Franz Gruber (born February 10, 1930) was an actor who played in the Japanese
Tokusatsu movie/TV productions (e.g.
Ultraman,
Ultra Seven,
Mighty Jack).
Early life
Born in New York City in 1930. He was the son of German-American doctor Fredrick Gruber (1883-1960) and his wife Maria (1886-1961). Franz attended the Columbia University and graduated in 1949. After getting a job as a journalist for The New York Times, Franz traveled to Japan to wrote about Japanese culture and religion. In 1957, he starting his filming career and played the foreign character in many kaiju films. His acting career lasted from 1963 to 1974. Returning to the USA, he became a teacher at
Brooklyn College Academy
Brooklyn College Academy is a high school located in Brooklyn, New York City, New York in the New York City Department of Education. A double-sited school, it serves grades 9–12.
Brooklyn College Academy was ranked second (tied with Benjamin ...
until he retired in 1989. He married Jennie Rosa in 1955 and had two children (Mark 1960 and Elizabeth 1962).
Filmography
* ''
A Whirlwind Child Called by The Wind'' (風が呼んでる旋風児, Nikkatsu 1963) as Anderson
* ''
Terror Beneath the Sea
is a 1966 science fiction horror film directed by Hajime Sato. An international co-production of Japan and the United States, it stars Sonny Chiba, Peggy Neal, Franz Gruber, Andrew Hughes, Tadashi Suganuma, and Hideo Murota.
Plot
The story ...
'' (海底大戦争 Toei 1966) as Colonel Brown
* ''
The X from Outer Space
is a 1967 Japanese science fiction ''kaiju'' film that was directed by Kazui Nihonmatsu and stars Eiji Okada and Toshiya Wazaki.
Guilala returned in a 2008 Shochiku sequel of sorts called '' Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit''.
Plot ...
'' (宇宙大怪獣ギララ, Shochiku 1967) as Dr. Berman
* ''
Rikugun Nakano gakko: Mitsumei'' (陸軍中野学校 密命, Daiei 1967) as German Embassy, Colonel Winkler
* ''
Genocide'' (昆虫大戦争, Shochiku 1968) as Military doctor
* ''
Gamera vs. Jiger
is a 1970 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Noriaki Yuasa, written by Niisan Takahashi, and produced by Daiei Film. It is the sixth entry in the ''Gamera'' film series, following ''Gamera vs. Guiron'', which was released one year prior. ''Ga ...
'' (ガメラ対大魔獣ジャイガ, Daiei 1970) as Dr. William
* ''
Kamikaze Cop, The Poison Gas Affair International Secret Police : Death Gas'' (やくざ刑事 恐怖の毒ガス, Toei 1971) as Bormann's heart
* ''
Tital Waves'' (日本沈没, Toho, 1970) as United Nations member (USA)
* ''
Prophecies of Nostradamus'' (ノストラダムスの大予言, Toho 1974) as New Guinea Researcher 3
* ''
ESPY'' (エスパイ, Toho 1974) as Reverse ESPY
External links
*
**
The New York Times＞Movies＞People＞Franz Gruber
Living people
1930 births
Possibly living people
{{Japan-actor-stub