Leonard Steckel (18 January 1901 – 9 February 1971) was a

German-Jewish The history of the Jews in Germany goes back at least to the year 321, and continued through the Early Middle Ages (5th to 10th centuries CE) and High Middle Ages (''circa'' 1000–1299 CE) when Jewish immigrants founded the Ashkenazi Jewish ...

Siegbert Salomon Prawer Siegbert Salomon Prawer (15 February 1925 – 5 April 2012) was Taylor Professor of the German Language and Literature at the University of Oxford. Life and works Prawer was born on 15 February 1925 in Cologne, Germany, to Jewish parents Mar ...

, ''Between Two Worlds: The Jewish Presence in German and Austrian Film, 1910-1933'',

Berghahn Books Berghahn Books is a New York and Oxford-based publisher Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creat ...

(2007), p. 213 actor and director of stage and screen. Steckel was born as Leonhard Steckel in Knihinin, a Galician town that is today a district of the city

Ivano-Frankivsk Ivano-Frankivsk ( uk, Іва́но-Франкі́вськ, translit=Iváno-Frankívśk ), formerly Stanyslaviv ( pl, Stanisławów ; german: Stanislau), is a city located in Western Ukraine. It is the administrative centre of Ivano-Frankivsk O ...

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

. He began his career as a stage actor and spent the duration of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

in exile in

Zürich Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

, where he had gone to work at the

Schauspielhaus Zürich The Schauspielhaus Zürich ( en, Zürich playhouse) is one of the most prominent and important theatres in the German-speaking world. It is also known as "Pfauenbühne" (Peacock Stage). The large theatre has 750 seats. The also operates three st ...

. It was during this time that he began to direct. Steckel was killed in a major rail accident on 9 February 1971 in

Aitrang Aitrang is a municipality in the district of Ostallgäu in Bavaria in Germany. Geography Aitrang lies in the south Bavarian Region Allgäu. It encompasses districts of: Aitrang, Huttenwang, Wenglingen. Administrative responsibility also exte ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Partial filmography

* ''

Phantoms of Happiness Phantom may refer to: * Spirit (animating force), 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 Phantom Ray, a stealthy unm ...

'' (1930) - Gefängnisarzt * '' M'' (1931) - Man (uncredited) * ''

The Adventurer of Tunis ''The Adventurer of Tunis'' (german: Die Abenteurerin von Tunis) is a 1931 German adventure film directed by Willi Wolff and starring Philipp Manning, Theo Shall, and Ellen Richter. It was made at the Staaken Studios in Berlin.Klaus p.14 Locat ...

'' (1931) - Ferrero * ''

The Daredevil ''The Daredevil'' (german: Der Draufgänger) is a 1931 German crime film directed by Richard Eichberg and starring Hans Albers, Gerda Maurus and Mártha Eggerth.Bock & Bergfelder p. 105 The film's sets were designed by the art directors Ha ...

'' (1931) - Barini, Inhaber American Hippodrom * '' The Captain from Köpenick'' (1931) - Krakauer, ein Trödler * ''

Secret Agent Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information (intelligence) from non-disclosed sources or divulging of the same without the permission of the holder of the information for a tangib ...

'' (1932) - Oberst Salit * '' The Company's in Love'' (1932) - Harry Bing - Regisseur * ''

Gitta Discovers Her Heart ''Gitta Discovers Her Heart'' (german: Gitta entdeckt ihr Herz) is a 1932 German musical film directed by Carl Froelich and starring Gitta Alpar, Gustav Fröhlich, and Paul Kemp. It was shot at the Johannisthal Studios in Berlin. The film's ...

'' (1932) - Der Primas * ''

Nights in Port Said ''Nights in Port Said'' (French: ''Les nuits de Port Said'') is a 1932 French drama film directed by Leo Mittler and starring Renée Héribel, Gustav Diessl and Oskar Homolka.Waldman & Slide p.72 It was shot at the Joinville Studios in Paris. The ...

'' (1932) - Le levantin * ''

I Do Not Want to Know Who You Are ''I Do Not Want to Know Who You Are'' (german: Ich will nicht wissen, wer du bist) is a 1932 German comedy film directed by Géza von Bolváry and starring Liane Haid, Gustav Fröhlich, and S.Z. Sakall. The film's sets were designed by the a ...

'' (1932) - Alvarez Zambesi * ''Mieter Schulze gegen alle'' (1932) * ''Spione im Savoy-Hotel'' (1932) - Almassy, Antiquitätenhändler * ''Kampf um Blond'' (1933) - Der Levantiner * ''

The House of Dora Green ''The House of Dora Green'' (german: Salon Dora Green) is a 1933 German thriller film directed by Henrik Galeen and starring Mady Christians, Paul Hartmann, and Leonard Steckel. It was based on the novel ''Diplomatische Unterwelt'' by Hans Rudo ...

'' (1933) - Sucharow * ''

A Song for You "A Song for You" is a song written and originally recorded by rock singer and pianist Leon Russell for his first solo album '' Leon Russell'', which was released in 1970 on Shelter Records. A slow, pained plea for forgiveness and understandin ...

'' (1933) - Opern-Regisseur * ''Hände aus dem Dunkel'' (1933) - Fed Harras, Propagandachef * ''

Invisible Opponent ''Invisible Opponent'' (German: ''Unsichtbare Gegner'') is a 1933 German-Austrian drama film directed by Rudolph Cartier and starring Gerda Maurus, Paul Hartmann, and Oskar Homolka. The film's sets were designed by the art director Erwin S ...

