Ilka Grüning (born Ilka Henriette Grünzweig; 4 September 1876 – 11 November 1964) was an Austrian-Hungarian actress. Born in Vienna in the old

Austrian-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 ...

, she was one of many Jewish actors and actresses that were forced to flee Europe when the

Nazi Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...

s came to power in 1933. A respected and famous actress of her time in the German-language area, she was forced to play bit parts in Hollywood.

Career

German career

At age 17, Ilka Grüning made her stage debut in ''

Miss Julie ''Miss Julie'' () is a naturalistic play written in 1888 by August Strindberg. It is set on Midsummer's Eve and the following morning, which is Midsummer and the Feast Day of St. John the Baptist. The setting is an estate of a count in Sweden. ...

'' and quickly became a famous stage actress. Grüning's first film, at age 43, was a German

silent movie ''Silent Movie'' is a 1976 American satirical silent comedy film co-written, directed by and starring Mel Brooks, released by 20th Century Fox in summer 1976. The ensemble cast includes Dom DeLuise, Marty Feldman, Bernadette Peters, and S ...

called ''Todesurteil'' in 1919. Next, she starred with

Conrad Veidt Hans Walter Conrad Veidt ( , ; 22 January 1893 – 3 April 1943) was a German and British actor. He attracted early attention for his roles in the films ''Different from the Others'' (1919), ''The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'' (1920), and ''The Man ...

in ''

Peer Gynt ''Peer Gynt'' (, ) is a five-Act (drama), act play in verse written in 1867 by the Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen. It is one of Ibsen's best known and most widely performed plays. ''Peer Gynt'' chronicles the journey of its title character fr ...

''. Later that year, she and Veidt appeared in '' Die sich verkaufen''. She continued making silent movies in Germany into the 1920s. In 1920, she appeared in the film ''Die Bestie im Menschen'', based on the novel ''

La Bête humaine (English: ''The Beast Within'' or ''The Beast in Man'' or ''The Monomaniac'') is an 1890 novel by Émile Zola. It is the seventeenth book in Zola's '' Les Rougon-Macquart'' series. The story focuses on the lives and violent passions of railway w ...

'' by

Émile Zola Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola (, ; ; 2 April 184029 September 1902) was a French novelist, journalist, playwright, the best-known practitioner of the literary school of Naturalism (literature), naturalism, and an important contributor to ...

. This were two of 11 films she appeared in that year. Grüning appeared in Veidt's two '' Christian Wahnschaffe'' movies: ''Weltbrand'' in 1920 and ''Die Flucht aus dem goldenen Kerker'' in 1921. In 1922, she had a small part as a landlady in '' Lady Hamilton'' starring Veidt as Lord Horatio Nelson. This was one of four movies that she and Hans Twardowski appeared in together; F.W. Murnau's drama ''

Phantom Phantom, phantoms, or the phantom may refer to: * Spirit (metaphysics), the vital principle or animating force within all living things ** Ghost, the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear to the living Aircraft * Boeing Phanto ...

'', '' Es leuchtet meine Liebe'' and ''

The False Dimitri ''The False Dimitri'' () is a 1922 German silent historical film directed by Hans Steinhoff and starring Alfred Abel, Agnes Straub and Eugen Klöpfer.Klossner, Michael. ''The Europe of 1500–1815 on Film and Television: A Worldwide Filmograp ...

''.

In 1923, she portrayed Frau Gött in

Max Mack Max Mack (1884–1973) was a German screenwriter, film producer and director during the silent era. He is particularly known for his 1913 film '' The Other''. He directed, and co-starred in, an early film adaptation of ''Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' ...

's '' The Beautiful Girl''. Later that year, she portrayed the wife of Johann Friedrich Schiller in '' Friedrich Schiller - The Young Poet''. Next she played Rosalindes' mother in Max Mack's ''

Die Fledermaus ' (, ''The Bat'', sometimes called ''The Revenge of the Bat'') is an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée, which premiered in 1874. Background The original literary source for ' was ...

