Person Biography:
Joseph Schildkraut was a renowned Austrian-born actor who made a significant impact on the silent screen and later conquered talking films with an Oscar-winning performance. Born on March 22, 1895, in Vienna, Austria, he was the son of renowned European/Yiddish stage actor Rudolph Schildkraut and his wife Erna Weinstein. Nicknamed "Pepi" as a boy, he grew up to become a talented actor, pianist, and violinist.
Schildkraut's early life was marked by frequent moves, studying music at the Berlin Royal Academy of Music, and performing on stage with his father from the age of 6. He graduated from the academy in 1911 and later joined the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. His father's connections helped him secure a role in the Deutsches Volkstheatre, where he flourished as a stage player.
Schildkraut's career was interrupted by World War I, during which he was exempted from duty due to his theatrical connections. After the war, he continued to work in Germany and Austria, eventually migrating to America with his family in 1912. He made his Broadway debut in 1923 and went on to appear in numerous films, including silent classics like "Orphans of the Storm" and "The Song of Love".
Schildkraut's transition to talking films was seamless, and he won an Oscar for his portrayal of Captain Alfred Dreyfus in "The Life of Emile Zola" (1937). He went on to appear in a wide range of films, including costume dramas, action-adventures, and potent dramas. His film output slowed down during World War II, but he continued to thrive on stage, with notable successes in productions like "Clash by Night" and "The Cherry Orchard".
Schildkraut's Hollywood downfall occurred when he signed with the low-budget Republic Pictures studio, leading to a series of unworthy films and secondary roles. His final Broadway appearance and greatest stage triumph came in 1955 as Otto Frank in "The Diary of Anne Frank", which he repeated on film in 1959.
Schildkraut's personal life was marked by two marriages, the first to aspiring actress Elise Bartlett, and the second to Marie McKay, which lasted almost three decades. He married a third time to Leonora Rogers in 1963, shortly before his death on January 21, 1964, at the age of 68.
