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Rod Riffler

1907 – 1941

Croatian choreographer

Choreographer ChoreographyDance
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About Rod Riffler

Lived 1907 – 1941 (aged 33–34). Rod Riffler was a Yugoslav choreographer, choreography and dance.

Rod Riffler (born Rudolf Ungar; 5 January 1907 – 1941) was a Croatian modern dance teacher, choreographer and owner of a dance school in Zagreb, who was killed during the Holocaust.

Riffler was born in Osijek to Jewish parents, Makso Ungar and Ilka Lang. His father was merchant born in Osijek. Riffler was raised with two sisters, Marie Louise and Marija, and younger brother, Rafael. When he moved from Osijek to Zagreb, Riffler opened a dance school and was one of the best teachers of modern dance at the time. Riffler was mentor-teacher of Lea Deutsch, known Croatian Jewish child actress, and was a close friend of Deutsch's mother, Ivka. In 1941, when Ustashas found out that he was Jewish and gay, Riffler was arrested and deported to the Jasenovac concentration camp. Riffler died from starvation at the camp. He was 34 years old.

In 2010, Croatian director Branko Ivanda made a film Lea and Darija, about the tragic destiny of Lea Deutsch, and Riffler was portrayed in the movie by Croatian actor Radovan Ruždjak.

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Important facts

Birth century
Died
1941, Jasenovac concentration camp

People in Rod Riffler's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Rod Riffler's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Rod Riffler?

Croatian choreographer

When was Rod Riffler born?

Rod Riffler was born on 5 January 1907 in Osijek.

When did Rod Riffler die?

Rod Riffler died in 1941 in Jasenovac concentration camp.

What was Rod Riffler's occupation?

Rod Riffler was a choreographer, choreography and dance.

What nationality was Rod Riffler?

Rod Riffler was Yugoslav.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Rod Riffler

· Wikidata: Q7356341

· DBpedia: Rod Riffler

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Rod Riffler. https://biography.guide/rod-riffler/

MLA: "Rod Riffler." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/rod-riffler/.

Chicago: "Rod Riffler." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/rod-riffler/.

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