'' (this was the fifth film she did with the German director). In 1924, she appeared in F.W. Murnau's drama '' The Grand Duke's Finances'' (this was the third film she made with Murnau). In 1925, Grüning appeared in the silent '' Joyless Street'', directed by

Georg Wilhelm Pabst Georg Wilhelm Pabst (25 August 1885 – 29 May 1967) was an Austrian film director and screenwriter. He started as an actor and theater director, before becoming one of the most influential German-language filmmakers during the Weimar Republic. ...

, which featured a 20-year-old

Greta Garbo Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; 18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish-American actress and a premier star during Hollywood's Silent film, silent and early Classical Hollywood cinema, golden eras. Regarded as one of the g ...

. The following year, Grüning appeared in her third Pabst' movie ''

Secrets of a Soul ''Secrets of a Soul'' () is a 1926 silent German drama film directed by G. W. Pabst. Plot Martin Fellman, a learned professor, experiences nightmares that make him believe he is going insane. He fears that he is on the verge of murdering his ...

''. In 1927, Grüning appeared in '' Hello Caesar!'' which S.Z. Sakall helped write. Later that year, she and Sakall appeared together in '' Family Gathering in the House of Prellstein''. In 1929, Grüning appeared in her first sound film: ''

Melody of the Heart A melody (), also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. In its most literal sense, a melody is a combination of pitch and rhythm, while more figuratively, the term c ...

''. It was three years before she appeared in another film. In 1932, she received a part in

Max Neufeld Max Neufeld (13 February 1887 – 2 December 1967) was an Austrian film director, actor and screenwriter. He directed 70 films between 1919 and 1957. He directed the 1934 film ''The Song of the Sun'', which starred Vittorio De Sica. Selecte ...

's ', which was her last movie in Germany. It was nine years before she appeared in another movie.

American career

Grüning, had played

Strindberg Johan August Strindberg (; ; 22 January 184914 May 1912) was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist, and painter.Lane (1998), 1040. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg wrote more than 60 play ...

and

Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright, poet and actor. Ibsen is considered the world's pre-eminent dramatist of the 19th century and is often referred to as "the father of modern drama." He pioneered ...

for Austrian director

Max Reinhardt Max Reinhardt (; born Maximilian Goldmann; 9 September 1873 – 30 October 1943) was an Austrian-born Theatre director, theatre and film director, theater manager, intendant, and theatrical producer. With his radically innovative and avant-gard ...

and had run the second most important drama school in Berlin, left 1938 Germany after Hitler and the Nazis came to power. After arriving in America in February 1939, she received help from the European Film Fund in resettling to America. Sometime in the 1930s, she left Germany for Paris, France, and, in 1939, sailed from LeHavre on the S/S ''Paris'', arriving at the Port of New York on February 8, 1939. It was her first time in America. With the outbreak of World War II and the need for older German women for war movies, Grüning started receiving parts. Her first Hollywood movie was in 1941 as

Erwin Kalser Erwin Kalser (22 February 1883 – 26 March 1958) was a German-Jewish Siegbert Salomon Prawer, ''Between Two Worlds: The Jewish Presence in German and Austrian Film, 1910-1933'', Berghahn Books (2007), p. 213 stage and film actor, best remembered ...

's husband in

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

' war drama '' Underground'', starring

Philip Dorn Philip Dorn (born Hein van der Niet; 30 September 1901 – 9 May 1975), sometimes billed as Frits van Dongen (his screen name for German films prior to World War II), was a Dutch American actor who had a career in Hollywood. He was best kno ...

Martin Kosleck Martin Kosleck (born Nicolaie Yoshkin; March 24, 1904 – January 15, 1994) was a German film actor. Like many other German actors, he fled when the Nazi Germany, Nazis came to power. Inspired by his deep hatred of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis ...

and

Ludwig Stössel Ludwig Stössel (12 February 1883 – 29 January 1973) was an Austrian actor. He was one of many Jewish actors and actresses who were forced to flee Germany when the Nazis came to power in 1933. Biography Stössel began performing on the stage ...

(who played her husband in ''

Casablanca Casablanca (, ) is the largest city in Morocco and the country's economic and business centre. Located on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of the Chaouia (Morocco), Chaouia plain in the central-western part of Morocco, the city has a populatio ...

