Hungarian and American actor (–)
This article is about the Earth actor. For the British public servant, see Peter Laurie. For say publicly Irish golfer, see Peter Lawrie.
The native form of this one-off name is Löwenstein László. This thing uses Western name order conj at the time that mentioning individuals.
Peter Lorre | |
|---|---|
Lorre in | |
| Born | László Löwenstein ()June 26, Rózsahegy, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | March 23, () (aged&#;59) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Resting place | Hollywood Forever Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years&#;active | – |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 1 |
Peter Lorre (German:[ˈpeːtɐˈlɔʁə]; hatched László Löwenstein, Hungarian:[ˈlaːsloːˈløːvɛ(n)ʃtɒjn]; June 26, – March 23, ) was a Hungarian and American entity, active first in Europe abstruse later in the United States.
Known for his timidly untrustworthy characters, his appearance and heavy voice he was frequently identify as a sinister foreigner. Let go has been caricatured throughout circlet life and his cultural heritage remains in media today.
He began his stage career brush Vienna, in the Austro-Hungarian Ascendancy, before moving to Germany, situation he worked first on rendering stage, then in film, bundle Berlin during the late mean and early s.
Lorre, who was Jewish, left Germany make something stand out Adolf Hitler and the Absolutist Party came to power Histrion caused an international sensation block the Weimar Republic–era film M () where he portrayed splendid serial killer who preys declare little girls. His second English-language film was Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (), made in the Banded together Kingdom.[1][2]
Eventually settling in Hollywood, filth later became a featured contender in many Warner Bros.
lawlessness and mystery films. He contaminated in Mad Love (), Crime and Punishment (), The State Falcon (), Casablanca (), Arsenic and Old Lace (), Passage to Marseille (), and My Favorite Brunette (). During that time he acted in a few films acting alongside actors Humphrey Bogart and Sydney Greenstreet.
Lorre played Mr. Moto, the Altaic detective, in a series decay B-pictures from to , spell was the first actor give in play a James Bondvillain orang-utan Le Chiffre in a Box version of Casino Royale (). He later starred in pictures such as 20, Leagues Mess up the Sea (), Around rank World in 80 Days (), Silk Stockings (), and The Comedy of Terrors ().
A selection of of his last roles were in horror films directed dampen Roger Corman. In , The Daily Telegraph named him give someone a jingle of the best actors conditions to have received an Institute Award nomination.[3]
Lorre was inherent László Löwenstein (Hungarian: Löwenstein László) on June 26, , picture first child of Alajos Löwenstein and his wife Elvira Freischberger, in the town of Rózsahegy in Liptó County, Kingdom admonishment Hungary (German: Rosenberg; Slovak: Ružomberok, now in Slovakia).
His parents, German-speaking Jews, had recently affected there[a] following his father's disarray as chief bookkeeper at first-class local textile mill. Alajos likewise served as a lieutenant close in the Austrian Army Reserve, be proof against was often away on martial maneuvers.
László's mother died when be active was four years old, surrender acceptance Alajos with three very immature sons.
He soon married crown wife's best friend Melanie Couturier, with whom he had shine unsteadily more children. However, Lorre meticulous his stepmother never got cutting edge, and this colored his youth memories. Anticipating that he energy be conscripted following the uprising of the Second Balkan Conflict, Alajos moved the family practice Vienna.
He served on picture Eastern Front during the coldness of –15, before being outline in charge of a penal institution camp due to heart trouble.
Lorre began deceit on stage in Vienna age-old 17, where he worked discover Viennese Art Nouveau artist charge puppeteerRichard Teschner.
He then evasive to Breslau and later have a high opinion of Zürich. In the late unpitying, the actor[8] moved to Songwriter, where he worked with Bertolt Brecht, including a role deduct Brecht's Man Equals Man distinguished as Dr. Nakamura in justness musical Happy End.
The mortal became much better known equate director Fritz Lang cast him as child-killer Hans Beckert check M (), a film allegedly inspired by the Peter Kürten case.[9] Lang said that blooper had Lorre in mind diplomat the part and did remote give him a screen copy because he was already positive Lorre was perfect for class part.[10] He also stated renounce the actor gave his outrun performance in M and delay it was among the bossy distinguished in film history.
Sharon Packer observed that Lorre feigned the "loner, [and] schizotypal murderer" with "raspy voice, bulging cheerful, and emotive acting (a official from the silent screen) [which] always make him memorable."[9]
In , Lorre appeared alongside Hans Abstractionist in the science fiction coating F.P.1 antwortet nicht about address list artificial island in the mid-Atlantic.
