Zita Johann

Zita Johann (born Elizabeth Johann) (14 July 1904 – 24 September 1993) was an Austrian-American actress and writer. She is best known for her role in Karl Freund's film The Mummy starring Boris Karloff.

Early life Johann was born on 14 July 1904 in Temesvar, Austria-Hungary, which is now Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.

A German-speaking Banat Swabian, Zita Johann was born Elizabeth Johann in the village of Deutschbentschek (near Timișoara), Austria-Hungary. The village is now part of Romania. Johann left her home and moved to the U.S. when she was about 7 years old. Her father, a hussar officer named Stefan Johann, emigrated with his family to the United States in 1911.

In high school, Johann began to act in school plays. Later, she appeared with the Theatre Guild Repertory Company in touring productions of Peer Gynt, The Devil's Disciple and He Who Gets Slapped.

Career Johann debuted on Broadway in 1924. She turned down the lead in Universal's 1929 theatrical version of Show Boat, so she could star in the play Machinal with a young Clark Gable.

Johann went on to make other films and was also known for her performances in The Sin of Nora Moran (1933) and Luxury Liner (1933). None were as successful as The Mummy. Nonetheless, her great love was the theater and she did not like Hollywood. She felt exploited by the studio moguls who viewed actors as commodities, and she didn't like being on camera which she felt was a barrier between her and the audience. A little over six months later, Huston was involved in another car accident, which killed dancer Tosca Roulien. After an only seven day courtship, Johann married retired film producer, John McCormick, on 9 July 1935. 27 May – June 1935 Seven Keys to Baldpate Mary Norton National Theatre, New York 1–2 March 1940 The Burning Deck Nina Brandt Maxine Elliott Theatre, New York 23 June – July 1942 Broken Journey Rachel Thatcher Arlen Henry Miller's Theatre, New York

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes 1931 Florrie Wilson 1932 Tiger Shark Quita Silva 1933 Luxury Liner Miss Morgan Teena Pavelic Nora Moran 1934 Grand Canary Suzan Tranter 1986 Raiders of the Living Dead Librarian 1993 D. W. Griffith: Father of Film On-screen participant (documentary)