Ludwig Stössel (12 February 1883 – 29 January 1973) was an Austrian actor. He was one of many

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

actors and actresses who were forced to flee Germany 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.

Biography

Stössel began performing on the stage in

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

and

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

when he was only 17. He soon became a successful character actor and performed on the most prestigious stages in Germany, among them the Max Reinhardt, the stage and the in

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

. Stössel later became a movie actor. His first motion picture was a small role in the silent movie '' In der Heimat, da gibt's ein Wiedersehn!'' (''We'll Meet Again in the Homeland'') in 1926 at the age of 43. He appeared in about a half dozen silent movies in Germany and landed more roles with the arrival of sound. Stössel's first sound movie was Georg Wilhelm Pabst's '' Skandal um Eva'' (''Scandalous Eva'') in 1930. The following year, he appeared in Max Neufeld's ''Opernredoute'' ('' The Opera Ball''). Later that year, he appeared as a hotel owner in the German comedy '' Die Koffer des Herrn O.F.'' (''The Suitcases of Mr. O.F.''), starring Peter Lorre and Hedy Lamarr. In 1932, he appeared as Riederer in ''Der Rebell'' ('' The Rebel''). In 1933, Stössel had a small part in

Fritz Lang Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), better known as Fritz Lang (), was an Austrian-born film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary ''Variety Obituari ...

's famous mystery thriller ''Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse'' ('' The Testament of Dr. Mabuse''), a film that was later banned by the Nazi government. His appearance in Carl Boese's 1933 comedy ''Heimkehr ins Glück'' ('' Homecoming to Happiness'') would be his last movie in Germany. When

Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his suicide in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the lea ...

came to power in 1933, Stössel was forced to leave Germany because of his Jewish background. He returned to Austria and appeared in a few movies, but he concentrated on the theater. In 1934, he appeared in the comedy '' Eine Nacht in Venedig'' (''A Night in Venice''). His last movie in Austria was in 1937 with ''Pfarrer von Kirchfeld'' ('' The Priest from Kirchfeld''). After Hitler's forces took over Austria in the Anschluß of 1938, Stössel was imprisoned several times before he was able to escape

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

and get to

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. He and his wife, Lore Birn, eventually reached

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. He appeared in '' Dead Man's Shoes'' and another British film production before heading to Hollywood in 1939. Stössel made his American movie debut in 1940, playing a pastor in Czechoslovakia during the Nazi takeover in the wartime drama '' Four Sons'', starring

Don Ameche Don Ameche (; born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor, comedian and vaudevillian. After playing in college shows, repertory theatre, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 19 ...

. In 1942, he appeared with Ilka Grüning in '' Underground''. Stössel and Grünig were reunited in the Oscar-nominated '' Kings Row'', starring

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...

, Ann Sheridan and

Claude Rains William Claude Rains (10 November 188930 May 1967) was a British and American actor whose career spanned almost seven decades. He was the recipient of numerous accolades, including four Academy Award nominations for Academy Award for Best Supp ...

. Stössel and Grünig also appeared together in 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 ...

''. Later that year, Stössel was cast to play

Lou Gehrig Henry Louis Gehrig ( ; June 19, 1903June 2, 1941), also known as Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was an American professional baseball first baseman who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (1923–1939). Gehrig was ...

's father in '' Pride of the Yankees'' starring Gary Cooper in the title role. A few months later, at the age of 59, he played Mr. Leuchtag, who is leaving Europe for America with his wife 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 ...

''. Stössel appeared in supporting roles in over 40 movies after ''Casablanca'', most in the following ten years. The next year, he had a small role in another

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart ( ; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American actor. His performances in classic Hollywood cinema made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film Institute selected Bogart ...

movie, '' Action in the North Atlantic''. He did a couple of anti-Nazi movies, such as '' Hitler's Madman'' (1943), in which he portrayed the mayor of a small town that is wiped out by a Nazi mass execution in reprisal for the assassination of SS Commander

Reinhard Heydrich Reinhard Tristan Eugen Heydrich ( , ; 7 March 1904 – 4 June 1942) was a German high-ranking SS and police official during the Nazi era and a principal architect of the Holocaust. He held the rank of SS-. Many historians regard Heydrich ...

