Deutsch
Español
Français
Italiano
日本語
Polski
Português
Русский
TürkçeFrancis Lederer (Frantisek Lederer)
Photos with Francis Lederer
Biography
Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary. [now in Czech Republic]
Frantisek Lederer was born on November 6th, 1899, in Czechoslovakia. His father was a leather merchant, and young Frantisek began his working life as a department store delivery boy in Prague. He fell in love with acting from a young age, and was soon on stage touring Moravia and then all over Central Europe with people like Peter Lorre.
Lederer was easily lured into film by German actress Henny Porten and her producer husband. And it wasn't long before he was starring in the legendary German silent movie Pandora's Box (1929). Read more...
By 1934, Lederer, (now using Francis), had begun working in America. And he was getting top billing too. Irving Thalberg had planned to make Lederer "the biggest star in Hollywood" but Thalberg's untimely death put a stop to that. But Lederer continued successfully in film and TV for many years.
After two brief marriages his third lasted 59 years. He invested in property well and made a fortune in the Canoga Park, California area. He founded the National Academy of Performing Arts on which his close friend Joan Crawford was on the Advisory Board. He loved to teach.
Lederer was still teaching the week before he died in 2000, aged 100 years.
Lederer was easily lured into film by German actress Henny Porten and her producer husband. And it wasn't long before he was starring in the legendary German silent movie Pandora's Box (1929). Read more...
By 1934, Lederer, (now using Francis), had begun working in America. And he was getting top billing too. Irving Thalberg had planned to make Lederer "the biggest star in Hollywood" but Thalberg's untimely death put a stop to that. But Lederer continued successfully in film and TV for many years.
After two brief marriages his third lasted 59 years. He invested in property well and made a fortune in the Canoga Park, California area. He founded the National Academy of Performing Arts on which his close friend Joan Crawford was on the Advisory Board. He loved to teach.
Lederer was still teaching the week before he died in 2000, aged 100 years.
Actor
Character:
Lt. Michael Rostof
Die wunderbare Lüge der Nina Petrowna 1929
1
Character:
Fred von Wellingen
Ihre Majestät die Liebe 1931
1
Character:
Philippe Martin
One Rainy Afternoon 1936
3
Character:
Jacques Picot
Midnight 1939
1
Character:
Schneider
Confessions of a Nazi Spy 1939
4
Character:
Prince Karl
Puddin' Head 1941
5
Character:
Esteban / Manuel
The Bridge of San Luis Rey 1944
2
Character:
Jan Volny
Voice in the Wind 1944
1
Character:
Seraphim
Lisbon 1956
2
Character:
Prince Nicholas Obelski
The Ambassador's Daughter 1956
1
Character:
Dr. Alfred Littauer
Ben Casey 1961
0
Character:
Walter Messlinger
The Untouchables 1959
0
Character:
Sandro
The Gay Deception 1935
0
Character:
Mario Morgan
Sunday Showcase 1959
0
Character:
The Count
Night Gallery 1969
0
Character:
Baron Rocco de Greffi
Captain Carey, U.S.A. 1950
1
Character:
Senko Brobin
Mission: Impossible 1966
0
Character:
Dr. Jeremias Lipp
Kraft Suspense Theatre 1963
0
Character:
Hoffman
It Takes a Thief 1968
0
Character:
Ferrante
The Elgin Hour 1954
0
