Zita Johann facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zita Johann
Johann in 1933
Born	Elisabeth Johann (1904-07-14)14 July 1904 Deutschbentschek (near Temesvar), Austria-Hungary
Died	24 September 1993(1993-09-24) (aged 89) Nyack, New York, U.S.
Years active	1924–1934
Spouse(s)	John Houseman (married 1929–1933) John McCormick Bernard E. Shedd
Partner(s)	John Huston

Zita Johann was an Austrian-American actress. She was born Elisabeth Johann on July 14, 1904. She is best known for her role in the 1932 film The Mummy, where she starred alongside Boris Karloff.

Zita Johann's Life and Career

Early Life and Moving to America

Zita Johann was born in a village called Deutschbentschek. This village was in Austria-Hungary, near a city now known as Timișoara in Romania. Her family belonged to a group called Banat Swabians, who spoke German. Her father, Stefan Johann, was a hussar officer, which means he was a soldier on horseback. In 1911, when Zita was seven, her family moved to the United States.

Becoming an Actress

Zita Johann started her acting career on Broadway in New York City in 1924. Broadway is famous for its many theaters and plays. Her first movie was The Struggle in 1931, directed by D. W. Griffith. After making seven films, she decided to focus more on theater. She worked with famous people like John Houseman and Orson Welles. She was married to John Houseman from 1929 to 1933. Zita Johann also taught acting to people who had learning differences.

Later Years and Legacy

Zita Johann was married three times during her life. She made her last movie appearance in 1986. It was a horror film called Raiders of the Living Dead. In 1962, she visited the Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack, New York. There, she worked as a guest artist and directed a play. Zita Johann passed away in 1993 in Nyack at the age of 89. Her ashes were scattered on a family farm in New York.

Her Films

Zita Johann starred in several movies during her career. Here are some of her notable film roles:

Images for kids

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  Zita Johann and Clark Gable in the play Machinal (1928)

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  Poster for The Mummy (1932)