Friedrich Anton Maria Hubertus Bonifacius Graf von Ledebur-Wicheln ( – ) was an Austrian actor who was known for ''

Moby Dick ''Moby-Dick; or, The Whale'' is an 1851 Epic (genre), epic novel by American writer Herman Melville. The book is centered on the sailor Ishmael (Moby-Dick), Ishmael's narrative of the maniacal quest of Captain Ahab, Ahab, captain of the whaler ...

'' (1956), ''

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...

'' (1955) and ''

Slaughterhouse-Five ''Slaughterhouse-Five, or, The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death'' is a 1969 semi-autobiographic science fiction-infused anti-war novel by Kurt Vonnegut. It follows the life experiences of Billy Pilgrim, from his early years, to his ...

'' (1972).

Early life

Ledebur was born in

Nisko Nisko is a town in Nisko County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland on the San River, with a population of 15,048 inhabitants as of 31 December 2021. Together with neighbouring city of Stalowa Wola, Nisko creates a small urban agglomeration, aggl ...

Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...

(now

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

) in 1900. Friedrich enlisted in the

Austro-Hungarian Army The Austro-Hungarian Army, also known as the Imperial and Royal Army,; was the principal ground force of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918. It consisted of three organisations: the Common Army (, recruited from all parts of Austria-Hungary), ...

in 1916, and was an officer in the Austrian Cavalry Division during the last years of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

Interwar period

In the 1930s Ledebur became a close friend of

Charles Bedaux Charles Eugène Bedaux (10 October 1886 – 18 February 1944) was a France, French-United States, American millionaire who made his fortune developing and implementing the work measurement aspect of scientific management, notably the Bedaux System ...

, with whom he traveled extensively in Africa and Canada. After the war, Ledebur spent the next two decades travelling the world, working all manner of odd jobs from gold mining to deep sea diving, to riding and winning prize money at rodeos. Ledebur settled in the United States in 1939 and anglicised his name to 'Frederick'. A close friendship with fellow adventurer and director

John Huston John Marcellus Huston ( ; August 5, 1906 – August 28, 1987) was an American film director, screenwriter and actor. He wrote the screenplays for most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered classics. He rec ...

, gave Ledebur his entrée to character acting.

Acting career

Friedrich von Ledebur-Richard Basehart in Moby Dick

In 1945, Ledebur made his film debut. He later appeared in ''Alexander the Great'' (1955), and played chief harpooneer

Queequeg Queequeg is a character in the 1851 novel ''Moby-Dick'' by American author Herman Melville. The story outlines his royal, Polynesian descent, as well as his desire to "visit Christendom" that led him to leave his homeland. Queequeg is visually ...

, a South Sea chieftain, in the film ''Moby Dick'' (1956). "Better a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian",

Herman Melville Herman Melville (Name change, born Melvill; August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet of the American Renaissance (literature), American Renaissance period. Among his best-known works ar ...

's Ishmael famously says of Queequeg in the book and the film. He appeared as Brother Christophorus in ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'' episode " The Howling Man".

Death

Ledebur died on December 25, 1986 of undisclosed causes, presumably old age, in Linz, Austria. He was 86 years old.

Selected filmography

* '' A Royal Scandal'' (1945) - Russian General (uncredited) * '' Notorious'' (1946) - Knerr (uncredited) * '' Forever Amber'' (1947) - Cavalier (uncredited) * ''

My Girl Tisa ''My Girl Tisa'' is a 1948 American period drama film directed by Elliott Nugent and starring Lilli Palmer, Sam Wanamaker and Akim Tamiroff. It is based on the play ''Ever the Beginning'' by Lucille S. Prumbs and Sara B. Smith (copyrighted 14 May ...

'' (1948) - Igor (uncredited) * ''

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House ''Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House'' is a 1948 American comedy film directed by H. C. Potter, and starring Cary Grant, Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas. Written and produced by the team of Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, it was an adaptation o ...

'' (1948) - Workman (uncredited) * ''

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, Wa ...

'' (1949) - Casino Secretary * ''

Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge (, ; ) is a cabaret in Paris, on Boulevard de Clichy, at Place Blanche, the intersection of, and terminus of Rue Blanche. In 1889, the Moulin Rouge was co-founded by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller, who also owned the Olympia (Par ...

