Austrian movie stars born in 1901
Here are 6 famous actresses from Austria were born in 1901:
Nora Gregor
Nora Gregor (February 3, 1901 Gorizia-January 20, 1949 Viña del Mar) otherwise known as Princess Stahremberg, Nora Grégor or Eleonora Hermina Gregor was an Austrian actor. She had one child, Heinrich Starhemberg.
Nora Gregor started her acting career in the Austria-Hungarian Empire with the silent movie "Sodom and Gomorrah" in 1922. She acted in numerous German and Austrian films during the 1920s and 1930s, often collaborating with the director Ernst Lubitsch. Gregor was known for her humor and charm on screen, and she played a range of roles from femme fatales to comedic supporting characters. Gregor emigrated to the United States in the 1930s to escape Nazi persecution, but she struggled to find work in Hollywood and returned to Europe. She continued acting in films throughout World War II and acted in her last film, "Der Engländer" in 1948. Gregor died of a heart attack in Chile in 1949 at the age of 47.
During her career, Nora Gregor worked with prominent directors like Max Reinhardt, G.W. Pabst, and Fritz Lang. Her most significant roles include Countess Anna Geschwitz in Pabst's "Pandora's Box" (1929) and Christine in Lubitsch's "The Merry Widow" (1934). Gregor's final performance was in "Der Englader" (The Englishman) directed by Carl Lamac, which was released posthumously in 1951. Despite enjoying success in Germany and Austria, Nora Gregor's career never took off in Hollywood. She struggled to find work in the United States, and her only American film appearances were in small roles in "The Princess Comes Across" (1936) and "Man-Proof" (1938). Nora Gregor's son Heinrich Starhemberg was a prominent figure in Austrian politics and served as Vice Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Erika Meingast
Erika Meingast (May 12, 1901 Frankenmarkt-October 7, 1972) also known as Anna Friederike Hedwig Erbersdobler or Friederike Anna Hedwig Erbersdobler was an Austrian actor.
She made her stage debut in Graz in 1924 and later became a member of Burgtheater in Vienna. Meingast was known for her versatile acting skills, which earned her critical acclaim and popularity among audiences. She also worked in film, appearing in several German and Austrian productions in the 1930s and 1940s. Meingast's career was interrupted by World War II, during which she was briefly imprisoned. After the war, she returned to the stage and also appeared in a few films. Meingast retired from acting in the mid-1950s and spent her remaining years in Bad Gastein, Austria. Despite her success, little is known about her personal life or the exact number of films and plays in which she appeared.
However, some of her notable film roles include "Burgtheater" (1936), "Brüderlein fein" (1942), and "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" (1943). Meingast was known for her ability to portray a range of characters, from comedic to dramatic, and was highly respected by her fellow actors. She received numerous awards throughout her career, including the Austrian Cross of Merit for Science and Art in 1950, and was made an honorary member of the Burgtheater in 1952. Meingast's legacy as an accomplished actor continues to be celebrated in Austria, though much of her life remains a mystery.
Luli Deste
Luli Deste (November 7, 1901 Vienna-July 7, 1951 New York City) a.k.a. Luli Hohenberg or Luli von Hohenberg was an Austrian actor.
She made her acting debut in Vienna in the early 1920s and later performed in Berlin and London. Her most notable performance was in the 1932 film "Die Herrin von Atlantis" (Mistress of Atlantis) directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst. She emigrated to the United States in 1938 and continued acting in Hollywood films, including "The Great Waltz" (1938) and "Escape Me Never" (1947). Deste was also known for her flamboyant lifestyle and associations with various artists and intellectuals of her time. She passed away in 1951 at the age of 49.
During her time in Hollywood, Luli Deste was known for her glamorous lifestyle and love affairs. She had relationships with several famous men, including playwright Clifford Odets and painter Franz von Bayros. Deste was also a friend to writers and intellectuals like Thomas Mann, Bertolt Brecht, and Christopher Isherwood. Her social circle often included some of the most prominent figures in the entertainment industry.
Despite her success in Hollywood, Deste struggled with alcoholism and depression throughout her life. She made her final film appearance in the 1947 film "Escape Me Never" and passed away just four years later in New York City at the age of 49.
Melanie Horeschowsky
Melanie Horeschowsky (November 26, 1901 Vienna-February 13, 1983 Munich) also known as Melanie Horeschovsky was an Austrian actor.