. Later that year, he appeared in '' The Strange Death of Adolf Hitler''. In 1944, he appeared in the

Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), known professionally as Boris Karloff () and occasionally billed as Karloff the Uncanny, was a British actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstei ...

horror movie '' The Climax''. Later in 1944, Stössel teamed up with his movie wife from ''Pride of the Yankees'', Elsa Janssen, to play Mr. and Mrs. Steelman, a German couple loyal to America who drive their traitorous pro-Nazi son, played by George Sanders (who is actually working undercover for the U.S. government), out of their house in the spy drama '' They Came to Blow Up America''. In 1945, they teamed up again to play Mr. and Mrs. Otto in the "B" crime drama '' Dillinger''. Next, he was bitten in the throat by Count Dracula, played by John Carradine, in '' House of Dracula''. Later in 1945, Stössel played a teacher, who along with a llama, is in the opening scene of the Fred Astaire

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

Yolanda and the Thief ''Yolanda and the Thief'' is a 1945 American Technicolor Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM musical film, musical-comedy film set in a fictional Latin American country. It stars Fred Astaire, Lucille Bremer, Frank Morgan, and Mildred Natwick, with music by ...

''. When the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

ended in 1945, Stössel decided not to return to Germany like many other German actors and actresses, but remained in his adopted country making movies. In 1946, Grüning and Stössel got to play husband and wife again 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 ...

'' starring Merle Oberon, George Brent and Paul Lukas. In 1947, he had a small role portraying

Albert Einstein Albert Einstein (14 March 187918 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who is best known for developing the theory of relativity. Einstein also made important contributions to quantum mechanics. His mass–energy equivalence f ...

in '' The Beginning or the End''. In 1948, he portrayed one of the lonely bachelor professors at a musical research institute in the Danny Kaye musical '' A Song is Born''. In 1949, Grünig and Stössel appeared in their last film together when they received roles in the drama '' The Great Sinner'', starring

Gregory Peck Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, 12th-greatest male ...

and

Ava Gardner Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' att ...

. In 1953, Stössel played a grand duke in the musical '' Call Me Madam'', starring

Ethel Merman Ethel Merman (born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann; January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American singer and actress. Known for her distinctive, powerful voice, and her leading roles in musical theatre, musical theater,Obituary ''Variety Obitua ...

and Donald O'Connor. His last film was in 1960, where he had a small role in the

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

movie '' G.I. Blues''. Stössel also performed on

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

. In 1955, he played Ludwig, a Carl the waiter clone, in the television version of ''Casablanca''. He made two guest appearances on '' Perry Mason'' during the series' second season, including the role of Adolph Van Beers in "The Case of the Shattered Dream." From 1958 to 1960, Stössel played Charles Bronson's father in ABC's television series '' Man with a Camera''. From 1953 to 1963, Stössel appeared as a guest in a number of television shows, including '' Cavalcade of America'', '' My Three Sons'', '' The Donna Reed Show'', and '' The New Phil Silvers Show'' (where he parodied his Gallo wine television commercials). He guest-starred in two Robert Young series, the

situation comedy A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...

'' Father Knows Best'' and the

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

series '' Window on Main Street''. Stössel became famous for a long series of commercials for Italian Swiss Colony wine producers. Dressed in an Alpine hat and

lederhosen The term Lederhosen (; , singular in German usage: ''Lederhose'', ; lit. "Leather Pants") is used in English to refer specifically to the traditional leather breeches worn by men in Southern Germany (specifically in Bavaria and Swabia), Austr ...

, he was their spokesman. His motto was "That Little Old Winemaker, Me!" (they did not use his voice, but had Jim Backus dub the line). Stössel died on January 29, 1973, in

Beverly Hills Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hil ...

after a fall just 14 days short of his 90th birthday. He was cremated at

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematorium, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries ...

, with the ashes sent to Vienna, Austria.

