Matinee Classics - Joseph Schildkraut Biography & Filmography

Joseph Schildkraut ACTOR

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JOSEPH SCHILDKRAUT BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Joseph Schildkraut was born on March 22nd, 1896 in Vienna Austria born to Erna Weinstein and Rudolph Schildkraut, a stage actor. At the age of four his family relocated to Germany and as a young boy he took lessons in piano and the violin. By the age of six he was performing on stage with his father.

After graduating from Berlin's Royal Academy of Music in 1911, his family immigrated to the united States and settled in New York. Joseph went on to enroll at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. When he as offered stage work in Europe to good to pass up, the whole family moved back.

He almost had to serve in the Army during World War I, but was able to get out of it due to his theatrical obligations. After the war, his family again picked up and moved back to the United States. Due to his stage experience in Europe he was abele to secure a job with the Guild Theatre in a production of, "Liliom".

Along with his stage experience from Germany he had also been given the chance to appear in a number of silent films, therefore, now living in America, he was cast in the American silent film, "Orphans of the Storm" (1921) directed by D.W. Griffith. Soon more film roles followed such as, "The Song of Love" (1923), "Shipwrecked" (1926), "Meet the Prince" (1926), "Young April" (1926), "The Heart Thief" (1927), "The Forbidden Woman" (1927), "The Road to Yesterday" (1925) and "The King of Kings" (1927).

When the silent film era came to an end, he made the transition to talkie films with ease with a role in the film, "Show Boat" (1929). Although he enjoyed living in New York and working in the film industry as well as still having the chance to work as a stage actor, he made the move west to Hollywood to further his film career.

Arriving in Hollywood, Joseph was cast in such films as, "Viva Villa!" (1934), "Cleopatra" (1934), 'The Crusades" (1935) and the Life of Emile Zola" (1937), for which he earned his first Oscar.

More successful film roles succeeded such as, "Marie Antoinette" (1938), "The Three Muskateers" (1939), "The Man in the Iron Mask" (1939), "Lancer Spy" (1937), "Suez" (1938), "The Rains Came" (1939) and "The Shop Around the Corner" (1940).

He loved performing on the stage and therefore, he made sure never to neglect his love of live performing and had some notable stage performances in, "Uncle Harry" (1942), "The Cherry Orchard" (1944) "Flame of Barbary Coast" (1945) starring John Wayne and "The Diary of Anne Frank" (1955). He later reprised this role on film in 1959 portraying Anne Frank's, father in hiding, Otto Frank.

His latest appearances were on such television series as, "Sam Benedict" (1962), "The Untouchables" (1963), "77 Sunset Strip" (1963), "Arrest and Trial" (1963) and his final film role in, "The Greatest Story Ever Told", released after his death in 1965.

Joseph Schildkraut was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to the Motion Picture Industry.

He married three times throughout his lifetime, first to Elise Bartlett in 1922 and they were married through 1930. He then married Marie McKay in 1932 and remained together until she passed away in 1962. His third and final wife was Leonora C. Rogers whom he wed in 1963 and they were together only one year before he passed away.

Joseph passed away on January 21st, 1964 in New York City, New York after suffering a fatal heart attack. His remains are interred in the Beth Olam Mausoleum in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.