Paul Lukas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Lukas
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Lukas in 1950
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| Born |
Pál Lukács
26 May 1894 |
| Died | 15 August 1971 (aged 77) Tangier, Morocco
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| Resting place | Cementerio de Benalmádena, Andalusia, Spain |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1916–1970 |
| Spouse(s) |
Gizella "Daisy" Benes
(m. 1927; died 1962)Annette M. Driesens
(m. 1963) |
Paul Lukas (born Pál Lukács) was a famous actor from Hungary. He was born on May 26, 1894, and passed away on August 15, 1971. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor, also known as an Oscar. He also won the first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. Both awards were for his role in the 1943 film Watch on the Rhine. He had first played this role on the Broadway stage.
Paul Lukas's Life and Career
Paul Lukas was born Pál Lukács in Budapest, which was part of Austria-Hungary at the time. His birth parents were Adolf Munkácsi and Mária Schneckendorf. Later, he was adopted by Mária and János Lukács. János was an advertising executive.
Lukas began acting on stage in Budapest in 1916. His first film role was in 1917. At first, he often played charming men. But soon, he started playing more villain roles. He had a very successful acting career in Hungary, Germany, and Austria. He even worked with a famous director named Max Reinhardt.
In 1927, Paul Lukas moved to Hollywood, USA. He became a US citizen in 1937. He bought a home in Palm Springs, California, in 1935.
Paul Lukas was very busy acting in the 1930s. He appeared in many different kinds of films. Some of these included the drama Rockabye and the crime movie Grumpy. He also starred in Alfred Hitchcock's mystery film The Lady Vanishes. Other films were the comedy Ladies in Love and the drama Dodsworth. In 1935, he played the detective Philo Vance in The Casino Murder Case.
His biggest film success was in Watch on the Rhine (1943). In this movie, he played a man fighting against the Nazis. He had first played this role in the Broadway play in 1941. His acting as Kurt Mueller was highly praised. Kurt Mueller was a German who had moved to America. His wife was played by the famous actress Bette Davis. Critics loved his performance. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for this role. He also received the New York Film Critics Award.
In the 1940s, Lukas also acted on radio shows. He was a guest star on Suspense in 1943. He played a blind composer in one episode. In 1944, he starred in "The Steadfast Heart" on Silver Theater.
Paul Lukas also played Professor Aronnax in Walt Disney's movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954). This film was based on the famous book by Jules Verne.
His film career continued into the 1960s. He appeared in nine more films during this time. These included Fun in Acapulco with Elvis Presley in 1963. He also acted in Lord Jim with Peter O'Toole in 1965. His last film was The Challenge, released in 1970.
Besides films, Lukas also performed on stage and television. He sang in the Broadway musical Call Me Madam in 1950. He performed alongside Ethel Merman over 600 times.
Paul Lukas died on August 15, 1971, in Tangier, Morocco. He was looking for a place to retire there. He is buried in Spain.
Awards and Recognition
Paul Lukas received a special honor on February 8, 1960. He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find his star at 6821 Hollywood Boulevard.
See also
In Spanish: Paul Lukas para niños
- List of actors with Academy Award nominations
