Otto Kruger
Otto Kruger was an American actor. Originally a Broadway matinée idol, he established a niche as a charming villain in films, such as in Alfred Hitchcock's Saboteur and Douglas Sirk's Magnificent Obsession. He appeared in more than 120 film, television and stage roles between 1915 and 1965.
Early life and education
Kruger was born in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Bernard Alben Kruger and Elizabeth Winers Kruger. His family was of German and South African descent, he was the grandnephew of South African president Paul Kruger.Kruger was musically trained, but switched careers and became an actor after studying engineering at the University of Michigan, completing his studies at Columbia University.
Career
Making his Broadway debut in 1915, Kruger quickly became a matinee idol. Though he started to get noticed in the early 1920s, it was the 1930s when his career was at its height. His sound film debut came in Turn Back the Clock and he made an appearance in the film Chained.Though he played the hero on occasion, for most of his career, he played the main villain or a charming or corrupt businessman. One of his best known roles was in the Douglas Sirk film Magnificent Obsession. Kruger played the supporting role of Judge Percy Mettrick, who unsuccessfully urges Will Kane to leave town in High Noon. Kruger is also remembered for playing the villain Tobin in Alfred Hitchcock's spy film Saboteur and mob boss Stevens in the film noir 711 Ocean Drive.
His television roles included those of Dr. Mumford in the 1959 episode "Experiments in Terror" of the NBC science fiction/adventure series The Man and the Challenge, as Ben Tully in "Gun City" of the ABC western series, The Rebel, as Franklyn Malleson Ghentin in the 1961 episode "A Fool for a Client" of James Whitmore ABC's legal drama, The Law and Mr. Jones, and as Karl in the episode "Quite a Woman" of the short-lived 1961 CBS series The Investigators starring James Franciscus.
Kruger made four guest appearances on CBS's Perry Mason. In his first two appearances, "The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather" and "The Case of the Counterfeit Crank", he was cast as Mason's client, and in both episodes was the title character. In his final appearance, he played Judge Norris in "The Case of the Missing Button".
In 1955, he appeared in the live telecast of The Desert Song as General Birabeau.
Personal life
On March 20, 1920, Kruger married Broadway actress Susan "Sue" MacManamy. Their daughter, Ottilie Kruger, was also an actress and was the first wife of pioneering cinematographer Gayne Rescher. Ottilie portrayed Esther in Queen Esther: A Story from the Bible.In 1960, Kruger suffered a stroke. He continued his career, with some difficulty, for another four years before retiring from acting.
Kruger supported Thomas Dewey in the 1944 [United States presidential election].