Born in Austria in 1883, Ludwig Stossel emerged as a prominent theatrical presence at the tender age of 17, captivating audiences in both his homeland and Germany for decades, performing alongside esteemed directors Max Reinhardt and Otto Preminger. His impressive career in the German silent film industry began in 1926, and he seamlessly transitioned into the world of sound pictures.
However, the Nazi invasion of Austria in 1938 forced Stossel to relocate to the United Kingdom, where he rekindled his film career. Within a couple of years, he made the move to America, joining a community of German and Austrian actors who had also fled their countries due to the Nazi takeover. Many of these actors, including Stossel, found themselves in Hollywood, where they often played refugees or Nazi officials in war-themed dramas.
Stossel's unique features, including his thick accent and benevolent countenance, made him a sought-after character actor. He frequently portrayed balding characters adorned with a monocle and handlebar mustache, providing memorable performances in notable films such as Casablanca (1942),Kings Row (1942),and The Pride of the Yankees (1942),in which he played Gary Cooper's father.
Established in Hollywood, Stossel continued to play sweet and wise old souls throughout the remainder of his career. One of his most notable roles was as Albert Einstein in The Beginning or the End (1947). He also ventured into television in the 1950s and is perhaps best remembered for his long-running series of commercials for Italian Swiss Colony wine, in which he played "that little old winemaker, me!" in traditional Swiss attire.
Stossel was married to actress Eleanore Stossel and passed away in 1973 at the age of 89 in Beverly Hills, California.
