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John Wengraf

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
71

Gender
Male

Birthday
April 22, 1897 (129 years old)

Place of Birth
Vienna, Austria-Hungary, now Austria

John Wengraf

Biography

Emigrating to England in 1933 as the Nazis began their rise to power, Wengraf appeared unbilled in a couple of films there, as well as in some of the first BBC live-television shows ever presented but his career began to languish. In late 1941, however, he had the good fortune of appearing on Broadway with Helen Hayes in "Candle in the Wind" and decided to stay. The following year he headed west and settled permanently in the Los Angeles area. A dark, cold-eyed, thin-lipped player with a precise, meticulous air about him, 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 was often spotted portraying 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). Although Wengraf never made it to the very top of the Hollywood character ranks, he remained a throughly strong and reliable player. 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). He retired in 1966, and died in Santa Barbara, California, at age 77, on May 4, 1974.

Known For

Acting

1966Jerichoas
1966The Time Tunnelas Dr. Hans Kleinemann
1965Ship of Foolsas Graf
1964The Roguesas Drozhin
1963The Prizeas Hans Eckhart
1962Hitleras Dr. Morell
1961Judgment at Nurembergas Karl Wieck
1960Portrait in Blackas Dr. Kessler
196012 to the Moonas Dr. Erich Heinrich
1959The Detectivesas Varchek
1959Hawaiian Eyeas
1959Bourbon Street Beatas
1959The Third Manas
1959One Step Beyondas Ernest
1959One Step Beyondas Felix Borgner
195877 Sunset Stripas
1958Bat Mastersonas Colonel Anders Dorn
1958Behind Closed Doorsas Von Elm
1958The Return of Draculaas John Merriman
1957The Walter Winchell Fileas
1957The Disembodiedas Dr. Carl Metz
1957Valerieas Mr. Louis Horvat
1957The Pride and the Passionas Sermaine
1957Panic!as
1957Oh, Men! Oh, Women!as Dr. Krauss
1956Telephone Timeas
1956Never Say Goodbyeas Prof. Zimmelman
1955Matinee Theateras
1955The Racersas Dr. Tabor
1955The Millionaireas Count Victor Turec
1954The Gambler from Natchezas Nicholas Cadiz
1954Gogas Dr. Zeitman
1954Paris Playboysas Vidal
1954The French Lineas Commodore Renard
1954Hell and High Wateras Col. Schuman (uncredited)
1953The Danny Thomas Showas Victor Waingraft
1953The Desert Ratsas German Doctor (uncredited)
1953You Are Thereas Dr. Zimmerman
1953General Electric Theateras
1953Tropic Zoneas Lukats
1952Cavalcade of Americaas
1952Cavalcade of Americaas German Colonel
1952Cavalcade of Americaas Von Schwarz
1952Four Star Playhouseas Denoir
19525 Fingersas Count Franz Von Papen
1952Dangerous Assignmentas
1950Lux Video Theatreas Landau
1950Lux Video Theatreas Max von Mayerling
1949The Lovable Cheatas Pierquin
1948Wake of the Red Witchas Prosecuting Attorney
1948Sealed Verdictas German Doctor
1948Sofiaas Peter Goltzen
1947T-Menas 'Shiv' Triano
1946The Razor's Edgeas Joseph - Gray & Isabel's Butler
1946Tomorrow Is Foreveras Dr. Ludwig
1945Week-End at the Waldorfas Alex
1944Strange Affairas Rudolph Kruger
1944Till We Meet Againas Gestapo Chief
1944U-Boat Prisoneras Gunther Rudehoff, Gestapo Agent
1944The Seventh Crossas Overkamp
1943Saharaas Maj. von Falken
1943The Boy from Stalingradas German Major
1943Mission to Moscowas Polish Ambassador Grzybowski (uncredited)
1942Lucky Jordanas Herr Kesselman
1940Sailors Threeas German Captain
1940Convoyas Commander Deutschland
1940Night Train to Munichas KL Physician (uncredited)
1940All Handsas German
1940Dangerous Commentas German Radio Operator
1938The Moon in the Yellow Riveras Tausch
1935Bretter, die die Welt bedeutenas Paul Rainer

Production