Torben Meyer
Torben Meyer | |
|---|---|
 Meyer in 1950 | |
| Born | Torben Emil Meyer 1 December 1884 |
| Died | 22 May 1975 (aged 90) Hollywood, California, U.S. |
Resting place | Chapel of the Pines Crematory |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1912–1966 |
Torben Emil Meyer (1 December 1884 – 22 May 1975) was a Danish character actor, who appeared in more than 250 film and television roles in a 55-year career. He began his acting career in Europe before moving to the United States, where he often worked with director Preston Sturges.
Early life
[edit]Meyer was born in Aarhus, Denmark, the son of hotelier Holger Meyer and his wife Kirstine (née Pedersen). He lived in Paris from 1899 to 1901, where he worked as a porter. In 1902, he joined the drama school at the Dagmarteatret in Copenhagen.
Career
[edit]He made his professional stage debut at the Dagmarteatret in 1905, and was a member of its repertory company for two years.[1] In 1908, he joined the company of the Det Ny Teater, where he remained until 1923, when he left due to a disagreement with management.
Starting in 1912, Meyer acted in 20 European silent movies, culminating with Don Quixote in 1926. He emigrated to the United States in 1927.[2]
Danish friends Benjamin Christensen and Jean Hersholt may have helped Meyer obtain his first roles in Hollywood films.[1] For decades Meyer found roles playing characters from many countries. A 1948 newspaper article stated Meyer can't complain about being typecast for he speaks German in Sealed Verdict, was a 17th-century Dutch sea captain in The Exile, a French professor in To the Victor, and the headwaiter in Variety Girl.[3]
Meyer also wrote a column for the Danish newspaper Politiken.
Horror films
[edit]Meyer became a member of the "all-star peasant cast" in The Black Room,[4] and considered Boris Karloff to be a good friend.[5] He played the Dane in Murders in the Rue Morgue, and was strangled by Boris Karloff in Bride of Frankenstein. Meyer was Gaston, the night watchman, in the 1958 film The Fly[2]
Preston Sturges films
[edit]Meyer was in numerous Preston Sturges films, and addressed him as Maitre (French for director).[6] Meyers played Mr. Schmidt in Christmas in July, Purser in The Lady Eve, Doctor in both Sullivan's Travels and The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, Mr. Schultz in Hail the Conquering Hero, Dr. Dahlmeyer in The Great Moment, Barber in The Sin of Harold Diddlebock, and Dr. Schultz in The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend.[7]
Later roles
[edit]In 1961, when Meyer was 76 years old, he played Werner Lampe, an ex-Nazi judge on trial in Judgment at Nuremberg.[8] His last film role was in A New Kind of Love, released in 1963, and his last television role was as Pedro Sven in the 1966 I Dream of Jeannie episode Jeannie Breaks the Bank.[2]
Honors
[edit]In 1962 Frederik IX of Denmark honored Meyer with the Knights’ Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog. It was presented to him by the consul general of Denmark, Honorable A.C. Karsten.[9]
Death
[edit]On 22 May 1975 Meyer died of bronchial pneumonia in Hollywood, California. He was cremated, and his remains are vaulted in the Chapel of the Pines.[10]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | Manegens stjerne | Dumme Peter | |
| 1913 | Staalkongens Villie | ||
| Kæmpedamens bortførelse | |||
| Ballettens Datter | Delange - Theatre Manager | ||
| Atlantis | Willy Snyders - artist | ||
| Kärleken rår | Kuno | ||
| Fra fyrste til knejpevært | |||
