Dorrit Weixler (27 March 1892 – 30 November 1916)
Postkarten-archiv.de (29 August 2014). Retrieved on 2015-10-08. was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

film actress of the early 20th century who is best recalled for her comedic roles in German films from the

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era.

Career

The elder sister of actress Grete Weixler, Dorrit first appeared in

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

shorts for director

Alwin Neuß Carl Alwin Heinrich Neuß (17 June 1879 – 30 October 1935) was a German film director and actor, noted for playing Sherlock Holmes in a series of silent films during the 1910s. He also played the dual role of Jekyll and Hyde in the 1910 Danish ...

(1879–1935) in 1911. In 1913 she began a successful collaboration with film director Franz Hofer at Luna Film. Hofer began casting Weixler in a number of comedies presenting her as a comedic, temperamental, independent-minded but endearing teenager, often replete in her soon-to-be signature sailor outfit. She often appeared opposite popular German actor and director

Ernst Lubitsch Ernst Lubitsch (; January 29, 1892November 30, 1947) was a German-born American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as ...

and matinee idol

Bruno Kastner Richard Otto Bruno Kastner (January 1890Different sources cite 1 January, 3 January, 20 January, and 30 January as Kastner's date of birth. – 30 June 1932) was a German stage and film actor, screenwriter, and film producer whose career was most ...

in her early films with Hofer.Dorrit Weixler
. Cyranos.ch. Retrieved on 8 October 2015. Weixler made approximately eleven films with Hofer, and her role as a brassy teen became popular with German filmgoers. In 1915 Weixler moved to Oliver Film, but her image was not tampered with significantly. A number of "Dorrit" films were released from 1915 to 1916 which followed her adventures, such as: ''Dorrit's Chauffeur'' (1915), ''Dorrits Eheglück'' (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national id ...

: ''Dorrit's Marital Bliss'') (1916) and ''Dorrit bekommt 'ne Lebensstellung'' (''Dorrit Gets a Job for Life'') (1916) for directors such as

Paul Otto Paul Otto Schlesinger (8 February 1878 – 25 or 30 November 1943) was a German film actor and director. Born in Berlin, he began a qualification as a retail merchant and made his actor's debut at the age of 17. Otto worked at Theaters in H ...

and Paul Heidemann.

Death

During the end of May 1916, Weixler was at a theater in Nollendorfplatz as part of a "Dorrit Weixler Week"; a promotional campaign for the actress. It was Weixler's first time performing on stage. The audience at the theater was full and Weixler was to entertain the crowd with comedic sketches and dancing. During a dance routine, Weixler collapsed on stage and the show had to be closed. Various speculations were cast by the press for her ailment, including stress or a neurological disorder. The filming of a new movie had to be aborted because of her poor health after her collapse. Later that year Weixler was given

morphine Morphine is a strong opiate that is found naturally in opium, a dark brown resin in poppies ('' Papaver somniferum''). It is mainly used as a pain medication, and is also commonly used recreationally, or to make other illicit opioids. Ther ...

, to which she became addicted. She was placed in a sanatorium in

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for rest and recovery. On 30 November 1916, aged 24, she committed suicide by hanging herself. She was buried at the Südwestkirchhof cemetery in

Stahnsdorf Stahnsdorf is a municipality in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district, in Brandenburg, Germany. Geography It is situated on the Teltow plateau, about southwest of the Berlin city centre, and east of Potsdam. Neighbouring municipalities are the town o ...

in December of that year. In 1921, five years after her death, ''Dorittchens Vergnügungsreise'' (''Dorritchen's Pleasure Cruise'') was re-released to the German public. Filmed in 1916, the film was directed by Paul Heidemann, and Weixler appeared opposite actors Bruno Kastner and Kurt Busch.

Selected filmography

* '' Miss Piccolo'' (1914)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Weixler, Dorrit 1892 births 1916 deaths 1916 suicides German film actresses German silent film actresses Actresses from Berlin Suicides by hanging in Germany 20th-century German actresses