John Wengraf

John Wengraf (23 April 1897 – 4 May 1974) 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. His other Broadway credits included The Traitor (1949) and The French Touch (1945). The following year he settled in the Los Angeles area.

He found himself invariably playing the very characters he detested.

In post-war years, he portrayed ethnic professionals (scientists, doctors, professors, foreign royalty). His films included Tomorrow Is Forever (1946); he portrayed Count Von Papen in 5 Fingers (1952); and Ronchin in the Ethel Merman musical Call Me Madam (1953). 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) as well as The Prize (1963).

Death Wengraf retired in 1966, and died in Santa Barbara, California, at the age of 77 on 4 May 1974.

Selected filmography

Homo sum (1922) Frau Tod (1922) Die Menschen nennen es Liebe... (1922) Bretter, die die Welt bedeuten (1935) - Paul Rainer Convoy (1940) - Commander Deutschland Night Train to Munich (1940) - Concentration Camp Physician (uncredited) Sailors Three (1940) - German Captain Lucky Jordan (1942) - Herr Kesselman Mission to Moscow (1943) - Polish Ambassador Grzybowski (uncredited) The Boy from Stalingrad (1943) - German Major Sahara (1943) - Maj. Von Falken Paris After Dark (1943) - Dr. Mannheim (uncredited) Song of Russia (1944) - Red Army Commander The Seventh Cross (1944) - Overkamp U-Boat Prisoner (1944) - Gunther Rudehoff, Gestapo Agent Till We Meet Again (1944) - Gestapo Chief (uncredited) Strange Affair (1944) - Rudolph Kruger The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) - Big Man (uncredited) Hotel Berlin (1945) - Wolf von Buelow (uncredited) Week-End at the Waldorf (1945) - Alex Tomorrow Is Forever (1946) - Dr. Ludwig The Razor's Edge (1946) - Joseph - Butler T-Men (1947) - 'Shiv' Triano Sofia (1948) - Peter Goltzen Sealed Verdict (1948) - German doctor Wake of the Red Witch (1948) - Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited) The Lovable Cheat (1949) - Pierquin Belle Le Grand (1951) - Andrew Sinclair (uncredited) 5 Fingers (1952) - Count Franz Von Papen Tropic Zone (1953) - Lukats Call Me Madam (1953) - Ronchin (uncredited) The Desert Rats (1953) - German Doctor (uncredited) Flight to Tangier (1953) - Kalferez The French Line (1953) - Commodore Renard Hell and High Water (1954) - Col. Schuman (uncredited) Paris Playboys (1954) - Vidal Gog (1954) - Dr. Zeitman The Gambler from Natchez (1954) - Nicholas Cadiz The Racers (1955) - Dr. Tabor Never Say Goodbye (1956) - Prof. Zimmelman Oh, Men! Oh, Women! (1957) - Dr. Krauss The Pride and the Passion (1957) - Sermaine Valerie (1957) - Mr. Horvat The Disembodied (1957) - Dr. Carl Metz The Walter Winchell File (1957, TV Series) - Leopold The Return of Dracula (1958) - John Meierman 12 to the Moon (1960) - Dr. Erich Heinrich Portrait in Black (1960) - Dr. Kessler Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) - Dr. Karl Wieck Hitler (1962) - Dr. Morell The Prize (1963) - Hans Eckhart Ship of Fools (1965) - Graf