Peter Lorre(1904-1964)
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Peter Lorre was born László Löwenstein in Rózsahegy in the Slovak area of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the son of Hungarian Jewish parents. He learned both Hungarian and German languages from birth, and was educated in elementary and secondary schools in the Austria-Hungary capitol Vienna, but did not complete. As a youth he ran away from home, first working as a bank clerk, and after stage training in Vienna, Austria, made his acting debut at age 17 in 1922 in Zurich, Switzerland. He traveled for several years acting on stage throughout his home region, Vienna, Berlin, and Zurich, including working withBertolt Brecht,untilFritz Langcast him in a starring role as the psychopathic child killer in the German filmM - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder (1931).
After several more films in Germany, including a couple roles for which he learned to speak French, Lorre left as the Nazis came to power, going first to Paris where he made one film, then London whereAlfred Hitchcockcast him as a creepy villain inThe Man Who Knew Too Much (1934),where he learned his lines phonetically, and finally arrived in Hollywood in 1935. In his first two roles there he starred as a mad scientist inMad Love (1935)directed by recent fellow-expatriateKarl Freund,and the leading part of Raskolnikov inCrime and Punishment (1935),by another expatriate German directorJosef von Sternberg,a successful movie made at Lorre's own suggestion. He returned to England for a role in another Hitchcock film,Secret Agent (1936),then back to the US for a few more films before checking into a rehab facility to cure himself of a morphine addiction.
After shaking his addiction, in order to get any kind of acting work, Lorre reluctantly accepted the starring part as the Japanese secret agent inThank You, Mr. Moto (1937),wearing makeup to alter his already very round eyes for the part. He ended up committed to repeating the role for eight more "Mr. Moto" movies over the next two years.
Lorre played numerous memorable villain roles, spy characters, comedic roles, and even a romantic type, throughout the 1940s, beginning with his graduation from 30s B-picturesThe Maltese Falcon (1941).Among his most famous films,Casablanca (1942),and a comedic role in the Broadway hit filmArsenic and Old Lace (1944).
After the war, between 1946 and '49 Lorre concentrated largely on radio and the stage, while continuing to appear in movies. In Autumn 1950 he traveled to West Gemany where he wrote, directed and starred in the critically acclaimed but generally unknown German-language filmDer Verlorene (1951),adapted from Lorre's own novel.
Lorre returned to the US in 1952, somewhat heavier in stature, where he used his abilities as a stage actor appearing in many live television productions throughout the 50s, including the first James Bond adaptationCasino Royale (1954),broadcast just a few months afterIan Fleminghad published that first Bond novel. In that decade, Lorre had various roles, often to type but also as comedic caricatures of himself, in many episodes of TV series, and variety shows, though he continued to work in motion pictures, including the Academy Award winningAround the World in 80 Days (1956),and a stellar role as a clown inThe Big Circus (1959).
In the late 50s and early 1960s he worked in several low-budget films, with producer-directorRoger Corman,and producer-writer-directorIrwin Allen,including the aforementioned The Big Circus and two adventurous Disney movies with Allen. He died from a stroke the year he made his last movie, playing a stooge inJerry Lewis'The Patsy (1964).
After several more films in Germany, including a couple roles for which he learned to speak French, Lorre left as the Nazis came to power, going first to Paris where he made one film, then London whereAlfred Hitchcockcast him as a creepy villain inThe Man Who Knew Too Much (1934),where he learned his lines phonetically, and finally arrived in Hollywood in 1935. In his first two roles there he starred as a mad scientist inMad Love (1935)directed by recent fellow-expatriateKarl Freund,and the leading part of Raskolnikov inCrime and Punishment (1935),by another expatriate German directorJosef von Sternberg,a successful movie made at Lorre's own suggestion. He returned to England for a role in another Hitchcock film,Secret Agent (1936),then back to the US for a few more films before checking into a rehab facility to cure himself of a morphine addiction.
After shaking his addiction, in order to get any kind of acting work, Lorre reluctantly accepted the starring part as the Japanese secret agent inThank You, Mr. Moto (1937),wearing makeup to alter his already very round eyes for the part. He ended up committed to repeating the role for eight more "Mr. Moto" movies over the next two years.
Lorre played numerous memorable villain roles, spy characters, comedic roles, and even a romantic type, throughout the 1940s, beginning with his graduation from 30s B-picturesThe Maltese Falcon (1941).Among his most famous films,Casablanca (1942),and a comedic role in the Broadway hit filmArsenic and Old Lace (1944).
After the war, between 1946 and '49 Lorre concentrated largely on radio and the stage, while continuing to appear in movies. In Autumn 1950 he traveled to West Gemany where he wrote, directed and starred in the critically acclaimed but generally unknown German-language filmDer Verlorene (1951),adapted from Lorre's own novel.
Lorre returned to the US in 1952, somewhat heavier in stature, where he used his abilities as a stage actor appearing in many live television productions throughout the 50s, including the first James Bond adaptationCasino Royale (1954),broadcast just a few months afterIan Fleminghad published that first Bond novel. In that decade, Lorre had various roles, often to type but also as comedic caricatures of himself, in many episodes of TV series, and variety shows, though he continued to work in motion pictures, including the Academy Award winningAround the World in 80 Days (1956),and a stellar role as a clown inThe Big Circus (1959).
In the late 50s and early 1960s he worked in several low-budget films, with producer-directorRoger Corman,and producer-writer-directorIrwin Allen,including the aforementioned The Big Circus and two adventurous Disney movies with Allen. He died from a stroke the year he made his last movie, playing a stooge inJerry Lewis'The Patsy (1964).
