John Wengraf
Encyclopedia
John Wengraf was an Austrian actor.
Wengraf emigrated to England
in 1933 as the Nazis began their rise to power. Wengraf appeared unbilled in a couple of films, as well as in some of the first BBC
live-television shows ever presented. In 1941 he appeared on Broadway
with Helen Hayes
in "Candle in the Wind" and decided to stay in the US. The following year he settled in the Los Angeles
area.
He found himself invariably playing the very characters he detested. Some of his more nefarious nasties surfaced in such films as the Humphrey Bogart
classic Sahara (1943/I), as well as "The Boy from Stalingrad" (1943), "U-Boat Prisoner" (1944) and "Till We Meet Again" (1944).
In postwar years, he portrayed ethnic professionals (scientists, doctors, professors, foreign royalty). Some of the more quality pictures he enhanced were "Tomorrow Is Forever" (1946); Count Von Papen in "5 Fingers" (1952); and Ronchin in the Ethel Merman musical "Call Me Madam" (1953). In the 1950s and 1960s he transferred his talents to TV, appearing on a number of dramatic showcases and on such popular programs as "The Untouchables" (1959), "Hawaiian Eye" (1959), "The Man from U.N.C.L.E" (1964) and "The Time Tunnel" (1966). His last few films included minor roles in the war-themed "Judgment at Nuremberg" (1961), "Hitler" (1962) and "Ship of Fools" (1965).
Wengraf retired in 1966, and died in Santa Barbara, California
, at age 77, on May 4, 1974.
Wengraf emigrated to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1933 as the Nazis began their rise to power. Wengraf appeared unbilled in a couple of films, as well as in some of the first BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
live-television shows ever presented. In 1941 he appeared on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
with Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes Brown was an American actress whose career spanned almost 70 years. She eventually garnered the nickname "First Lady of the American Theatre" and was one of twelve people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award...
in "Candle in the Wind" and decided to stay in the US. The following year he settled in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area.
He found himself invariably playing the very characters he detested. Some of his more nefarious nasties surfaced in such films as the Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema....
classic Sahara (1943/I), as well as "The Boy from Stalingrad" (1943), "U-Boat Prisoner" (1944) and "Till We Meet Again" (1944).
In postwar years, he portrayed ethnic professionals (scientists, doctors, professors, foreign royalty). Some of the more quality pictures he enhanced were "Tomorrow Is Forever" (1946); Count Von Papen in "5 Fingers" (1952); and Ronchin in the Ethel Merman musical "Call Me Madam" (1953). In the 1950s and 1960s he transferred his talents to TV, appearing on a number of dramatic showcases and on such popular programs as "The Untouchables" (1959), "Hawaiian Eye" (1959), "The Man from U.N.C.L.E" (1964) and "The Time Tunnel" (1966). His last few films included minor roles in the war-themed "Judgment at Nuremberg" (1961), "Hitler" (1962) and "Ship of Fools" (1965).
Wengraf retired in 1966, and died in Santa Barbara, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, at age 77, on May 4, 1974.