Ludwig Stössel

Ludwig Stössel was an Austrian actor who began performing on stage in Austria and Germany at 17 and became a successful character actor on leading German stages, including Max Reinhardt's. He moved into films with a small role in the silent film In der Heimat, da gibt's ein Wiedersehn! in 1926, then made his sound debut in Skandal um Eva in 1930. After leaving Germany and Austria in the 1930s, he reached Hollywood in 1939 and made his American debut in Four Sons in 1940. He played supporting parts in more than 40 movies, including Lou Gehrig's father in The Pride of the Yankees (1942), Mr. Leuchtag in Casablanca, and a man bitten by Count Dracula in House of Dracula (1945). He also worked in television, notably as Charles Bronson's father on Man with a Camera, and became known for Italian Swiss Colony wine commercials. His final film was G.I. Blues (1960).