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Leni Stengel (September 12, 1901 – July 1, 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, both by area and by population. Its more than 3.85 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, as measured by population within city limits having gained this stat ...
, and was a grandniece of the German composer
Friedrich von Flotow Friedrich Adolf Ferdinand, Freiherr von Flotow /flo:to/ (27 April 1812 – 24 January 1883) was a German composer. He is chiefly remembered for his opera '' Martha'', which was popular in the 19th century and the early part of the 20th. Life ...
.


Career

Her work in films includes '' Half Shot at Sunrise'' (1930), '' Cracked Nuts'' (1931), '' Beau Ideal'' (1931), '' The Animal Kingdom'' (1932), and ''Hollywood Speaks'' (1932). She worked with Buster Keaton 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 air ...
'', "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 a ...
, such as ''Half Shot at Sunrise'' (1930) and ''Cracked Nuts'' (1931), she worked as the
straight man The straight man is a stock character in a comedy performance, especially a double act, sketch comedy, or farce. When a comedy partner behaves eccentrically, the straight man is expected to maintain composure. The direct contribution to the ...
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 (sometimes spelled Rolla or even Raleigh) was born on Aug ...
, as Dorothy Lee did with
Bert Wheeler Albert Jerome Wheeler (April 7, 1895 – January 18, 1968) was an American comedian who performed in Broadway theatre, American comedy feature films, and vaudeville acts. He was the comedy partner of Robert Woolsey, and together they formed ...
. In ''Half Shot at Sunrise'', they share a comic dance routine, during which she tears off most of Woolsey's doughboy 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: ''
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 ...
'' (TV series), "Ti Babette" (1953), "Legacy of Love" (1952) *1952: '' Police Story'' (TV series), "Detective Sergeant, Martin Stephens" *1951: ''
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 air ...
'' (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 Samuel Horwitz (March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955), known professionally as Shemp Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He was called "Shemp" because "Sam" came out that way in his mother's thick Litvak accent. He is best known as the ...
*1934: ''Henry the Ache'' (short), with
Shemp Howard Samuel Horwitz (March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955), known professionally as Shemp Howard, was an American actor and comedian. He was called "Shemp" because "Sam" came out that way in his mother's thick Litvak accent. He is best known as the ...
*1933: '' Kickin' the Crown Around'' (short), as The Queen, with Clark and McCullough *1933: '' The Barbarian'', as Ilsa, a German Tourist *1933: '' Luxury Liner (1933 film)'', as Slattern (uncredited) *1932: '' The Animal Kingdom'', as Franc Schmidt, an artist *1932: '' Hollywood Speaks'', as Mrs. Landau *1932: '' Man About Town (1932 film)'', as Countess Vonesse *1931: '' Husband's Holiday'', as Molly Saunders *1931: '' The Beloved Bachelor'', as Julie Stressman *1931: ''Casanova wider Willen'', German version of '' Parlor, Bedroom and Bath'', with Buster Keaton *1931: '' The Road to Reno'', as Mrs. Stafford Howes *1931: '' Cracked Nuts'', as Queen Carlotta *1931: '' Beau Ideal'', as Zuleika *1930: '' Half Shot at Sunrise'', as Olga, with
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 a ...


References

*https://archive.today/20130201044323/http://www.reelz.com/person/172832/leni-stengel/ *https://archive.org/details/Animal_Kingdom


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