John Wengraf
John Wengraf was an Austrian actor.
Early years
Wengraf was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary.
Career
Wengraf became a matinee idol in the 1930s, and was director of the Vienna State Theatre. He emigrated to Britain in 1939 as the Nazis began their rise to power in Austria. While in London, he was involved with more than 100 plays as either director or actor.
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. His other Broadway credits included The Traitor and The French Touch. 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, as well as The Boy from Stalingrad, U-Boat Prisoner and Till We Meet Again.
In post-war years, he portrayed ethnic professionals. His films included Tomorrow Is Forever ; he portrayed Count Von Papen in 5 Fingers ; and Ronchin in the Ethel Merman musical Call Me Madam. 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, Hawaiian Eye, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Time Tunnel. His last few films included minor roles in the war-themed Judgment at Nuremberg, Hitler and Ship of Fools as well as The Prize.
Death
Wengraf retired in 1966, and died in Santa Barbara, California, at the age of 77 on 4 May 1974.
Selected filmography
Homo sum Frau Tod Die Menschen nennen es Liebe... Bretter, die die Welt bedeuten - Paul RainerConvoy - Commander DeutschlandNight Train to Munich - Concentration Camp Physician Sailors Three - German CaptainLucky Jordan - Herr KesselmanMission to Moscow - Polish Ambassador Grzybowski The Boy from Stalingrad - German MajorSahara - Maj. Von FalkenParis After Dark - Dr. Mannheim Song of Russia - Red Army CommanderThe Seventh Cross - OverkampU-Boat Prisoner - Gunther Rudehoff, Gestapo AgentTill We Meet Again - Gestapo Chief Strange Affair - Rudolph KrugerThe Thin Man Goes Home - Big Man Hotel Berlin - Wolf von Buelow Week-End at the Waldorf - AlexTomorrow Is Forever - Dr. LudwigThe Razor's Edge - Joseph - ButlerT-Men - 'Shiv' TrianoSofia - Peter GoltzenSealed Verdict - German doctorWake of the Red Witch - Prosecuting Attorney The Lovable Cheat - PierquinBelle Le Grand - Andrew Sinclair 5 Fingers - Count Franz Von PapenTropic Zone - LukatsCall Me Madam - Ronchin The Desert Rats - German Doctor Flight to Tangier - KalferezThe French Line - Commodore RenardHell and High Water - Col. Schuman Paris Playboys - VidalGog - Dr. ZeitmanThe Gambler from Natchez - Nicholas CadizThe Racers - Dr. TaborNever Say Goodbye - Prof. ZimmelmanOh, Men! Oh, Women! - Dr. KraussThe Pride and the Passion - SermaineValerie - Mr. HorvatThe Disembodied - Dr. Carl MetzThe Walter Winchell File - LeopoldThe Return of Dracula - John Meierman12 to the Moon - Dr. Erich HeinrichPortrait in Black - Dr. KesslerJudgment at Nuremberg - Dr. Karl WieckHitler - Dr. MorellThe Prize - Hans EckhartShip of Fools - Graf