Ludwig Donath (6 March 1900 – 29 September 1967), was an Austrian actor who appeared in many American films.

Life

Born to a

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

family, Donath graduated from Vienna's Academy of Dramatic Art and became a prominent actor on the stage in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...

. When

Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...

came to power in 1933, he returned to

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

and was active there in theater and film until the

Anschluss The (, or , ), also known as the (, en, Annexation of Austria), was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into the German Reich on 13 March 1938. The idea of an (a united Austria and Germany that would form a " Greater Germany ...

in 1938. He began his American film career with ''

Lady from Chungking ''Lady from Chungking'' is a 1942 American war film. Plot In World War II, Chinese guerrillas fight against the occupying Japanese forces. A young woman is the secret leader of the villagers, who plot to rescue two downed Flying Tigers pilots ...

'' (1942) and went on to appear in dozens of films, including '' Gilda'' (1946), ''

The Jolson Story ''The Jolson Story'' is a 1946 American musical biography film which purports to tell the life story of singer Al Jolson. It stars Larry Parks as Jolson, Evelyn Keyes as Julie Benson (approximating Jolson's wife, Ruby Keeler), William Demares ...

'' (1946), ''

Jolson Sings Again ''Jolson Sings Again'' is a 1949 American musical biographical film directed by Henry Levin, and the sequel to ''The Jolson Story'' (1946), both of which cover the life of singer Al Jolson. It was the highest-grossing film of 1949 and received ...

'' (1949), ''

The Great Caruso ''The Great Caruso'' is a 1951 biographical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring Mario Lanza as Enrico Caruso. It was directed by Richard Thorpe and produced by Joe Pasternak with Jesse L. Lasky as associate producer from a screenpla ...

'' (1951), '' My Pal Gus'' (1952), ''

Sirocco Sirocco ( ), scirocco, or, rarely, siroc (see below) is a Mediterranean wind that comes from the Sahara and can reach hurricane speeds in North Africa and Southern Europe, especially during the summer season. Names ''Sirocco'' derives from ...

'' (1951), and ''

Torn Curtain ''Torn Curtain'' is a 1966 American political thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and starring Paul Newman and Julie Andrews. Written by Brian Moore, the film is set in the Cold War. It is about an American scientist who appears to defe ...

'' (1966). Donath played the father of entertainer

Al Jolson Al Jolson (born Eizer Yoelson; June 9, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-American Jewish singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. He was one of the United States' most famous and highest-paid stars of the 1920s, and was self-billed ...

(

Larry Parks Samuel Lawrence Klausman Parks (December 13, 1914 – April 13, 1975) was an American stage and film actor. His career arced from bit player and supporting roles to top billing, before it was virtually ended when he admitted to having once been ...

) in the two biopics ''

'' (1946) and ''

'' (1949), although he was less than 15 years older than Parks as Jolson. He also appeared frequently on television and on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

. He died of

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ...

in 1967. His

cremains Cremation is a method of final disposition of a dead body through burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India and Nepal, cremation on an open-air pyre is ...

are interred at

Ferncliff Cemetery Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum is located at 280 Secor Road in the hamlet of Hartsdale, town of Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York, United States, about north of Midtown Manhattan. It was founded in 1902, and is non-sectarian. Fernc ...

in Hartsdale, New York.

Partial filmography

* ''

Theodor Herzl Theodor Herzl; hu, Herzl Tivadar; Hebrew name given at his brit milah: Binyamin Ze'ev (2 May 1860 – 3 July 1904) was an Austro-Hungarian Jewish lawyer, journalist, playwright, political activist, and writer who was the father of modern po ...

'' (1921) – Prinz Eugen * ''

Girls to Marry ''Girls to Marry'' (german: Mädchen zum Heiraten) is a 1932 German romantic comedy film directed by Wilhelm Thiele and starring Renate Müller, Hermann Thimig and Wolf Albach-Retty.''Gainsborough Pictures'' p. 42 It was shot at the Babelsberg ...

'' (1932) * '' Füsilier Wipf'' (1938) – Kriegsgefangener (uncredited) * ''

Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen ''Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen'' is a 1942 black-and-white thriller film, directed by James P. Hogan and written by Ellery Queen, the duo of Manfred Lee and Frederic Dannay. The film was the final entry in the Ellery Queen film series. Plot ...

'' (UK title: ''The Lido Mystery'') (1942) – Reece * '' The Secret Code'' (1942) – Nazi Prof. Metzger * ''

The Falcon's Brother ''The Falcon's Brother'' is a 1942 American crime drama film in which George Sanders, who had been portraying " The Falcon" in a series of films, appears with his real-life brother Tom Conway; with Sanders handing off the series to Conway, who w ...

'' (1942) – Stranger in Telephone Booth (uncredited) * ''

'' (1942) – Hans Gruber * ''

Reunion in France ''Reunion in France'' is a 1942 American war film distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Joan Crawford, John Wayne, and Philip Dorn in a story about a woman in occupied France who, learning her well-heeled lover has German connections, aids ...

'' (1942) – Desk Clerk in Hotel (uncredited) * '' Margin for Error'' (1943) – Hitler's Voice * '' The Moon Is Down'' (1943) – Hitler's Voice * ''

Hangmen Also Die! ''Hangmen Also Die!'' is a 1943 noir war film directed by the Austrian director Fritz Lang and written by John Wexley from a story by Bertolt Brecht (credited as Bert Brecht) and Lang. The film stars Hans Heinrich von Twardowski, Brian Donlevy, W ...