''). Grüning was busy in 1942. First, Grüning appeared in ''

Kings Row ''Kings Row'' is a 1942 film starring Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, Ronald Reagan and Betty Field that tells a story of young people growing up in a small American town at the turn of the twentieth century. The picture was directed by Sam Woo ...

'', '' Dangerously They Live'', '' Friendly Enemies'' the

Sonja Henie Sonja Henie (8 April 1912 – 12 October 1969) was a Norway, Norwegian figure skating, figure skater and film star. She was a three-time List of Olympic medalists in figure skating, Olympic champion (Figure skating at the 1928 Winter Olympics, ...

film ''

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

'', and ''

Desperate Journey ''Desperate Journey'' is a 1942 American World War II action and aviation film directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan. The supporting cast includes Raymond Massey, Alan Hale Sr., and Arthur Kennedy. The melodramati ...

''. Also in 1942, at the age of 66, Grüning received the role of Mrs. Leuchtag, who along with her husband (played by

) are leaving Europe for America in ''Casablanca''. She has only one scene (a total of 30 words) in the movie when she and her husband are having a drink in Rick's Cafe with their good friend Carl the waiter ( S. Z. Sakall) and struggling a bit with their English. Her husband (Ludwig Stössel) asks her for the time "Liebchen – sweetnessheart, what watch?" She answers "Ten watch", and he replies "Such much?" In 1943, Grüning received a bit part as

George Tobias George Tobias (July 14, 1901 – February 27, 1980) was an American theater, film and television actor. He had character parts and supporting roles in several major films of Hollywood's Golden Age. He is also known for his role as Abner ...

's mother in ''

This Is the Army ''This Is the Army'' is a 1943 American wartime musical film, musical comedy film produced by Jack L. Warner and Hal B. Wallis and directed by Michael Curtiz, adapted from This Is the Army (musical), the wartime stage musical of the same name, d ...

''. Next she appeared in '' The Strange Death of Adolf Hitler'' with Stössel and Twardowski. Grüning received bit parts in '' Madame Curie'' starring

Greer Garson Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson (29 September 1904 – 6 April 1996) was a British-American actress and singer. She was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer who became popular during the Second World War for her portrayal of strong women on the homef ...

and

Walter Pidgeon Walter Davis Pidgeon (September 23, 1897 – September 25, 1984) was a Canadian-American actor. A major leading man during the Golden Age of Hollywood, known for his "portrayals of men who prove both sturdy and wise," Pidgeon earned two Academy ...

as the Curies. Grüning appeared in only one movie in 1944 as Mrs. Vronsky in the drama '' An American Romance''. She had a bit part in the mystery '' Murder in the Music Hall''. She received a couple of other small parts that year; the first as

Herman Bing Herman Bing (March 30, 1889 – January 9, 1947) was a German-American character actor. He acted in more than 120 films and many of his parts were uncredited. Biography Bing was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Bing began his career ...

's wife in '' Rendezvous 24. Next Grüning and Stössel got to play husband and wife again as the Muellers in ''

Temptation Temptation is a desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment that threatens long-term goals.Webb, J.R. (Sep 2014). Incorporating Spirituality into Psychology of temptation: Conceptualization, measurement, and clinical implications. Sp ...

''. The following year, she played Paul E. Burns's wife in '' Desperate''. Other movies included '' Repeat Performance'', '' Letter from an Unknown Woman'', ''

A Foreign Affair ''A Foreign Affair'' is a 1948 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich and John Lund. The screenplay by Charles Brackett, Wilder and Richard L. Breen is based on a story by ...

'', and ''Words and Music''. In 1949, she played a grandmother in ''

Caught Caught is a method of dismissing a batsman in cricket. A batsman is out caught if the batsman hits the ball, from a legitimate delivery, with the bat, and the ball is caught by the bowler or a fielder before it hits the ground. If the catch ...

''. Grüning and Stössel appeared in their last film together in the drama ''

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 ...

''. She played another old woman in '' Mr. Soft Touch'' with

Glenn Ford Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006), known as Glenn Ford, was a Canadian-born American actor. He was most prominent during Classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood's Golden Age as one of the biggest box-office draws of th ...

. In 1950, she received a good part as

Edgar Bergen Edgar John Bergen (né Berggren; February 16, 1903 – September 30, 1978) was an American ventriloquist, comedian, actor, vaudevillian and radio performer. He was best known for his characters Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. Bergen ...

