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 by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constituent ...

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

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

Beau Ideal ''Beau Ideal'' is a 1931 American 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'' by P. C. Wren, the third novel in a series of five novels base ...

'' (1931), ''

The Animal Kingdom ''The Animal Kingdom'' (also known as ''The Woman in His House'' in the UK) is a 1932 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code comedy-drama film directed by Edward H. Griffith based upon a comedy of manners play of the same name by Philip Barry. ...

'' (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 film work, in which his trademark was physical comedy accompanied by a stoic, deadpan expression ...

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 Vid ...

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

, 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 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. Examples include the 1942 song "Johnny Doughboy Found a Rose in ...

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: '' Lights Out'' (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 c ...

'' (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 Lithuanian Yiddish, Litvak accent. He is ...

*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 summary The two reeler short comedy is set in the mythical country of Jugo ...

'' (short), as The Queen, with

Clark and McCullough Clark and McCullough were a comedy team consisting of comedians 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 painted-on eyeglasses; P ...

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

Luxury Liner (1933 film) ''Luxury Liner'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Lothar Mendes and starring George Brent, Zita Johann and Vivienne Osborne. It was based on a 1932 novel by Gina Kaus, and made by Paramount Pictures. Mendes worked on a number o ...

'', as Slattern (uncredited) *1932: ''

'', as Franc Schmidt, an artist *1932: ''

Hollywood Speaks ''Hollywood Speaks'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code comedy film. Cast * Genevieve Tobin as Gertrude Smith, later known as Greta Swan *Pat O'Brien as Jimmy Reed *Lucien Prival as Frederick Landau *Ralf Harolde as Carp *Rita La Roy as Millie Coreen ...

'', as Mrs. Landau *1932: ''

Man About Town (1932 film) ''Man About Town'' is a 1932 American drama film directed by John Francis Dillon and written by Leon Gordon. The film stars Warner Baxter, Karen Morley, Conway Tearle, Alan Mowbray, Leni Stengel and Lilian Bond. The film was released on May 2 ...

'', as Countess Vonesse *1931: ''

Husband's Holiday ''Husband's Holiday'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Robert Milton and written by Ernest Pascal and Viola Brothers Shore. The film stars Clive Brook, Vivienne Osborne, Charlie Ruggles, Juliette Compton, Harry Bannister, Do ...

'', 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, Ch ...

'', 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

*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