| 1914 | Under Skæbnens Hjul | ||
| Af elskovs naade | Laege | ||
| Helvedesmaskinen | Lerche | ||
| Den kulørte slavehandler | |||
| 1915 | Appetit og kærlighed | Jens | |
| Held i Uheld | Fritz Tummel | ||
| Et huskors | Lensgreve Rosenørn | ||
| Revolutionsbryllup | |||
| Cigaretpigen | Pedro Delmart - Painter | ||
| Cowboymillionæren | |||
| Penge | |||
| 1916 | En uheldig skygge | ||
| Voksdamen | |||
| En nydelig onkel | |||
| Lotteriseddel No. 22162 | Charles - Apache | ||
| Manden uden fremtid | Tobby Spratt | ||
| Filmens Datter | |||
| Sønnen | Mr. Grøn | ||
| Truet lykke | Simoni | ||
| 1917 | Manden uden Smil | Pianist | |
| 1918 | Hævneren | Niels | |
| Prøvens Dag | Mr. von Scholten | ||
| 1919 | Hans store Chance | Arthur | |
| Bajadser | Rodolfo | ||
| Hvorledes jeg kom til Filmen | Gordon Sidney | ||
| Dømmer ikke | Philip Saphir | ||
| Prinsens Kærlighed | |||
| En ung mans väg | Agapetus von Dufva | ||
| 1920 | Lykkeper | Walter Crone | |
| 1921 | Hendes fortid | Moses Volkenthal | |
| Film, flirt og forlovelse | The Baron | ||
| 1922 | Der var engang | Ceremonimesteren | |
| 1923 | Madsalune | ||
| Republikaneren | Editor | ||
| Den sidste dans | Herr von Schneppen | ||
| 1924 | Min ven privatdetektiven | ||
| Little Dorrit | Hauptschließer Chivery | ||
| 1925 | Fra Piazza del Popolo | Benedetto - Servant | |
| 1926 | Maharadjahens yndlingshustru III | Mohun Singh | |
| The Clown | Butler | ||
| Don Quixote | Sancho Carrasco | ||
| 1928 | The Man Who Laughs | The Spy | Uncredited |
| Jazz Mad | Kline | ||
| Noah's Ark | Man on Train | Uncredited | |
| The Viking | Odd | ||
| The Last Warning | Gene | ||
| 1929 | Behind Closed Doors | Captain von Gilden | |
| 1930 | Behind the Make-Up | Waiter | |
| Lummox | Silly Willie | ||
| Mamba | German Soldier | Uncredited | |
| The Bad One | |||
| Just Like Heaven | Pierre | ||
| The Lottery Bride | Miner | Uncredited | |
| A Soldier's Plaything | German Actor in Horse | ||
| 1931 | Trådlöst och kärleksfullt | ||
| Just a Gigolo | Waiter | Uncredited | |
| Half Way to Heaven | Director | ||
| 1932 | Broken Lullaby | Waiter at Inn | Uncredited |
| Murders in the Rue Morgue | The Dane | ||
| What Price Hollywood? | Nick - Brown Derby Headwaiter | ||
| Downstairs | Cafe Waiter | ||
| Big City Blues | Second Waiter | ||
| Six Hours to Live | Sturges - Butler | ||
| Le bluffeur | Col. Ginsberg | ||
| The Animal Kingdom | Meyer - Idealistic Printer | Uncredited | |
| The Match King | Hans, Headwaiter | ||
| 1933 | The Crime of the Century | Eric Ericson - Butler | |
| Reunion in Vienna | Headwaiter Strumpf | Uncredited | |
| Ladies Must Love | Beermaster | ||
| Cradle Song | Papa | ||
| The Worst Woman in Paris? | Taxi Driver | ||
| 1934 | Mandalay | Mr. Van Brinken | |
| All Men Are Enemies | Clerk | ||
| Little Man, What Now? | Headwaiter | ||
| The World Moves On | Head Butler | ||
| Pursued | Hansen | ||
| By Your Leave | Costume Company Fitter | ||
| Music in the Air | Pharmacist | ||
| 1935 | Enter Madame | Carlson | |
| The Night Is Young | Adjutant | Uncredited | |
| The Good Fairy | Head Waiter | ||
| Roberta | Albert | ||
| Bride of Frankenstein | Victim in Flashback | Uncredited | |
| Mark of the Vampire | Card Player | ||
| Break of Hearts | The Ritz Headwaiter | ||
| The Girl Who Came Back | Zarabella | ||
| Front Page Woman | Janitor | Uncredited | |
| The Black Room | Peter | ||
| Two for Tonight | Waiter | Uncredited | |
| The Gay Deception | Waiter | ||
| Thunder in the Night | Cafe Owner | ||
| Charlie Chan in Shanghai | French Diplomat | ||
