.

Berman is played by [Allen Garfield](/source/Allen_Garfield) in ''[The Cotton Club](/source/The_Cotton_Club_(film))'' and by [Steven Hill](/source/Steven_Hill) in ''[Billy Bathgate](/source/Billy_Bathgate_(film)).''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Find a Grave|35952072}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berman, Otto}}
Category:1891 births
Category:1935 deaths
Category:People from New York City
Category:People from Newark, New Jersey
Category:People murdered by Murder, Inc.
Category:Deaths by firearm in New Jersey
Category:People murdered in New Jersey
Category:Murdered Jewish American gangsters
Category:Murdered American gangsters
Category:Jewish American gangsters
Category:American accountants
Category:People murdered in 1935
Category:20th-century American people

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Otto Berman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Berman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Berman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.