Austrian movie stars born in 1902
Here are 7 famous actors from Austria were born in 1902:
Walter Slezak
Walter Slezak (May 3, 1902 Vienna-April 21, 1983 Flower Hill) also known as Walt Slezak was an Austrian actor. He had three children, Leo Slezak, Erika Slezak and Ingrid Slezak.
Slezak was known for his distinctive voice and often played villainous characters in films such as "Lifeboat" and "The Princess and the Pirate". He began his acting career on stage in Vienna before moving to Hollywood in the 1930s. Slezak received critical acclaim for his work on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for his performance in "Fanny" in 1955. He also appeared in numerous television shows including "The Twilight Zone" and "The Love Boat". Later in life, Slezak retired from acting and became an artist, focusing on painting and sculpting.
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Egon von Jordan
Egon von Jordan (March 19, 1902 Duchcov-December 27, 1978 Vienna) also known as Egon v. Jordan, E. von Jordan or Egon Jordan was an Austrian actor.
He began his acting career in the 1920s and quickly became a well-known character actor in German-speaking countries. Jordan's film debut was in the silent film "The Trousers" (1927) and continued to act in numerous films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, including "The Copper" (1930), "The Congress Dances" (1931) and "The Shopworn Angel" (1938). He was also a successful stage actor and director, and held positions at various theaters including the Vienna Burgtheater. In addition to his acting career, Jordan also worked as a screenwriter, and his credits include "The Copper" and "The Congress Dances". After World War II, Jordan was blacklisted by the Allied forces and struggled to find work in the entertainment industry. He continued to act in smaller roles until his death in 1978.
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Carl Esmond
Carl Esmond (June 14, 1902 Vienna-December 4, 2004 Brentwood) otherwise known as Willy Eichberger, Charles Esmond, Willi Eichberger, Willy Eichberger-Esmond or Carl Caesar Willy Simon was an Austrian actor.
Esmond began his acting career in the theater, but it was his appearance in the film "The Broken Melody" in 1934 that launched his career in cinema. He continued to act in films throughout Europe before moving to the United States in the 1940s. He appeared in numerous films during the 1940s and 1950s, including "The Big Shot" and "The Spanish Main." In addition to his film work, Esmond also appeared on television, including episodes of "Maverick" and "Perry Mason." He continued to act into his 90s, with his final role being in the 1992 film "The Long Day Closes." Outside of acting, Esmond was also a linguist and fluent in several languages, including German, French, and English. He was married twice and had two children.
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Willy Trenk-Trebitsch
Willy Trenk-Trebitsch (March 11, 1902 Vienna-September 21, 1983 Berlin) also known as William Trenk, Willi Trenk-Trebitsch or Willy Trenk was an Austrian actor.
He began his acting career in Vienna at the Burgtheater in the 1920s before moving to Berlin in the early 1930s. During his time in Germany, Trenk-Trebitsch appeared in several films and worked with notable directors such as Georg Wilhelm Pabst and Fritz Lang.
In 1933, he fled Germany due to the rise of the Nazi Party and returned to Austria. However, when Austria was annexed by Germany in 1938, Trenk-Trebitsch fled again, this time to the United States. There, he continued his acting career and appeared in films such as "The Mortal Storm" (1940) and "To Be or Not to Be" (1942).
After World War II, Trenk-Trebitsch returned to Europe and appeared in films in both East and West Germany. He also became a familiar face on television, appearing in various TV series throughout the 1950s and 60s.
In addition to acting, Trenk-Trebitsch was also a talented musician and songwriter, and his compositions were performed by well-known artists such as Marlene Dietrich and Zarah Leander.
He passed away in Berlin in 1983 at the age of 81.
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Heinz-Leo Fischer
Heinz-Leo Fischer (November 19, 1902 Vienna-November 4, 1977 Munich) a.k.a. H.L. Fischer or Heinz Leo Fischer was an Austrian actor.
After studying at the Max Reinhardt Seminar, Fischer began his stage and film career in Vienna, appearing in numerous productions throughout the 1920s and 1930s. He is perhaps best known for his role as the valet in the 1931 film "M" directed by Fritz Lang.
With the rise of Nazism in Austria, Fischer emigrated to the United States in 1938 and continued to act in Hollywood films, including "Casablanca" and "To Be or Not to Be."
After World War II, Fischer returned to Europe and continued acting both on stage and in films, including the German production of "An American in Paris." He also served as the artistic director of the Munich Kammerspiele theater from 1953 to 1956.
Throughout his career, Fischer was known for his versatility and ability to play a wide range of characters, from serious dramatic roles to comedic performances. He died in Munich in 1977 at the age of 74.
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Carl-Heinz Schroth
Carl-Heinz Schroth (June 29, 1902 Innsbruck-July 19, 1989 Munich) also known as Karl-Heinz Schroth, Karl Heinz Schroth, Carl Heinz Schroth or Heinz Sailer was an Austrian actor, film director and voice actor. He had two children, Sabine Hausmeister and Katharina Hausmeister.
Schroth began his acting career in the 1920s and achieved great success during the 1930s, appearing in numerous films such as "The False Prince" and "Gold in the Street". However, with the rise of Nazi Germany, Schroth's career was threatened due to his association with Jewish writers and directors. He eventually fled to Switzerland and later settled in Germany after World War II. In the post-war era, Schroth continued to act and direct in films, becoming a popular character actor in both comedic and dramatic roles. He is best known for his roles in the films "The Captain from Köpenick" and "The Haunted Castle". Schroth also lent his voice to German dubbings of foreign films, including the voice of Scrooge McDuck in the German version of the Disney animated series "DuckTales".
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Fred Louis Lerch
Fred Louis Lerch (March 28, 1902 Staatz-August 26, 1985 Munich) otherwise known as Fred L. Lerch, Louis Lerch or Alois Lerch was an Austrian actor.
Lerch began his career in Austrian cinema during the 1920s, appearing in silent films such as "Die goldene Pest" and "Die Fledermaus". He continued acting throughout the 1930s and 1940s, appearing in both Austrian and German films, including "Münchhausen" and "Das Herz der Königin". After World War II, Lerch moved to Munich where he found success as a character actor in German television shows and movies, such as "Tatort" and "Der Alte". He also appeared in international productions, including "The Blue Max" and "The Great Waltz". In addition to his acting career, Lerch was also a dubbing actor, lending his voice to German versions of films such as "Ben-Hur" and "Spartacus". He remained active in the German entertainment industry until his death in 1985.
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