Louis Calhern facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Louis Calhern
Calhern in 1946
Born	Carl Henry Vogt (1895-02-19)February 19, 1895 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	May 12, 1956(1956-05-12) (aged 61) Nara, Nara, Japan
Resting place	Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1921–1956
Spouse(s)	Ilka Chase ​ ​ (m. 1926; div. 1927)​ Julia Hoyt ​ ​ (m. 1927; div. 1932)​ Natalie Schafer ​ ​ (m. 1933; div. 1942)​ Marianne Stewart ​ ​ (m. 1946; div. 1955)​

Louis Calhern, born Carl Henry Vogt, was a famous American actor. He performed on both stage and in movies. He was born on February 19, 1895, and passed away on May 12, 1956. Many people remember him for his role as a lawyer named Alonzo Emmerich in the film The Asphalt Jungle (1950). He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for playing Oliver Wendell Holmes in the movie The Magnificent Yankee that same year.

Early Life and Acting Start

Louis Calhern was born Carl Henry Vogt in Brooklyn, New York, in 1895. His parents, Eugene Adolf Vogt and Hubertina Friese Vogt, had moved from Germany. He had one sister. His father worked as a tobacco dealer.

When Louis was in elementary school, his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up there. While playing high school football, a stage manager saw him. This manager worked for a traveling theater group. He hired Louis as a small-role actor. Another story says that actress Grace George hired his whole football team for a play.

During World War I, there was a lot of anti-German feeling. Because of this, Louis changed his German first name, Carl. His stage name, Calhern, combines parts of his hometown, St. Louis, and his first and middle names, Carl and Henry.

Stage Career Highlights

Just before World War I, Louis Calhern moved back to New York. He wanted to become a professional actor. He started by moving props and playing small parts. He worked with different touring and comedy groups. He became very popular after appearing in a play called Cobra.

Louis Calhern performed in many plays on Broadway, which is the highest level of theater in New York City. Some of his notable Broadway shows include:

Military Service

Louis Calhern's acting career was paused by World War I. He served in France with the U.S. Army. He was part of the 143rd Field Artillery.

Film Career

Calhern and Claire Windsor in The Blot (1921)

Louis Calhern in the trailer for Annie Get Your Gun (1950)

Louis Calhern started acting in silent films in the early 1920s. He worked with director Lois Weber. One of his most famous silent movies was The Blot (1921). A newspaper wrote that he was a "new arrival in stardom."

In 1923, Calhern left movies to focus only on stage acting. He returned to films when "talkies" (movies with sound) became popular. In sound films, he often played supporting roles, known as "character actor" roles. He continued to play leading roles on stage.

Some of his notable movie roles include:

• A partner in crime in 20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932).
• Ambassador Trentino in the comedy Duck Soup (1933).
• Major Dort in The Life of Emile Zola (1937).
• A spy boss in Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious (1946).

In 1948, Calhern joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) as a contract actor. He received great praise for his roles. In 1950, he appeared in three different films for the studio:

• He played Buffalo Bill in the musical Annie Get Your Gun.
• He was a lawyer in the crime film The Asphalt Jungle. He acted alongside a young Marilyn Monroe.
• He played Oliver Wendell Holmes in The Magnificent Yankee. This role earned him an Oscar nomination. He had played this same role on stage before.

In 1953, he was praised for playing Julius Caesar in the film Julius Caesar. This movie was based on William Shakespeare's play. He also played George Caswell in Executive Suite (1954). In Blackboard Jungle (1955), he played a tired high school teacher. His last movie role was Uncle Willie in High Society (1956). This musical was a remake of The Philadelphia Story.

Death

Louis Calhern passed away on May 12, 1956. He was 61 years old. He had a sudden heart attack while filming The Teahouse of the August Moon in Nara, Japan. Actor Paul Ford took over his role in the film. Calhern's body was cremated. His remains are buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Selected Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Louis Calhern para niños