Otto Waldis


Otto Waldis was an Austrian-American character actor in films and television during the 1930s through the 1960s. He was also billed as Otto Blum.

Early years

Waldis was born Otto Glucksmann-Blum in 1901 in Vienna. He was a student during World War I and initially studied to be a naval engineer. When Germany had no navy after the war, he shifted his attention to acting. Rudolph Schildkraut saw him perform and encouraged him to pursue a theatrical career. Billed as Otto Valdis, he performed Shakespeare and classic German plays. He also directed plays. After he began acting in films, he had the lead in The Broken Pitcher, which received first prize in an international competition in 1934. He and his wife left Austria and arrived in Birmingham, Alabama, in June 1940. He worked as a photographer in Birmingham.

Career

Waldis began his acting career in Vienna in the 1920s. He made his film debut in director Fritz Lang's classic thriller M starring Peter Lorre.
Waldis became a familiar character actor often appearing in B movies and his roles were sometimes uncredited. He also appeared regularly on television during the 1950s and '60s. Waldis also occasionally acted on stage. Some of his film credits include:
The Exile, Call Northside 777, Berlin Express, The Fighting O'Flynn, The Lovable Cheat, Love Happy, Border Incident, Bagdad, Dark City, Bird of Paradise, Night Into Morning, Secrets of Monte Carlo, The Whip Hand, Unknown World, 5 Fingers, Anything Can Happen, The Black Castle, Rogue's March, The Stars Are Singing , Rebel City, Knock on Wood, Sincerely Yours, Artists and Models, Running Wild, Desert Sands, Man from Del Rio, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, Pier 5, Havana and Judgment at Nuremberg , among others. Waldis also made several guest appearances on television including roles in My Little Margie, The Adventures of Superman, General Electric Theater, Lassie, Maverick, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Perry Mason, Peter Gunn, Playhouse 90, Have Gun - Will Travel, The Untouchables, 77 Sunset Strip, Wagon Train, Lawman, Ben Casey, Hogan's Heroes, Mannix and Gomer Pyle, USMC

Personal life and death

Waldis married Margaret Vieth, an opera singer, in 1935. He died of a heart attack in 1974 at the age of 72.

Selected filmography