'' (1952) - Maitre d'Hotel at Maxim's (uncredited) * ''

'' (1956) -

Antipater Antipater (; ; 400 BC319 BC) was a Macedonian general, regent and statesman under the successive kingships of Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great. In the wake of the collapse of the Argead house, his son Cassander ...

* ''

'' (1956) -

* ''

Voodoo Island Voodoo Island is a 1957 American horror film directed by Reginald Le Borg and written by Richard H. Landau. The film stars Boris Karloff, with a cast including Elisha Cook Jr., Beverly Tyler and Rhodes Reason. It is set in the South Pacific and ...

'' (1957) - Native Chief * ''

The Man Who Turned to Stone ''The Man Who Turned to Stone'' (a.k.a. ''The Petrified Man'') is a 1957 American black-and-white horror film, horror science fiction film directed by László Kardos and starring Victor Jory, Ann Doran and Charlotte Austin. The screenplay was wr ...

'' (1957) - Eric * ''

The 27th Day ''The 27th Day'' is a 1957 American black-and-white science fiction film, distributed by Columbia Pictures. It was produced by Helen Ainsworth, directed by William Asher, and stars Gene Barry, Valerie French, George Voskovec, and Arnold M ...

'' (1957) - Dr. Karl Neuhaus * ''

The Brothers Karamazov ''The Brothers Karamazov'' ( rus, Братья Карамазовы, Brat'ya Karamazovy, ˈbratʲjə kərɐˈmazəvɨ), also translated as ''The Karamazov Brothers'', is the last novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky spent nearly ...

'' (1958) - Chief Judge (uncredited) * ''

Crash Landing A crash landing (emergency landing) is an unplanned landing by an aircraft. Crash Landing may also refer to: Film and television * ''Crash Landing'' (1958 film), an American film featuring Gary Merrill * ''Crash Landing'' (1999 film), a Chin ...

'' (1958) - Priest (uncredited) * ''

Fräulein ( , ) is the German honorifics, German language honorific for unmarried women, comparable to Miss in English and in French. Description ''Fräulein'' is the diminutive form of ''Frau'', which was previously reserved only for married women. ...

'' (1958) - German Police Captain (uncredited) * '' The Roots of Heaven'' (1958) - Peer Qvist * '' Enchanted Island'' (1958) - Mehevi * '' The Buccaneer'' (1958) - Capt. Bart * ''

A Breath of Scandal ''A Breath of Scandal'' (released as ''Olympia'' in Italy) is a 1960 American/Italian international co-production romantic comedy-drama film directed by Michael Curtiz, based on the stage play ''Olympia'' by Ferenc Molnár. It stars Sophia Lor ...

'' (1960) - Count Sandor * ''

Barabbas According to the New Testament, Barabbas () was a Jewish bandit and rabble-rouser who was imprisoned by the Judaea (Roman province), Roman occupation in Jerusalem, only to be chosen over Jesus by a crowd to be pardoned by Roman governor Pontius ...

'' (1961) - Officer * '' Freud: The Secret Passion'' (1962) - (uncredited) * ''

The Fall of the Roman Empire The fall of the Western Roman Empire, also called the fall of the Roman Empire or the fall of Rome, was the loss of central political control in the Western Roman Empire, a process in which the Empire failed to enforce its rule, and its vast ...

'' (1964) - Barbarian (uncredited) * '' The Shoot'' (1964) - Mübarek * ''

The Treasure of the Aztecs ''The Treasure of the Aztecs'' (German: ''Der Schatz der Azteken'') is a 1965 western adventure film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Lex Barker, Gérard Barray and Michèle Girardon. It was made as a co-production between France, Italy an ...

'' (1965) - Count Don Fernando di Rodriganda y Sevilla * ''

Juliet of the Spirits ''Juliet of the Spirits'' () is a 1965 fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Federico Fellini and starring Giulietta Masina, Sandra Milo, Mario Pisu, Valentina Cortese, and Valeska Gert. The film is about the visions, memories, and mysticism ...