's wife in the adventure film '' Captain China''. She had another good role in ''

Convicted In law, a conviction is the determination by a court of law that a defendant is guilty of a crime. A conviction may follow a guilty plea that is accepted by the court, a jury trial in which a verdict of guilty is delivered, or a trial by jud ...

''. The following year, she appeared as

Brett King Brett King (born Bertell W. King, Jr.; December 29, 1920 – January 14, 1999) was an American actor who performed in films and on television between 1949 and 1967. Early life and film career King attended the American Theatre Wing in New Yor ...

's mother in ''

Payment on Demand ''Payment on Demand'' is a 1951 American Drama (film and television), drama film directed by Curtis Bernhardt and starring Bette Davis and Barry Sullivan (actor), Barry Sullivan. The screenplay by Bernhardt and Bruce Manning chronicles a marriage ...

''. Her last Hollywood movie was as Mama Ludwig in the western ''Passage West''.

Short return to Germany

Like many German and Austrian actors, Grüning went back to Berlin in the 1950s, but found that Germany was not the same country she had left. Many former Nazis returned, and it became difficult for Grüning to integrate back into the film industry. She did, at age 76, appear in a small, Swiss movie in 1952 titled ', which was her last movie. After this role, Grüning returned to the U.S.

Death

Grüning died on November 11, 1964, in Los Angeles at the age of 88. She was cremated and her ashes rest at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa Monica.

Selected filmography

* ''Peer Gynt – 2. Teil: Peer Gynts Wanderjahre und Tod'' (1919) – Aase * ''Peer Gynt'' (1919) – Aase * ''Pogrom'' (1919) – Wera Cheberiak * ''

Prostitution Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, no ...

'' (1919) * '' Rose Bernd'' (1919) – Frau Flamm * ''Todesurteil'' (1919) * ''Der Sklave seiner Leidenschaft'' (1920) * '' Monika Vogelsang'' (1920) – Witwe Walterspiel * ''

Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to crucifixion of Jesus, his cr ...

'' (1920) – Ehefrau von Meister Anton * ''Das Grauen'' (1920) – Mutter Claar * ''Eine Demimonde-Heirat'' (1920) – Anuschka * ''Können Gedanken töten?'' (1920) – Bäuerin * ''

The Prisoner ''The Prisoner'' is a British television series created by Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan portrays Number Six (The Prisoner), Number Six, an unnamed British intelligence agent who is abducted and imprisoned in a The Village (The Prisoner), mysteri ...

'' (1920) * ''

The Marriage of Figaro ''The Marriage of Figaro'' (, ), K. 492, is a ''commedia per musica'' (opera buffa) in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It premiered at the Burgtheater in Vienn ...

'' (1920) – Marcelline * '' Fanny Elssler'' (1920) * ''Der Abenteurer von Paris'' (1920) * ''

Catherine the Great Catherine II. (born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst; 2 May 172917 November 1796), most commonly known as Catherine the Great, was the reigning empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796. She came to power after overthrowing her husband, Peter I ...

'' (1920) * '' Christian Wahnschaffe'' (1920) * ''Menschen'' (1920) * ''Die Bestie im Menschen'' (1920) * '' Hannerl and Her Lovers'' (1921) * ''

The Conspiracy in Genoa ''The Conspiracy in Genoa'' () is a 1921 Cinema of Germany, German silent film, silent historical film, historical drama film directed by Paul Leni and starring Wilhelm Diegelmann, Maria Fein and Fritz Kortner. It is an adaptation of the 1783 pla ...

'' (1921) – Matrone * ''Die Diktatur der Liebe, 2. Teil – Die Welt ohne Liebe'' (1921) – Ihre Mutter * ''Die große und die kleine Welt'' (1921) – Frau aus dem Volke * ''Aus den Tiefen der Großstadt'' (1921) * '' About the Son'' (1921) * '' The Fateful Day'' (1921) – Gräfin * '' The Stranger from Alster Street'' (1921) * '' Trix, the Romance of a Millionairess'' (1921) * ''

The Inheritance of Tordis ''The Inheritance of Tordis'' (German: ''Die Erbin von Tordis'') is a 1921 German silent drama film directed by Robert Dinesen and starring Ica von Lenkeffy, Paul Hartmann and Adolf Klein.Grange p.95 The film's sets were designed by the art ...

