Born April 14, 1896, Emmanuel “Manny” Kimmel was a man who built an empire in the gray space between legitimacy and organized crime. Father of Buddy Jacobson's associate Caesar Kimmel he began as an illegal bookmaker and numbers operator in New Jersey, he expanded into parking garages through the Kinney Parking Company—an enterprise that would, over decades, evolve into what ultimately became part of today’s media giant, Warner Bros. Discovery.

Peter Salzer played the role of Manny Kimmel in the TV Series Breaking Vegas! *not related to "My Buddy from Brooklyn"

During the Prohibition era, Manny maintained close ties to figures like Abner Zwillman, leasing garage space used for liquor storage and distribution. His business dealings attracted the attention of federal authorities, and he was later compelled to testify in high-profile cases involving organized crime figures such as Joe Adonis.

Despite his associations, Manny was not merely a criminal figure—he was also a financial innovator. He became one of the largest horse-racing bookmakers in New York and owned thoroughbred racehorses himself, tying his legacy directly into the same racing world his son would later inhabit from a very different angle.

In the 1960s, Manny quietly financed mathematician Edward O. Thorp, supporting the development of card-counting strategies that revolutionized blackjack. In Thorp’s landmark book Beat the Dealer, Manny was referred to simply as “Mr. X”—a fitting alias for a man who preferred influence without exposure.

Father–Son Contrast

The story of Caesar Kimmel is inseparable from his father’s legacy—but defined by how he diverges from it.

• Manny built power through control of money and illicit networks
• Caesar built influence through advocacy and industry relationships

Yet Caesar never fully escapes the perception of his lineage. In racing circles, his last name opens doors—but also raises eyebrows. Some trust him because of it. Others remain cautious for the same reason.

Narrative Function in My Buddy from Brooklyn

Caesar Kimmel represents the connective tissue between worlds—organized crime, legitimate business, and the working-class backbone of horse racing. He is not the loudest man in the room, but often the one who understands it best.

He brings depth to the story by showing that not every figure tied to power seeks to dominate. Some prefer to navigate it quietly—and survive.