Complete filmography

* '' We'll Meet Again in the Heimat'' (1926) - Freund * ''Herkules Maier'' (1928) * '' Serenissimus und die letzte Jungfrau'' (1928) - Direktor der Florida-Bar * '' Aus dem Tagebuch eines Junggesellen'' (1929) - Herr von Pollak * ''Möblierte Zimmer'' (1929) * ''Favorite of Schonbrunn'' (1929) * '' Katharina Knie'' (1929) * ''Heute nacht - eventuell'' (1930) * '' Scandalous Eva'' (1930) - Dir.Rohrbach * '' Ein Burschenlied aus Heidelberg'' (1930) * ''Bockbierfest'' (1930) - Livius Heintze - Fabrikant * '' Die Privatsekretärin'' (1931) - Personalchef Klapper * '' Königin einer Nacht'' (1931) * '' In Wien hab' ich einmal ein Mädel geliebt'' (1931) - Valentin Rainer - Souffleur * '' Elisabeth von Österreich'' (1931) - Bratfisch * '' Opernredoute'' (1931) * '' Alarm at Midnight'' (1931) - Der Varieté-Agent * '' Die Koffer des Herrn O.F.'' (1931) - Hotelier Brunn * '' Man braucht kein Geld'' (1931) * '' Chauffeur Antoinette'' (1932) - Baron Kiesel * '' Nachtkolonne'' (1932) * '' Zum goldenen Anker'' (1932) - Escartefigue * '' Die Gräfin von Monte-Christo'' (1932) * '' Strich durch die Rechnung'' (1932) * '' Der Rebell'' (1932) - Riederer, Amtshauptmann von St. Vigil * '' Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse'' (1933) - Arbeiter / Worker * '' Morgenrot'' (1933) * '' Der Läufer von Marathon'' (1933) * ''Hände aus dem Dunkel'' (1933) - Generaldirektor Leon * ''Johannisnacht'' (1933) - Theaterdirektor * '' Heimkehr ins Glück'' (1933) - Pichler * ''Rund um eine Million'' (1933) - Der Hoteldirektor * '' Nordpol - Ahoi!'' (1934) - Director * '' Eine Nacht in Venedig'' (1934) * '' Der Pfarrer von Kirchfeld'' (1937) - Vetter, der Pfarrer von Skt. Jakob * '' Return to Yesterday'' (1940) - Capt. Angst * '' Dead Man's Shoes'' (1940) - Dr. Breithaut * '' Four Sons'' (1940) - Pastor * '' The Man I Married'' (1940) - Dr. Gerhardt * '' Dance, Girl, Dance'' (1940) - Caesar * '' The Flying Squad'' (1940) - Li Yoseph * ''Jenny'' (1940) - Fritz Schermer * '' Back Street'' (1941) - Louis (uncredited) * '' Man Hunt'' (1941) - Doctor * '' Underground'' (1941) - Herr Müller * '' Down in San Diego'' (1941) - Brock (uncredited) * '' Great Guns'' (1941) - Dr. Schickel * '' Marry the Boss's Daughter'' (1941) - Franz Polgar * '' All Through the Night'' (1942) - Mr. Herman Miller * '' Kings Row'' (1942) - Professor Berdorff * '' Woman of the Year'' (1942) - Dr. Lubbeck * '' I Married an Angel'' (1942) - Bela (uncredited) * '' The Pride of the Yankees'' (1942) - Pop Gehrig * ''

'' (1942) - Valtyr's Father (uncredited) * '' Who Done It?'' (1942) - Dr. Anton Marek * ''

'' (1942) - Mr. Leuchtag (uncredited) * '' Tennessee Johnson'' (1942) - Austrian Ambassador (uncredited) * ''

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

'' (1942) - Dr. Grazlich * '' The Great Impersonation'' (1942) - Dr. Schmidt * '' Above Suspicion'' (1943) - Herr Schultz (uncredited) * '' They Came to Blow Up America'' (1943) - Papa Julius Steelman * '' Action in the North Atlantic'' (1943) - Captain Ziemer (uncredited) * ''What We Are Fighting For'' (1943 short) - Underground Leader * '' Hitler's Madman'' (1943) - Herman Bauer * ''

Hers to Hold ''Hers to Hold'' (aka ''Three Smart Girls Join Up'') is a 1943 American romantic musical comedy film and is the third film in '' Three Smart Girls'' trilogy. In ''Hers to Hold'', Deanna Durbin reprises her role as Penny Craig, who is the only ...