| The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo | Minor Role | ||
| Splendor | Baron Von Hoffstatter | ||
| To Beat the Band | Headwaiter | Uncredited | |
| East of Java | Derelict | ||
| A Tale of Two Cities | Lackey #1 | ||
| If You Could Only Cook | Swedish Servant | ||
| 1936 | King of Burlesque | Leopold the Valet | |
| It Had to Happen | Sign Painter | ||
| The Preview Murder Mystery | Smith's Butler | ||
| The Farmer in the Dell | Party Guest | ||
| Till We Meet Again | Kraus | ||
| Champagne Charlie | Minor Role | Uncredited | |
| Piccadilly Jim | Pett's Butler | ||
| Star for a Night | Saddle Maker | ||
| In His Steps | |||
| Wedding Present | Winternitz | ||
| The Accusing Finger | Proprietor | ||
| Espionage | Police Inspector | ||
| The King and the Chorus Girl | Eric - the Butler | ||
| 1937 | Thin Ice | Chauffeur | |
| The Good Old Soak | Headwaiter | Uncredited | |
| Shall We Dance | Show Producer | ||
| The Emperor's Candlesticks | Train Announcer | ||
| She's No Lady | Swedish Waiter | ||
| The Prisoner of Zenda | Max - Butler | ||
| Wife, Doctor and Nurse | Second Tailor | Uncredited | |
| Madame X | Peridcord | ||
| Fight for Your Lady | Hungarian Police Officer | ||
| Prescription for Romance | Hotel Desk Clerk | ||
| Tovarich | Servant | ||
| 1938 | The First Hundred Years | Karl | |
| Bulldog Drummond's Peril | Hoffman | Uncredited | |
| Romance in the Dark | Prof. Jacobsen | ||
| Romance in the Dark | Art Critic | Uncredited | |
| The Saint in New York | German Police Prefect | ||
| I'll Give a Million | Doorman | ||
| The Great Waltz | Ticket Taker at Dommayer's | ||
| Topper Takes a Trip | Hotel Doorman | ||
| 1939 | Island of Lost Men | Cafe Manager | |
| Nurse Edith Cavell | German Officer | ||
| Everything Happens at Night | Station Master | ||
| 1940 | Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet | Kadereit | |
| The Way of All Flesh | Sandor Nemzeti | ||
| Four Sons | Gustav | ||
| The Great Dictator | Bald Barbershop Customer | Uncredited | |
| Christmas in July | Mr. Schmidt | ||
| No, No, Nanette | Furtlemertle | Uncredited | |
| 1941 | The Lady Eve | Mr. Clink - Purser | |
| Sunny | Jean (head waiter) | ||
| Sullivan's Travels | The Doctor | ||
| Bedtime Story | Dinglehoff | Uncredited | |
| 1942 | The Adventures of Martin Eden | Jacob | |
| Crossroads | Old Man | ||
| Berlin Correspondent | Manager | ||
| The Palm Beach Story | Dr. Kluck | ||
| Casablanca | Dutch Banker at Cafe Table | Uncredited | |
| 1943 | Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man | Gypsy | |
| Edge of Darkness | Cannery Clerk | ||
| They Came to Blow Up America | Graumark Hotel Desk Clerk | ||
| Jack London | Literary Guest | ||
| The Miracle of Morgan's Creek | Dr. Meyer | ||
| 1944 | The Purple Heart | Karl Kappel | |
| Once Upon a Time | Hotel Manager | ||
| The Great Moment | Dr. Dahlmeyer | ||
| Hail the Conquering Hero | Mr. Schultz | Uncredited | |
| Greenwich Village | Kavosky's Butler | ||
| 1945 | Hotel Berlin | Franz, the Barber | |
| A Royal Scandal | Stooge | ||
| Yolanda and the Thief | Town Official | ||
| 1946 | The Kid from Brooklyn | Garden Party Guest | |
| Heartbeat | Thief at Ball | ||
| Monsieur Beaucaire | Count | ||
| Alias Mr. Twilight | Starling | ||
| 1947 | The Mighty McGurk | Second Brewer | |
| The Sin of Harold Diddlebock | Barber with Mustache | ||
| The Beginning or the End | Milkman | Uncredited | |
| Millie's Daughter | Mr. Johnson | ||
| Variety Girl | Andre - Brown Derby Headwaiter | ||
| Song of Love | Stage Manager | Uncredited | |
