Leni Stengel (12 September 1901 – 1 July 1982) was a German-born actress who appeared on Broadway, on television, and in films, through the 1920s to 1950s.

Early life

She was born in

Berlin, Germany Berlin ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the highest population within its city limits of any city in the European Union. The city is also one of the states of ...

, and was a grandniece of the German composer Friedrich von Flotow.

Career

Her work in films includes ''

Half Shot at Sunrise ''Half Shot at Sunrise'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film starring the comedy duo Wheeler & Woolsey and Dorothy Lee (actress), Dorothy Lee. Their fourth film together, it was the second starring vehicle for the two, following the success ...

'' (1930), '' Cracked Nuts'' (1931), ''

Beau Ideal ''Beau Ideal'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code adventure film directed by Herbert Brenon and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film was based on the 1927 adventure novel ''Beau Ideal (novel), Beau Ideal'' by P. C. Wren, the th ...

'' (1931), '' The Animal Kingdom'' (1932), and ''Hollywood Speaks'' (1932). She worked with

Buster Keaton Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent films during the 1920s, in which he performed physical comedy and inventive stunts. He frequently ...

in ''Casanova wider Willen'' ("The Reluctant Casanova", 1931), the German version of '' Parlor, Bedroom and Bath'' (1931). In television, she appeared in ''

Lux Video Theatre ''Lux Video Theatre'' is an American television anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1957. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays. Overview The ''Lux Vi ...

'', "Ti Babette" (1953), "Legacy of Love" (1952); ''Police Story'', "Detective Sergeant, Martin Stephens" (1952); ''

Lights Out Lights Out may refer to: Events and times * Institutional, and thence colloquial, term for bedtime * Lights Out (event), an event in the UK on 4 August 2014 to commemorate the start of World War I * Lights Out Hong Kong, a campaign to protest ai ...

'', "Carmelita" (1951), ''The Clock'', "Accident on Canigou" (1951). On Broadway, she appeared in ''Princess Turandot'' (1926, fantasy), ''These Few Ashes'' (1928, comedy), ''Tovarich'' (1936, comedy), and ''Swan Song'' (1946, her final Broadway appearance). In her films and radio performances with comedy duo

Wheeler & Woolsey Wheeler & Woolsey were an American vaudeville comedy double act who performed together in comedy films from the late 1920s. The team comprised Bert Wheeler (1895–1968) of New Jersey and Robert Woolsey (1888–1938) of Illinois. Collaboration T ...

, such as ''Half Shot at Sunrise'' (1930) and ''Cracked Nuts'' (1931), she worked as the

straight man The straight man (or straight woman in the case of female characters), also known as a "comedic foil", is a stock character in a comedy performance, especially a double act, sketch comedy, or farce. When a comedy partner behaves eccentrically ...

and romantic interest with

Robert Woolsey Robert Rollie Woolsey (August 14, 1888 – October 31, 1938) was an American stage and screen comedian and half of the 1930s comedy team Wheeler & Woolsey. Early life Robert Rollie Woolsey (sometimes spelled Rolla or even Raleigh) was born o ...

, as Dorothy Lee did with

Bert Wheeler Bert Wheeler (April 7, 1895 – January 18, 1968) was an American comedian who performed in vaudeville acts, Broadway theatre, American comedy feature films, and television. He was teamed with Broadway comic Robert Woolsey, and they went on to ...

. In ''Half Shot at Sunrise'', they share a comic dance routine, during which she tears off most of Woolsey's

doughboy "Doughboy" was a popular nickname for the American infantryman during World War I. Though the origins of the term are not certain, the nickname was still in use as of the early 1940s, when it was gradually replaced by " G.I." as the following ge ...

uniform, until he ends up in his skivvies, posing in a fountain.

Later life

She died in 1982 in New York City, New York, USA.

Partial filmography and television credits

*1952-1953: ''

'' (TV series), "Ti Babette" (1953), "Legacy of Love" (1952) *1952: '' Police Story'' (TV series), "Detective Sergeant, Martin Stephens" *1951: ''

'' (TV series), "Dark Image" *1951: ''The Clock'', "Accident on Canigou" (1951) *1934: ''

Art Trouble ''Art Trouble'' is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy short directed by Ralph Staub and starring Harry Gribbon and Shemp Howard. The film is notable for featuring an uncredited James Stewart in his first screen role. Gribbon was one of several ...

'' (short), as Girl at nightclub, with

Shemp Howard Shemp Howard (born Samuel Horwitz; March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955) was an American comedian and actor. He is best known as the third Stooge in The Three Stooges, a role he played when the act began in the early 1920s (1923–1932), while i ...

*1934: ''Henry the Ache'' (short), with

*1933: ''

Kickin' the Crown Around ''Kickin' the Crown Around'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code film featuring the comedy team Clark and McCullough and directed by Sam White (film producer), Sam White. Plot In the mythical country of Jugo-Jaggon, the manufacture, sale, or possessio ...

'' (short), as The Queen, with

Clark and McCullough Clark and McCullough were a comedy team consisting of comedians Bobby Clark (comedian), Bobby Clark and Paul McCullough. They starred in a series of short films during the 1920s and 1930s. Bobby Clark was the fast-talking wisecracker with pain ...

*1933: '' The Barbarian'', as Ilsa, a German Tourist *1933: ''

Luxury Liner (1933 film) Luxury liner may refer to: *Ocean liner * ''Luxury Liner'' (album), a 1977 album by Emmylou Harris * ''Luxury Liner'' (1933 film), a 1933 Paramount Pictures film * ''Luxury Liner'' (1948 film), 1948 motion picture from MGM *"Luxury Liner", a 1967 so ...

'', as Slattern (uncredited) *1932: '' The Animal Kingdom'', as Franc Schmidt, an artist *1932: ''

Hollywood Speaks ''Hollywood Speaks'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code comedy film directed by Edward Buzzell and starring Genevieve Tobin, Pat O'Brien and Leni Stengel. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Plot A despairing young actress is stop ...

'', as Mrs. Landau *1932: '' Man About Town (1932 film)'', as Countess Vonesse *1931: ''

Husband's Holiday ''Husband's Holiday'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is us ...

'', as Molly Saunders *1931: ''

The Beloved Bachelor ''The Beloved Bachelor'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Lloyd Corrigan and written by Sidney Buchman, Raymond Griffith, Agnes Brand Leahy and Edward Peple. The film stars Paul Lukas, Dorothy Jordan, Vivienne Osborne, Char ...

'', as Julie Stressman *1931: ''Casanova wider Willen'', German version of '' Parlor, Bedroom and Bath'', with

*1931: '' The Road to Reno'', as Mrs. Stafford Howes *1931: '' Cracked Nuts'', as Queen Carlotta *1931: ''

'', as Zuleika *1930: ''

'', as Olga, with

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Stengel, Leni 1901 births 1982 deaths German emigrants to the United States American film actresses American radio actresses American stage actresses American television actresses 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Berlin