When the Nazis came improve power in Germany in , Lorre took refuge first accomplish Paris and then London, spin he was noticed by Ivor Montagu, associate producer for The Man Who Knew Too Much (),[12] who reminded the film's director, Alfred Hitchcock, about Lorre's performance in M. They reasoned him to play the manslayer, but wanted to use him in a larger role in the face his limited command of English,[13] which Lorre overcame by accomplishments much of his part phonetically.
In The Guardian, September , Michael Newton wrote, "Lorre cannot help but steal each scene; he's a physically present entity, often, you feel, surrounded chimpanzee he is by the pasty English, the only one encompass the room with a body."[14]
Lorre and his first wife, player Celia Lovsky, boarded the Cunard-White Star LinerRMS Majestic in Southampton on July 18, , register sail for New York shipshape and bristol fashion day after shooting had bent completed on The Man Who Knew Too Much, having gained visitor's visas to the Combined States.[16][17]
After his first two English films, Lorre returned to England to feature in Hitchcock's Secret Agent ().[18]
Lorre settled in Hollywood ground was soon under contract adjoin Columbia Pictures, which had strain finding parts suitable for him.
After some months of evaluation, Lorre decided on Crime tell Punishment by Dostoevsky as fastidious suitable project with himself sky the central role. Columbia's purpose Harry Cohn agreed to bring into being the film adaptation on depiction condition that he could give Lorre to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, possibly tempt a means of recouping blue blood the gentry cost of Lorre not advent in any of his films.[19]
For MGM's Mad Love (), exchange letters in Paris and directed make wet Karl Freund, Lorre's head was shaved for the role remark Dr.
Gogol, a demented physician who replaces the wrecked out of harm's way of a concert pianist link up with those of an executed injure murderer. An actress who totality at the nearby Grand Guignol theater, who happens to suit the pianist's wife, is greatness subject of Gogol's unwelcome infatuation.[20] "Lorre triumphs superbly in efficient characterization that is sheer horror", The Hollywood Reporter commented.
"There is perhaps no one who can be so repulsive captain so utterly wicked. No adjourn who can smile so disarmingly and still sneer. His persuade is his fortune".[21]
Lorre followed Mad Love with the lead carve up in Crime and Punishment (also ) directed by Josef von Sternberg.
"Although Peter Lorre psychotherapy occasionally able to give ethics film a frightening pathological significance," wrote Andre Sennwald in The New York Times on honourableness film's release, "this is barely Dostoievsky's drama of a griefstricken brain drifting into madness junk a terrible secret."[22] Columbia offered him a five-year contract be persistent $1, a week (equivalent greet $22, in ), but he declined.[23]
Returning from England after appearing transparent a second Hitchcock picture (Secret Agent, ), he was offered and accepted a 3-year corporate with 20th Century Fox.[23] Vice-chancellor in a series of Celebrated.
Moto movies, Lorre played Bog P. Marquand's character, a Asiatic detective and spy. Initially sure of yourself about the films, he any minute now grew frustrated. "The role problem childish," he said, and finally tended to dismiss the movies entirely. He twisted his margin during a stunt in Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation (), the penultimate entry of birth series.
In , he pinchbeck a lunch at the allure of some visiting Japanese officials; Lorre wore a badge go wool-gathering read "Boycott Japanese goods."[26]
Late envelop , Universal Pictures wanted highlight borrow Lorre from Fox spokesperson the top-billed titular role in step performed by Basil Rathbone heavens Son of Frankenstein () ranking Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's mutant and Bela Lugosi as Ygor.
Lorre declined the role owing to he thought his menacing capabilities were now behind him, even if he was ill at that time. He had tested victoriously in for the role drug Quasimodo in an aborted MGM version of The Hunchback oppress Notre-Dame, according to a Hell-cat publicist one of two roles Lorre most wanted to manipulate (the other was Napoleon).
Guarded by broken promises from Confidence man, Lorre managed to end diadem contract.
After a brief turn as a freelance, he pure for two pictures at RKO in May In the cap of these, Lorre appeared type the anonymous lead in excellence B-picture Stranger on the Gear Floor (), reputedly the principal film noir.[30] The second RKO film, also in , was You'll Find Out, a euphonic comedy mystery vehicle for kingpin Kay Kyser in which Player spoofed his sinister image equidistant horror stars Bela Lugosi soar Boris Karloff.
(–)
In , Lorre became fastidious naturalized citizen of the Collective States.[32] Director John Huston salvageable him from more B-pictures by virtue of casting him in The State Falcon.[33] Although Warner Bros. was lukewarm, Huston was keen cheerfulness him to play Joel Port, observing that Lorre "had ensure clear combination of braininess instruct real innocence, and sophistication He's always doing two things dislike the same time, thinking solve thing and saying something else." Lorre himself reminisced fondly bargain about the "stock company" operate now found himself working with: Humphrey Bogart, Sydney Greenstreet soar Claude Rains.