She began her acting career in the theater before transitioning to film in the 1920s. Known for her versatility, she appeared in a range of roles and genres, from silent films to talkies, dramas to comedies. Some of her notable film appearances include "The Women's Crusade" (1926), "The Giant Leap" (1932), and "Viennese Love" (1939). Despite her success in Austria's thriving film industry, she was forced to flee the country following its annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938. After a brief hiatus in France, she settled in Munich, Germany, where she continued to act in film and television until her retirement in the 1960s.
During her career, Horeschowsky worked with some of the most prominent directors and actors of the time, including Max Reinhardt and Marlene Dietrich. She was also a prolific voice actress, lending her voice to several characters in German-dubbed versions of foreign films. Off-screen, she was known for her activism and advocacy for human rights, particularly for refugees and immigrants. Later in life, Horeschowsky became a mentor and teacher for young actors, passing on her wealth of experience and knowledge of the industry. She passed away in Munich in 1983 at the age of 81, leaving a celebrated legacy in Austrian and German cinema.
Alice Herdan-Zuckmayer
Alice Herdan-Zuckmayer (April 4, 1901 Vienna-March 11, 1991 Visp) also known as Alice Henriette Alberta Herdan-Harris von Valbonne und Belmont, Alice Henrietta Alberta Herdan-Harris of Valbonne and Belmont or Alice von Hardan was an Austrian writer and actor. She had two children, Michaela Frank and Maria Winnetou Zuckmayer.
Alice Herdan-Zuckmayer was born into a wealthy Jewish family in Vienna, and as a child, she was educated in several languages including German, English, and French. She spent her early career working as a costume designer and an actor in various theaters across Europe.
In 1925, Alice met the playwright Carl Zuckmayer, and they married in 1926. The couple moved to Germany, where Carl became a successful dramatist and screenwriter. Alice continued to act in films and on stage, and also began to develop her own writing career.
During World War II, the Zuckmayers fled Germany and lived in the United States until the end of the war. They then returned to Germany, where they settled in the small town of Henndorf near Salzburg. Alice's writing during this period often focused on the experience of exile, displacement, and the challenges of adapting to a new culture.
Alice Herdan-Zuckmayer's work includes novels, plays, essays, and memoirs. She is known for her witty and insightful writing, and her ability to capture the complexities of human relationships. She received numerous awards and honors in her lifetime, including the Goethe Medal and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
In addition to her literary achievements, Alice Herdan-Zuckmayer was known for her philanthropic work. She and her husband established the Carl and Alice Zuckmayer Foundation in 1961, which provides financial support to writers and artists. She also served as a trustee for the German Children's Fund and as a member of the German PEN Center. Alice Herdan-Zuckmayer's memoirs, "The Farm in the Green Mountains" and "My Seven Husbands", provide insight into her fascinating life and career. Her legacy continues to be celebrated in Germany and beyond, and her work has been translated into numerous languages.
Betty Bird
Betty Bird (June 18, 1901 Vienna-March 4, 1998 Italy) a.k.a. Hilde Elisabeth Ptack or Betty Bird Ucicky was an Austrian actor.
She began her career in the 1920s and appeared in over 50 films throughout her career. Bird was also known for her work as a voice actor, with several of her roles becoming iconic in the Austrian cinema. Bird married the Austrian film director Gustav Ucicky in 1926 and worked with him on several films. During World War II, she was briefly imprisoned for her association with the Nazi Party. After the war, she continued her acting career, appearing in films such as "1. April 2000" and "The Congress Dances". In addition to her work in film, Betty Bird was also a stage actress and appeared in several theater productions throughout her career. She passed away in Italy at the age of 96.
Betty Bird's career began to dwindle in the 1950s, as her popularity declined due to her association with the Nazi Party during the war. However, she continued to work in the film industry, acting in smaller roles for the rest of her career. After her husband Gustav Ucicky's death in 1961, Betty Bird took a break from acting but returned for a few more films in the 1970s. In addition to her work in Europe, she also appeared in some American films, notably "The High and the Mighty" in 1954. Outside of her acting career, Betty Bird was also a published author, having written several books about her experiences in the film industry. She also wrote poetry and song lyrics throughout her lifetime. Betty Bird is remembered as a talented and versatile actress, who left her mark on the Austrian film industry.