'' (1933) - Santos * '' Palace Hotel'' (1952) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' Southern Nights'' (1953) - Giuseppe * ''Meines Vaters Pferde'' (1954, part 1, 2) - Schlachtauer * ''

The Seven Dresses of Katrin ''The Seven Dresses of Katrin'' (german: Die sieben Kleider der Katrin) is a 1954 West German romantic comedy film directed by Hans Deppe and starring Sonja Ziemann, Paul Klinger, and Georg Thomalla. The film tells the story of a woman's life ...

'' (1954) - Mödel, Theater-Direktor * ''Viktoria und ihr Husar'' (1954) * '' The Last Summer'' (1954) - Kommissar Berki * '' Spring Song'' (1954) - Dr. Falconi * ''

The Eternal Waltz ''The Eternal Waltz'' (german: Ewiger Walzer, link=no) is a 1954 West German drama film dramatizing the life of Johann Strauss II.Bock & Bergfelder p. 529 The initial story was written by Hanns Marschall and Ruth Charlotte Silbermann, and the fil ...

'' (1954) - Baron Carlo Todesco * ''

Beloved Enemy ''Beloved Enemy'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by H.C. Potter and starring Merle Oberon, Brian Aherne, and David Niven. It was loosely based on the life of Michael Collins. Plot During the Irish War of Independence in 1921, Irish re ...

'' (1955) - Oberst Junot (uncredited) * ''

Love Without Illusions ''Love Without Illusions'' (German: ''Liebe ohne Illusion'') is a 1955 West German drama film directed by Erich Engel and starring Sonja Ziemann, Curd Jürgens and Heidemarie Hatheyer.Hake p.114 It was shot at the Spandau Studios in Berlin with ...

'' (1955) - Professor Dürkheim * ''Du mein stilles Tal'' (1955) - Doktor * ''

Ballerina A ballet dancer ( it, ballerina fem.; ''ballerino'' masc.) is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet; however, dancers have a strict hierarchy and strict gender roles. They rely on yea ...

'' (1956) - Opernintendant * '' The Captain from Köpenick'' (1956) - Adolph Wormser * ''

Without You All Is Darkness ''Without You All Is Darkness'' (German: ''Ohne dich wird es Nacht'') is a 1956 West German drama film directed by and starring Curd Jürgens.DeGrazia & Furlough p.361 Eva Bartok, René Deltgen and Ursula Grabley also star. The film's sets were d ...

'' (1956) - Dr. Bräuner * '' Stresemann'' (1957) - Aristide Briand * '' Escape from Sahara'' (1958) - Ben Achmed * ''

The Doctor of Stalingrad ''The Doctor of Stalingrad'' (german: Der Arzt von Stalingrad also known as ''Battle Inferno'') is a 1958 German drama film directed by Géza von Radványi and starring O.E. Hasse, Eva Bartok and Hannes Messemer. It is an adaptation of the 195 ...

'' (1958) - Major Dr. Kresin, Distriktarzt * ''

The Green Devils of Monte Cassino ''The Green Devils of Monte Cassino'' (german: Die grünen Teufel von Monte Cassino) is a 1958 French–German war film directed by Harald Reinl and starring Dieter Eppler, Joachim Fuchsberger, Antje Geerk and Ewald Balser.Bock & Bergfelder p. 3 ...

'' (1958) - Erzabt * ''Majestät auf Abwegen'' (1958) - Filmregisseur * ''Romarei, das Mädchen mit den grünen Augen'' (1958) - Sir Boris Olinzoff * ''

For Love and Others ''For Love and Others'' (original German title: ''Unser Wunderland bei Nacht'') is a 1959 German anthology film, directed by Jürgen Roland, Hans Heinrich (director), Hans Heinrich and Reinhard Elsner. The film stars Monika Peitsch, Angelika Meissn ...

'' (1959) - Ihr Vater * ''Ja, so ein Mädchen mit sechzehn'' (1959) - Arzt * '' Marili'' (1959) - Ludwig Ostertag * '' Sweetheart of the Gods'' (1960) - Furst * ''Das Geheimnis der schwarzen Koffer'' (1962) - Dr. Daniel Bransby, Arzt * ''

The Phone Rings Every Night ''The Phone Rings Every Night'' (german: Nachts ging das Telefon) is a 1962 German drama film directed by Géza von Cziffra and starring Ingrid Andree, Karin Heske and Elke Sommer. Two rival gangs clash on a yacht in Saint-Tropez. Cast In alpha ...

'' (1962) - Th. Th. Th. Meyer * ''Whiskey and Sofa'' (1963) - Dehn * '' The Visit'' (1964) - Minister * ''

Once a Greek ''Once a Greek'' is a 1955 novel by the Swiss writer Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Its original German title is ''Grieche sucht Griechin'', which means "Greek man seeks Greek woman". It tells the story of a shy, middle-aged book-keeping assistant, who bec ...

'' (1966) - Maire Dutour

References

External links

Biography with photo
* 1901 births 1971 deaths Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to Switzerland Jewish German male actors German male stage actors Actors from Ivano-Frankivsk German theatre directors German film directors Railway accident deaths in Germany German male film actors German male television actors 20th-century German male actors {{Germany-screen-actor-stub