| The Exile | Sea Captain | ||
| 1948 | To the Victor | Elderly Frenchman | Uncredited |
| Letter from an Unknown Woman | Carriage Driver | ||
| Julia Misbehaves | Commissar | ||
| Sealed Verdict | Courtroom interpreter | ||
| Unfaithfully Yours | Dr. Schultz | ||
| 1949 | The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend | Dr. Shultz | |
| Hold That Baby! | Dr. Hans Heinrich | ||
| The Great Lover | Ship's Captain | Uncredited | |
| And Baby Makes Three | Waiter | ||
| 1950 | The Great Rupert | Mr. Petrushka - the Baker | |
| 1951 | Grounds for Marriage | Donovan | |
| The Company She Keeps | Maitre'd in French Restaurant | Uncredited | |
| That's My Boy | Photographer | ||
| Night into Morning | Butcher | ||
| Come Fill the Cup | Delmar - Ives' Auto Mechanic | ||
| The Blue Veil | Photographer | ||
| My Favorite Spy | Headwaiter | ||
| 1952 | What Price Glory | Mayor | |
| The Merry Widow | Station Master | ||
| 1953 | Call Me Madam | Rudolph | |
| The Story of Three Loves | Man in Saloon | ||
| Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation | Doorman at Hotel Louis | ||
| Houdini | Headwaiter | ||
| 1954 | Casanova's Big Night | Attendant | |
| About Mrs. Leslie | Maitre D' | ||
| Living It Up | Chef | ||
| Deep in My Heart | Card Player | ||
| 1955 | We're No Angels | Butterfly Man | |
| 1956 | The Conqueror | Scribe | |
| Anything Goes | French Waiter | ||
| Hollywood or Bust | Waiter | ||
| 1957 | Public Pigeon No. 1 | Waiter | |
| The Helen Morgan Story | Manager | ||
| 1958 | The Fly | Gaston | |
| The Matchmaker | Alex, Headwaiter, Harmonica Club | ||
| 1959 | This Earth Is Mine | Hugo | Uncredited |
| Li'l Abner | Butler | ||
| 1960 | G.I. Blues | Headwaiter | |
| 1961 | Judgment at Nuremberg | Werner Lampe | |
| 1963 | A New Kind of Love | Hotel Clerk | Uncredited |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Mette Hjort, Ursula Lindqvist, A Companion to Nordic Cinema, page 408, Wiley, 2016
- 1 2 3 Diane Kachar, David Goudsward, The Fly at 50: The Creation and Legacy of a Classic Science Fiction Film (Kindle), BearManor Media, 2015
- ↑ Linguistic Expert, The Austin American (Austin, Texas), January 9, 1948, page 18
- ↑ Gregory William Mank, Hollywood Cauldron: Thirteen Horror Films from the Genre's Golden Age, page 168, McFarland, Inc., 2010
- ↑ Scott Allen Nollen, Boris Karloff: A Gentleman's Life, Midnight Marquee, 2009
- ↑ Diane Jacobs, Christmas in July: The Life and Art of Preston Sturges, page 253, University of California Press, 1992
- ↑ Alessandro Paroling, The Cinema of Preston Sturges: A Critical Study, pages 176-181, McFarland, Inc., 2014
- ↑ Nuremberg: Close-up of the Nazi Trials, The Los Angeles Times, November 5, 1961, page 499
- ↑ Actor Receives Knights Cross, Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, May 18, 1962, page 9
- ↑ Allan R. Ellenberger, Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory, page 27, McFarland Publishing, 2001
External links
[edit]
- Torben Meyer at IMDb
- Torben Meyer at Turner Classic Movies
- Torben Meyer at the British Film Institute[better source needed]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- 1884 births
- 1975 deaths
- American male film actors
- American male silent film actors
- Danish male film actors
- Danish male silent film actors
- 20th-century Danish male actors
- Deaths from bronchopneumonia
- Deaths from pneumonia in California
- 20th-century American male actors
- Burials at Chapel of the Pines Crematory
- Danish emigrants to the United States
- Male actors from Copenhagen