'' (1921) – seine Frau * ''

Seafaring Is Necessary ''Seafaring Is Necessary'' (German: ''Seefahrt ist Not'') is a 1921 German silent drama film directed by Rudolf Biebrach and starring Hans Marr, Lucie Höflich and Ilka Grüning. It is based on a novel by Gorch Fock.Das Ufa-Buch p.76 The fi ...

'' (1921) * ''Der Leidensweg eines Achtzehnjährigen'' (1921) * '' Memoirs of a Film Actress'' (1921) * ''

The Story of Christine von Herre ''The Story of Christine von Herre'' () is a 1921 Cinema of Germany, German silent film, silent drama film directed by Ludwig Berger (director), Ludwig Berger and starring Agnes Straub, Werner Krauss, and Paul Hartmann (actor), Paul Hartmann. It ...

'' (1921) – Die alte Comtesse * '' Lady Hamilton'' (1921) – Eine Wirtin * ''Das zweite Leben'' (1921) * ''Die Schuldige'' (1921) – Gräfin Wuthenow * '' Lotte Lore'' (1921) * ''Die Geheimnisse von Berlin, 3. Teil – Berlin-Moabit. Hinter Gitterfenstern'' (1921) * ''Die Kreutzersonate'' (1922) – Frau Suchoff * ''Die Dame und der Landstreicher'' (1922) * ''Die siebtente Nacht'' (1922) – Frau Freese * ''Aus den Erinnerungen eines Frauenarztes – 2. Lüge und Wahrheit'' (1922) * ''Jenseits des Stromes'' (1922) * '' Luise Millerin'' (1922) – Millerin * ''

Youth Youth is the time of life when one is young. The word, youth, can also mean the time between childhood and adulthood (Maturity (psychological), maturity), but it can also refer to one's peak, in terms of health or the period of life known as bei ...

'' (1922) * '' Power of Temptation'' (1922) * ''

'' (1922) – Baronin / Baroness * ''Es leuchtet meine Liebe'' (1922) – Mutter von Saint Just * ''

Bigamy In a culture where only monogamous relationships are legally recognized, bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. A legal or de facto separation of the couple does not alter their mar ...

'' (1922) * ''

'' (1922) – Amme Pawlowa * '' Two Worlds'' (1922) * ''Wem nie durch Liebe Leid geschah!'' (1922) * '' The Big Shot'' (1922) – Frau Steinreich * '' The Anthem of Love'' (1922) * ''Tiefland'' (1923) – Die Duenna * ''

Nora Nora, NORA, or Norah may refer to: * Nora (name), a feminine given name People with the surname * Arlind Nora (born 1980), Albanian footballer * Pierre Nora (1931–2025), French historian * Simon Nora (1921–2006), French politician Place ...

'' (1923) – Marianne, Noras alte Amme * '' The Treasure'' (1923) – Anna * ''

Friedrich Schiller Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (, short: ; 10 November 17599 May 1805) was a German playwright, poet, philosopher and historian. Schiller is considered by most Germans to be Germany's most important classical playwright. He was born i ...

'' (1923) – Elisabeth Dorothea, seine Frau * '' The Woman on the Panther'' (1923) * ''

'' (1923) – Rosalindes Mutter * ''Der Menschenfeind'' (1923) * ''Der rote Reiter'' (1923) * ''

Resurrection Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions involving the same person or deity returning to another body. The disappearance of a body is anothe ...

'' (1923) * '' Daisy'' (1923) * ''Freund Ripp'' (1923) * '' The Beautiful Girl'' (1923) – Frau Gött * '' The Grand Duke's Finances'' (1924) – Augustine, die Köchin * '' The Creature'' (1924) * ''Mater dolorosa'' (1924) * ''

Kaddish The Kaddish (, 'holy' or 'sanctification'), also transliterated as Qaddish, is a hymn praising God that is recited during Jewish prayer services. The central theme of the Kaddish is the magnification and sanctification of God's name. In the lit ...