'' (1943) - Binns * '' The Strange Death of Adolf Hitler'' (1943) - Graub * '' The Climax'' (1944) - Carl Baumann * '' Bluebeard'' (1944) - Jean Lamarte * '' Lake Placid Serenade'' (1944) - Mayor of Lany * '' Dillinger'' (1945) - Mr. Otto * '' Her Highness and the Bellboy'' (1945) - Mr. Puft * ''

'' (1945) - School Teacher * '' House of Dracula'' (1945) - Siegfried * '' Girl on the Spot'' (1946) - "Popsy" Lorenz * '' Miss Susie Slagle's'' (1946) - Otto * ''

Cloak and Dagger "Cloak and dagger" was a fighting style common by the time of the Renaissance involving a knife hidden beneath a cloak. The term later came into use as a metaphor, referring to situations involving intrigue, secrecy, espionage, or mystery. Over ...

'' (1946) - The German * ''

'' (1946) - Dr. Mueller * '' The Beginning or the End'' (1947) - Dr. Albert Einstein * '' Song of Love'' (1947) - Haslinger * '' This Time for Keeps'' (1947) - Peter * '' Escape Me Never'' (1947) - Mr. Steinach * '' A Song is Born'' (1948) - Professor Traumer * '' The Great Sinner'' (1949) - Hotel Manager * '' As Young as You Feel'' (1951) - Serge Toulevitsky (uncredited) * '' Corky of Gasoline Alley'' (1951) - Dr. Hammerschlag (uncredited) * ''

Too Young to Kiss ''Too Young to Kiss'' (also ''All Too Young'') is a 1951 American comedy film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Van Johnson and June Allyson. The film, in which the 34-year-old Allyson's Cynthia Potter masquerades as a 14-year-old child prodigy ...

'' (1951) - German Piano Accompanist (uncredited) * ''The Last Half Hour: The Mayerling Story'' (1951 TV movie) - Bratfisch, Coachman * ''

Diplomatic Courier A diplomatic courier is an official who secures and transports diplomatic bags. Countries have utilized diplomatic couriers to handle important documents, artifacts and supplies between different countries since the 12th century. Following the ...

'' (1952) - Watchmaker (uncredited) * '' The Merry Widow'' (1952) - Major Domo * '' Somebody Loves Me'' (1952) - Mr. D.J. Grauman (uncredited) * '' No Time for Flowers'' (1952) - Papa Svoboda * '' The Sun Shines Bright'' (1953) - Herman Felsburg * '' Call Me Madam'' (1953) - Grand Duke Otto * '' Geraldine'' (1953) - Professor Berger * ''With This Ring'' (1954 short) * ''Lady in the Wings'' (1954 TV movie) * '' Deep in My Heart'' (1954) - Mr. Novak (uncredited) * '' Me and the Colonel'' (1958) - Dr. Szicki * ''

From the Earth to the Moon ''From the Earth to the Moon: A Direct Route in 97 Hours, 20 Minutes'' () is an 1865 novel by Jules Verne. It tells the story of the Baltimore Gun Club, a post-American Civil War society of weapons enthusiasts, and their attempts to build an en ...

'' (1958) - Aldo Von Metz * '' The Blue Angel'' (1959) - Dr. Fritz Heine * '' G.I. Blues'' (1960) - Owner of Puppet Show

References

External links

* *
Ludwig Stössel
at the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

Italian Swiss Colony Wine
commercial featuring Stössel on

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stossel, Ludwig 1883 births 1973 deaths Actors from Burgenland Austrian Jews Austrian male film actors Austrian male silent film actors Emigrants from Nazi Germany Immigrants to the United States Jewish Austrian male actors People from Oberpullendorf District People from Austria-Hungary 20th-century Austrian male actors