Otto Kruger | |
|---|---|
 Kruger in 1955 | |
| Born | (1885-09-06)September 6, 1885 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | September 6, 1974(1974-09-06) (aged 89) |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery inHollywood Hills, California |
| Alma mater | |
| Years active | 1915–1965 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Gayne Rescher (son-in-law) Paul Kruger (great-uncle) |
Otto Kruger (September 6, 1885 – September 6, 1974)[1] was an American actor. Originally a Broadwaymatinée idol, he established a niche as a charming villain in films, such as inAlfred Hitchcock'sSaboteur (1942) andDouglas Sirk'sMagnificent Obsession (1954). He appeared in more than 120 film, television and stage roles between 1915 and 1965.
Kruger was born inToledo, Ohio,[2] the son of Bernard Alben Kruger and Elizabeth Winers Kruger.[3] His family was ofGerman andSouth African descent, he was the grandnephew of South African presidentPaul Kruger.[4]
Kruger was musically trained, but switched careers and became an actor after studying engineering at theUniversity of Michigan,[3] completing his studies atColumbia University.[4]
Making hisBroadway debut in 1915,[5][6] Kruger quickly became amatinee idol.[4] Though he started to get noticed in the early 1920s, it was the 1930s when his career was at its height. His sound film debut came inTurn Back the Clock (1933)[3] and he made an appearance in the filmChained (1934).[7]
Though he played the hero on occasion, for most of his career, he played the main villain or a charming or corrupt businessman.[8] One of his best known roles was in theDouglas Sirk filmMagnificent Obsession (1954).[9] Kruger played the supporting role of Judge Percy Mettrick, who unsuccessfully urgesWill Kane to leave town inHigh Noon (1952).[10] Kruger is also remembered for playing the villain Tobin inAlfred Hitchcock's spy filmSaboteur (1942) and mob boss Stevens in the film noir711 Ocean Drive (1950).[7]
His television roles included those of Dr. Mumford in the 1959 episode "Experiments in Terror" of theNBCscience fiction/adventure seriesThe Man and the Challenge,[citation needed] as Ben Tully in "Gun City" of theABC western series,The Rebel,[11] as Franklyn Malleson Ghentin in the 1961 episode "A Fool for a Client" ofJames Whitmore ABC'slegal drama,The Law and Mr. Jones,[12] and as Karl in the episode "Quite a Woman" of the short-lived 1961 CBS seriesThe Investigators starringJames Franciscus.[citation needed]
Kruger made four guest appearances onCBS'sPerry Mason.[13] In his first two appearances, "The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather" (1961) and "The Case of the Counterfeit Crank" (1962), he was cast as Mason's client, and in both episodes was the title character.[14][15] In his final appearance, he played Judge Norris in "The Case of the Missing Button" (1964).[16]
In 1955, he appeared in the live telecast ofThe Desert Song as General Birabeau.[citation needed]
On March 20, 1920, Kruger married Broadway actress[17][18][19] Susan "Sue" MacManamy. Their daughter, Ottilie Kruger (1926–2005),[20] was also an actress and was the first wife of pioneering cinematographerGayne Rescher.[21]
In 1960, Kruger suffered astroke. He continued his career, with some difficulty, for another four years before retiring from acting.
Kruger supportedThomas Dewey in the1944 United States presidential election.[22]
Kruger died at theMotion Picture and Television Country House[23] inWoodland Hills, California, on his 89th birthday.
Kruger appeared as Mr. Hardecker in "After Dinner Story" (airdate October 26, 1943; story by Cornell Woolrich) from theSuspense radio program series.[citation needed]
Kruger was honored with two stars on theHollywood Walk of Fame; one for TV and one for film.[23]
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