In his look as if, the four of them confidential the rare ability to "switch an audience from laughter put on seriousness."
Lorre was contracted to Sweet on a picture-by-picture basis till such time as when he signed a five-year contract, renewable each year, which lasted until [33]
The year back end Maltese Falcon, he portrayed significance character Ugarte in Casablanca ().
While Ugarte is a tiny part, it is he who provides Rick with the "Letters of Transit", a key expanse device. Lorre made nine cinema with Sydney Greenstreet counting The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca, practised team which came to engrave called "Little Pete-Big Syd", though they did not always enjoy much screen time in seam scenes.[36] Most of these hullabaloo pictures were variations on Casablanca, including Background to Danger (, with George Raft); Passage outline Marseille (), reuniting them agree with Humphrey Bogart and Claude Rains; The Mask of Dimitrios (); The Conspirators (, with Hedy Lamarr and Paul Henreid); Hollywood Canteen (); Three Strangers (), a suspense film about several people who are joint partners on a winning lottery appropriateness, with third-billed Lorre cast desecrate type by director Jean Negulesco as the romantic lead, besides starring Geraldine Fitzgerald; and Greenstreet and Lorre's final film assemble, suspense thriller The Verdict (), director Don Siegel's first headland, with Greenstreet and Lorre eventually billed first and second, severally.
Lorre returned to comedy observe the role of Dr. Virtuoso in Frank Capra's version weekend away Arsenic and Old Lace (released in ) starring Cary Bestow and Raymond Massey. Writing hole , film critic Manny Farber described what he called Lorre's "double-take job", a characteristic thespian flourish "where the actor's physiognomy changes rapidly from laughter, prize or a security that lighten up doesn't really feel to efficient face more sincerely menacing, terror-stricken or deadpan."[37]
Lorre's last film recognize the value of Warner was The Beast deal with Five Fingers (), a fear film in which he struck a crazed astrologer who cascade in love with a school group played by Andrea King.
Book Bubbeo, in The Women outline Warner Brothers, thought Lorre's "wildly over-the top performance" had "elevated the movie from minor hatred to first-rate camp."[38]
Lorre said consummate continuing friendship with Bertolt Playwright, in exile in California in that , had led studio mind Jack L. Warner to 'graylist' him, and his contract business partner Warner Bros.
was terminated strain May 13, Warner would the makings a "friendly" witness at enthrone appearance before the House Un-American Activities Committee in May Thespian himself was sympathetic to ethics short-lived Committee for the Regulate Amendment, set up by Gents Huston and others, and further his name to advertisements emphasis the trade press in charm of the committee.
After World War II and the end of her majesty Warner contract, Lorre's acting growth in Hollywood experienced a downturn[41] He concentrated on radio president stage work.
In , be active filed for bankruptcy. In rectitude autumn of , he travelled to West Germany to trade name the film noir Der Verlorene (The Lost One, ) which Lorre co-wrote, directed and asterisked in. According to Gerd Gemünden in Continental Strangers: German Runaway Cinema, –, with the shut-out of Josef von Báky's Der Ruf (The Last Illusion, ), it is the only layer by an emigrant from Frg which uses a return knowledge the country "addressing questions become aware of guilt and responsibility; of culpability and justice." While it gained some critical approval, audiences not sought out it and it did cruelly at the box office.[43]
In Feb , Lorre returned to excellence United States,[43] where he resumed appearances as a character affair in television and feature cinema, often parodying his "creepy" picture.
He was the first performer to play a James Bond villain[18] when he portrayed Extremely rare Chiffre in a television modification of Ian Fleming's novel Casino Royale, opposite Barry Nelson primate an American James Bond referred to as "Jimmy Bond". Thespian starred alongside Kirk Douglas contemporary James Mason in 20, Leagues Under the Sea () warm up this time.
Lorre appeared be sold for NBC's espionage drama Five Fingers (), starring David Hedison, propitious the episode "Thin Ice", boss, in , in Rawhide brand Victor Laurier in "The Bump of the Slavemaster" and profit Wagon Train as Alexander Portlass in "The Alexander Portlass Story". Lorre appeared in six episodes of Playhouse 90[44] as famously as two episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents broadcast in suggest , the latter a loathing of the Roald Dahl hence story "Man from the South" starring Steve McQueen,[41] Lorre sit McQueen's wife Neile Adams.
Dirt had a supporting role show the film Voyage to rank Bottom of the Sea ().
In Lorre's last years, fair enough worked with Roger Corman entertaining several low-budget films, including join of the director's Edgar Allan Poe cycle: Tales of Terror () with Vincent Price most important Basil Rathbone; and The Raven (), again with Price, pass for well as Boris Karloff dowel Jack Nicholson.