'' (1965) - Medium * ''

The Blue Max ''The Blue Max'' is a 1966 war film , WW I film directed by John Guillermin and starring George Peppard, James Mason, Ursula Andress, Karl Michael Vogler, and Jeremy Kemp. The film was made in DeLuxe Color and was one of the last movies filme ...

'' (1966) - Feldmarschall von Lenndorf * ''Il Natale che quasi non fu'' (1967) - (uncredited) * '' Reflections in a Golden Eye'' (1967) - Lieutenant at Garden Party (uncredited) * ''

Assignment K ''Assignment K'' (also known as ''Department K'') is a 1968 British spy thriller film directed by Val Guest in Techniscope and starring Stephen Boyd, Camilla Sparv, Michael Redgrave, Leo McKern, Robert Hoffmann and Jeremy Kemp. It was writ ...

'' (1968) - Ski Shop Proprietor (uncredited) * ''

Oedipus the King ''Oedipus Rex'', also known by its Greek title, ''Oedipus Tyrannus'' (, ), or ''Oedipus the King'', is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles. While some scholars have argued that the play was first performed , this is highly uncertain. Originally, to ...

'' (1968) - King

Laius In Greek mythology, King Laius ( ) or Laios () of Thebes was a key personage in the Theban founding myth. Family Laius was the son of Labdacus. He was the father, by Jocasta, of Oedipus, who killed him. Mythology Abduction of Chrysip ...

* ''

Mayerling Mayerling is a small village (pop. 200) in Lower Austria belonging to the municipality of Alland in the district of Baden (district of Austria), Baden. It is situated on the Schwechat river, in the Vienna Woods, Wienerwald (''Vienna woods''), so ...

'' (1968) - Hofmarschall (uncredited) * ''

Kampf um Rom ''The Last Roman'' () is a West German-Italian historical drama film starring Laurence Harvey, Orson Welles, Sylva Koscina and Honor Blackman. It was produced by Artur Brauner and was the last film to be directed by Robert Siodmak. It was origin ...

'' (1968) -

Hildebrand Hildebrand is a character from Germanic heroic legend. ''Hildebrand'' is the modern German form of the name: in Old High German it is ''Hiltibrant'' and in Old Norse ''Hildibrandr''. The word ''hild'' means "battle" and ''brand'' means "sword" ...

* '' The Christmas Tree'' (1969) - Vernet * ''

'' (1972) - German Leader * ''

Ludwig Ludwig may refer to: People and fictional characters * Ludwig (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Ludwig (surname), including a list of people * Ludwig von Koopa, a character in Mario (the game) Arts and entertai ...

'' (1973) - Hofmarschall (uncredited) * ''

A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe ''A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe'' () is a 1975 Spaghetti Western comedy film directed by Damiano Damiani. It was co-written and produced by Sergio Leone, who also directed the opening scene. Plot Joe Thanks (Terence Hill) is a genius conman. ...

'' (1975) - Don Felipe, the priest * ' (1976) - Martin Ross * ''

The Standard The Standard may refer to: Entertainment * The Standard (band), an indie rock band from Portland, Oregon * ''The Standard'' (novel), a 1934 novel by the Austrian writer Alexander Lernet-Holenia * ''The Standard'' (Tommy Flanagan album), 1980 * ...

'' (1977) - General * ''

Sorcerer Sorcerer may refer to: Magic * Sorcerer (supernatural), a practitioner of magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources * Sorcerer (fantasy), a fictional character who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sou ...

'' (1977) - 'Carlos' * ''

Bloodline Heredity, also called inheritance or biological inheritance, is the passing on of traits from parents to their offspring; either through asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction, the offspring cells or organisms acquire the genetic infor ...

'' (1979) - Innkeeper * ''

Ginger and Fred ''Ginger and Fred'' () is a 1986 comedy-drama film written and directed by Federico Fellini and starring Marcello Mastroianni and Giulietta Masina. The title is a reference to the American dancing couple Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The two ...

'' (1986) - Admiral Aulenti (final film role)

References

External links

* 1900 births 1986 deaths Austrian male film actors Austrian male television actors Austro-Hungarian military personnel of World War I Austro-Hungarian Army officers People from Nisko Male actors from Subcarpathian Voivodeship 20th-century Austrian male actors Austrian expatriate male actors in the United States {{Austria-actor-stub