'' (1943) – Schirmer * '' Tonight We Raid Calais'' (1943) – German Sentry * '' Above Suspicion'' (1943) – Gestapo Officer in Schultz's Laboratory (uncredited) * '' This Land Is Mine'' (1943) – German Captain (uncredited) * ''

Hostages A hostage is a person seized by an abductor in order to compel another party, one which places a high value on the liberty, well-being and safety of the person seized, such as a relative, employer, law enforcement or government to act, or r ...

'' (1943) – Karel Klima * '' The Strange Death of Adolf Hitler'' (1943) –

Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...

/ Franz Huber * ''

Gangway for Tomorrow Broadly speaking, a gangway is a passageway through which to enter or leave. Gangway may refer specifically refer to: Passageways * Gangway (nautical), a passage between the quarterdeck and the forecastle of a ship, and by extension, a passage th ...

'' (1943) – Polish Worker (uncredited) * ''

Tampico Tampico is a city and port in the southeastern part of the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is located on the north bank of the Pánuco River, about inland from the Gulf of Mexico, and directly north of the state of Veracruz. Tampico is the fifth ...

'' (1944) – Commander (uncredited) * '' The Hitler Gang'' (1944) – Gustav von Kahr * '' The Story of Dr. Wassell'' (1944) – Dutch Doctor on Train (uncredited) * '' The Seventh Cross'' (1944) – Wilhelm Reinhardt (uncredited) * '' The Master Race'' (1944) – Schmidt * '' Counter-Attack'' (1945) – Prof. Müller * ''Prison Ship'' (1945) – Professor * '' Gilda'' (1946) – German Cartel Member * '' The Devil's Mask'' (1946) – Dr. Karger * '' Renegades'' (1946) – Jackorski * ''

'' (1946) – Cantor Yoelson * '' Blondie Knows Best'' (1946) – Dr. Titus * '' The Return of Monte Cristo'' (1946) – Judge Lafitte * ''

Cigarette Girl In Europe and the United States, a cigarette girl is a person who sells or provides cigarettes from a tray held by a neck strap. They may also carry cigars and other items like candy, snacks, and chewing gum on their trays. Uniform The most ...

'' (1947) – Otto * '' To the Ends of the Earth'' (1948) – Nicholas Sokim * '' Sealed Verdict'' (1948) – Jakob Meyersohn * '' The Fighting O'Flynn'' (1949) – Hendrigg * ''

The Lovable Cheat ''The Lovable Cheat'' is a 1949 American historical comedy film directed by Richard Oswald and starring Charles Ruggles, Peggy Ann Garner and Richard Ney. It is based on the 1848 play '' Mercadet Le Faiseur'' by Honoré de Balzac. It was the fin ...

'' (1949) – Violette * ''

The Great Sinner ''The Great Sinner'' is a 1949 American film noir drama film directed by Robert Siodmak. Based on the 1866 short novel '' The Gambler'' written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the film stars Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Frank Morgan, Ethel Barrymore, Wal ...

'' (1949) – Doctor * ''

'' (1949) – Cantor Yoelson * ''

There's a Girl in My Heart ''There's a Girl in My Heart'' is a 1949 American musical comedy film directed by Arthur Dreifuss, starring Lee Bowman, Elyse Knox, and Gloria Jean. It was made by Allied Artists with many former contract stars from Universal. Filming started ...

'' (1949) – Professor Joseph Kroner * '' The Killer That Stalked New York'' (1950) – Dr. Cooper * '' Mystery Submarine'' (1950) – Dr. Adolph Guernitz * ''

'' (1951) – Alfredo Brazzi * ''

'' (1951) – Flophouse Proprietor * '' Journey Into Light'' (1951) – 'Doc' Thorssen * '' My Pal Gus'' (1952) – Karl * ''

Sins of Jezebel ''Sins of Jezebel'' is a 1953 American historical drama film produced by Sigmund Neufeld and directed by Reginald Le Borg. It stars Paulette Goddard as Jezebel, the biblical queen of the northern kingdom of Israel during the 9th century BC. The ...

'' (1953) – Naboth * ''

The Veils of Bagdad ''The Veils of Bagdad'' is a 1953 American adventure film directed by George Sherman and starring Victor Mature and Mari Blanchard. Plot In 1560, Antar is sent by Selima, head of the Ottoman Empire, to prevent Pasha Hammam from attempting to ove ...

'' (1953) – Kaffar * ''

'' (1966) – Professor Gustav Lindt * '' The Spy in the Green Hat'' (1967) – Dr. Heinrich von Kronen * '' Too Many Thieves'' (1967) – Bulanerti

Television appearances

* ''

Decoy A decoy (derived from the Dutch ''de'' ''kooi'', literally "the cage" or possibly ''ende kooi'', " duck cage") is usually a person, device, or event which resembles what an individual or a group might be looking for, but it is only meant to lu ...

'': "The Gentle Gun-Man" (1958) - "Knish" (Dave Levine) * '' Bonanza'': "The Way of Aaron" (1963) – Aaron Kaufman * ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, sup ...

'': " He's Alive" (1963) – Ernst Ganz * '' Branded'': "A Proud Town" (1965) - Julius Perrin * '' The Fugitive'': "Blessings of Liberty" (1966) – Dr. Josef Karac

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Donath, Ludwig 1900 births 1967 deaths Austrian male film actors Austrian male stage actors Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Deaths from leukemia Austrian male television actors Jewish Austrian male actors 20th-century Austrian male actors Austrian expatriate male actors in the United States Burials at Ferncliff Cemetery