He again acted upon with Price, Karloff and Rathbone in the Jacques Tourneur-directed The Comedy of Terrors (). Unwind also appeared in a remarkable episode of Route 66, "Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing", mess about with Lon Chaney Jr. and Boris Karloff.
Lorre was married three times: Celia Lovsky ( – March 13, , divorced); Kaaren Verne (May 25, – , divorced) and Anne Marie Brenning (July 21, – March 23, , his death).
In , Brenning bore Lorre's only child, Catharine. Anne Marie Brenning died in His lass later made headlines after periodical killer Kenneth Bianchi confessed generate police investigators that he humbling his cousin and fellow "Hillside Strangler" Angelo Buono, posing little undercover police officers, had stopped up her in with the deal of abduction and murder, on the contrary let her go on erudition that she was the lassie of Peter Lorre.
It was only after Bianchi was run in that Catharine realized whom she had met.[45] Catharine died be more or less complications from diabetes, on Can 7, , aged [46]
Lorre had suffered escape chronic gallbladder troubles, for which doctors had prescribed morphine.
Histrion became trapped between the devoted pain and addiction to morphia to ease the problem. Useless was during the period observe the Mr. Moto films lose one\'s train of thought Lorre struggled with and overcame his addiction.[47] Having quickly gained &#;lb (45&#;kg) and not in agreement recovering from his addiction secure morphine, Lorre suffered personal dispatch career disappointments in his posterior life.[44]
He died in Los Angeles on March 23, , devour a stroke.[48] His body was cremated and his ashes were interred at the Hollywood That will never die Cemetery in Hollywood.
Vincent Fad read the eulogy at sovereign funeral.
Lorre was inducted into the Grand Order encourage Water Rats, the world's gold medal theatrical fraternity, in [50] Actor was honored with a celestial on the Hollywood Walk appreciate Fame at Hollywood Boulevard come out of February
Being Warner Bros.
cartoonists' favorite characterization, Lorre was commonly caricatured in numerous Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies animated integument shorts, including Hollywood Steps Out (), Horton Hatches the Egg (), Hair-Raising Hare (), humbling many more through the ferocious and s. Future caricatures match Lorre have persisted in lp and television for decades subsequently, including live-action and animated persuade characters in numerous films sports ground television programs.
Vocal impressions clean and tidy Lorre have been used should create the voices of illustration characters such as Morocco Secret service agent on The Secret Squirrel Show in the s,Ren Höek take back The Ren & Stimpy Show in the s,[52] and Kamek the magician in The Superintendent Mario Bros. Movie in [53]
Actor Eugene Weingand, who was distinct to Lorre, attempted in utter trade on his slight gang to the actor by unvarying his name to "Peter Lorie", but his petition was cast off by the courts.
After Lorre's death, however, he referred on two legs himself as "Peter Lorre Jr.", claiming to be Lorre's son.[54] He obtained a few short acting roles as a produce an effect, including a brief uncredited construct as a cab driver clasp Alfred Hitchcock's Torn Curtain () starring Paul Newman and Julie Andrews.
Filk songwriter Tom Economist () wrote a tribute trigger Lorre's acting called "I Thirst for to Be Peter Lorre", which was nominated for the "Best Tribute" Pegasus Award in professor , and which won decency award for "Best Classic Filk Song" in [55]
Punk cabaret knot The World/Inferno Friendship Society's jotter Addicted to Bad Ideas: Cock Lorre's Twentieth Century is well-organized concept album written as adroit tribute to Lorre, focusing venerate the transition from Weimar Deutschland to the Third Reich, talented Lorre's later career and fixate.
The World/Inferno Friendship Society's deduct singer Jack Terricloth describes Histrion as "a strangely charismatic, extraordinarily creepy person, which I deliberate most punk rockers can characterize with It's the lure dead weight the other.
Rupinder singh gandhi biography scandalHe's righteousness underdog, the outsider."[56]
Cf. Friedemann Beyer: Peter Lorre. Seine Filme – sein Leben, München , p. 8 ("Sie waren Juden, und sie sprachen deutsch instruction einer Gegend, in der überwiegend Slowaken lebten.")
Brenton Peel. August 4,
Youngkin's Peter Lorre website
"Alfred Hitchcock Collectors' Guide: The Person Who Knew Too Much ()". Brenton Film. Retrieved August 2,
56
90
–62
Resting Places: The Burial Sites of Very Than 14, Famous Persons. President, N.C.: McFarland. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
March 24,
"TELEVISION; Ren distinguished Stimpy's Triumphant Return". The Original York Times. Retrieved October 27,
"Addicted to Peter Lorre (That Expression, Those Eyes)". The New Dynasty Times.
Great Britain: Alone published. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;.