'' (1924) * '' Debit and Credit'' (1924) – Madame Sidonie Ehrenthal * ''Gehetzte Menschen'' (1924) – Frau Garson * ''Die Liebesbriefe einer Verlassenen'' (1924) * '' Joyless Street'' (1925) – Frau Rosenow * ''

The Dice Game of Life ''The Dice Game of Life'' (German:''Des Lebens Würfelspiel'') is a 1925 German silent film directed by Heinz Paul and starring Frida Richard, Hella Moja and Margarete Lanner.Grange p.203 The film's art direction was by Botho Hoefer and Bernhar ...

'' (1925) – Emils Mutter * ''

The Elegant Bunch ''The Elegant Bunch'' () is a 1925 German silent film directed by Jaap Speyer and starring Eugen Klöpfer, Mary Odette, and Ralph Arthur Roberts. The film's sets were designed by the art director Franz Schroedter Franz Schroedter (9 May 1897 ...

'' (1925) – Leos Mutter * ''

'' (1926) – Die mutter * '' Hello Caesar!'' (1927) – Frau Svoboda * '' The Transformation of Dr. Bessel'' (1927) – Frau Regierer * '' Family Gathering in the House of Prellstein'' (1927) – Seraphine * '' Autumn on the Rhine'' (1928) – Frau Holm * '' Dyckerpotts' Heirs'' (1928) * '' The Three Kings'' (1928) – Landlady * '' The Crimson Circle'' (1929) – Eine Vermieterin * ''Zwischen vierzehn und siebzehn – Sexualnot der Jugend'' (1929) * ''

'' (1929) – Fräulein Czibulka * ' (1932) – Frau Hasenklein * '' Underground'' (1941) – Frau Franken * '' Dangerously They Live'' (1941) – Mrs. Steiner * ''

'' (1942) – Anna * '' Friendly Enemies'' (1942) – Mrs. Pfeiffer * ''

'' (1942) – Aunt Sophie (uncredited) * ''

'' (1942) – Frau Brahms * ''

'' (1942) – Mrs. Leuchtag (uncredited) * ''

'' (1943) – Mrs. Twardofsky (uncredited) * '' The Strange Death of Adolf Hitler'' (1943) – Middle-Class woman * ''There's Something About a Soldier'' (1943) – Anna Grybinski (uncredited) * '' Madame Curie'' (1943) – Seamstress (uncredited) * '' Address Unknown'' (1944) – Grandma (uncredited) * '' An American Romance'' (1944) – Mrs. Vronsky (uncredited) * '' Murder in the Music Hall'' (1946) – Mom * '' Rendezvous 24'' (1946) – Frau Schmidt (uncredited) * ''

'' (1946) – Frau Mueller (uncredited) * '' Repeat Performance'' (1947) – Mattie * '' Desperate'' (1947) – Aunt Klara * '' Letter from an Unknown Woman'' (1948) – Ticket-Taker (uncredited) * '' Raw Deal'' (1948) – Fran – Oscar's Housekeeper (uncredited) * ''

'' (1948) – German Wife (uncredited) * '' Words and Music'' (1948) – Mrs. Rogers * ''

'' (1949) – Grandmother Rudetzki (uncredited) * ''

'' (1949) – Pauline's Duenna (uncredited) * '' Mr. Soft Touch'' (1949) – Old Woman (uncredited) * '' Captain China'' (1950) – Mrs. Haasvelt * ''

'' (1950) – Martha Lorry (uncredited) * ''

'' (1951) – Mrs. Polanski (uncredited) * ''

Passage West Passage West (locally known as "Passage"; ) is a port town in County Cork, Ireland, situated on the west bank of Cork Harbour, some 10 km south-east of Cork (city), Cork city. Passage West was designated a conservation area in the 2003 Co ...

'' (1951) – Mama Ludwig * '' The Venus of Tivoli'' (1953) – Frau Stransky

References

External links

*
Ilka Grüning
at

Turner Classic Movies Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie channel, movie-oriented pay television, pay-TV television network, network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcas ...

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gruning, Ilka 1876 births 1964 deaths Austrian stage actresses Austrian film actresses Austrian silent film actresses 20th-century Austrian actresses Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States Actresses from Vienna Burials at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa Monica