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Lewis Cotlow

1898 – 1987

Explorer and filmmaker

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About Lewis Cotlow

Lived 1898 – 1987 (aged 88–89). Lewis Cotlow was an American explorer, film director, film producer and film actor.

Lewis Cotlow (February 5, 1898 – 1987) was an American explorer, writer, filmmaker, and fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Biography He was born to Nathaniel Cotlow and Lena (maiden name: Green) Cotlow. Cotlow served in the US Army during World War I and became a supercargo with the United States Merchant Marine.

In 1919–1921, he traveled to the harbor of the Far East and the Middle East. He studied at New York University. Cotlow served in the naval intelligence USA during World II.

After attending George Washington University he made more than 30 expeditions travelled to Africa, South America, Indonesia, and the Arctic, the Amazon, Australia, and New Guinea from 1930s–1950s to film. His first technicolor movie was filmed on location in Africa and was co-produced with a man called Armand Dennis (a wildlife photographer)

On December 18, 1966, he married Charlotte Faith Mesenheimer.

In his lifetime, he was awarded the Explorers Club Medal and Order of Magellan and was a member of The Explorers Club. He was also employed as a New York insurance broker.

He left his collections to Cincinnati Museum of Natural History.

Major works Books Passport to Adventure (1942) Amazon Head-Hunters (1953) Zanzabuku: Dangerous Safari (book and film, 1956) In Search of the Primitive: An Independent Explorer's Life with the Last of the Exotic Peoples of Africa, the Arctic, New Guinea (1966) Twilight of the Primitive (1971)

Films Through Africa Unarmed (c. 1937; lost) Upper Amazon and High Andes Adventure (1941) Savage Splendor (1949) Jungle Headhunters (1949) Zanzabuku: Dangerous Safari (book and film, 1956) High Arctic (film, 1963)

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Important facts

Birth century
Died
1987, North Palm Beach, Florida
Nationality
Education
George Washington University, New York University
Awards
Order of Magellan

People in Lewis Cotlow's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Lewis Cotlow's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Lewis Cotlow?

explorer and filmmaker

When was Lewis Cotlow born?

Lewis Cotlow was born on 5 February 1898 in Brooklyn.

When did Lewis Cotlow die?

Lewis Cotlow died in 1987 in North Palm Beach, Florida.

What was Lewis Cotlow's occupation?

Lewis Cotlow was an explorer, film director, film producer and film actor.

What nationality was Lewis Cotlow?

Lewis Cotlow was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Lewis Cotlow

· Wikidata: Q19892270

· DBpedia: Lewis Cotlow

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Lewis Cotlow. https://biography.guide/lewis-cotlow/

MLA: "Lewis Cotlow." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/lewis-cotlow/.

Chicago: "Lewis Cotlow." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/lewis-cotlow/.

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