Louis Calhern
Biography
Louis Calhern, born Carl Henry Vogt on February 19, 1895, in Brooklyn, New York, was an American stage and screen actor. Often cast in films as distinguished and sophisticated characters, his notable roles include the scheming Ambassador Trentino in the Marx Brothers comedy Duck Soup in 1933. For his portrayal of Oliver Wendell Holmes in the 1950 film The Magnificent Yankee, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Calhern began working in silent films for director Lois Weber in the early 1920s, with notable early appearances including The Blot in 1921. Before entering films with Weber, he had played leads in the Morosco Stock company of Los Angeles. He passed away on May 12, 1956.
Career overview
Carl Henry Vogt, known professionally as Louis Calhern, was an American stage and screen actor born on February 19, 1895, in Brooklyn, New York, who passed away on May 12, 1956. Often cast in films as distinguished and sophisticated characters, Calhern began working in silent films for director Lois Weber in the early 1920s. His notable early work included the 1921 film The Blot. Prior to his work with Lois Weber, he had played leads in the Morosco Stock company of Los Angeles after being engaged to enact the leading male role in What's Worth While. Calhern left the movies in 1923, but later returned to the screen.
Throughout his film career, Calhern took on a variety of notable roles. These included playing the scheming Ambassador Trentino in the classic Marx Brothers comedy Duck Soup in 1933, where he served as an antagonist to Robert Donat's Edmond. For portraying Oliver Wendell Holmes in the 1950 film The Magnificent Yankee, Calhern was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. Known for acting with seventy-four known credits on the Movie Database, his career spanned both silent pictures and later cinematic productions until his death.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
74 titles- Becoming Marilyn (2022) as (archive footage)
- That's Entertainment, Part II (1976) as (archive footage)
- High Society (1956) as Uncle Willie
- Forever, Darling (1956) as Charles Bewell
- Blackboard Jungle (1955) as Jim Murdock
- The Prodigal (1955) as Nahreeb
- Executive Suite (1954) as George Nyle Caswell
- Betrayed (1954) as Gen. Ten Eyck
- Athena (1954) as Grandpa Mulvain
- Men of the Fighting Lady (1954) as James A. Michener
- Rhapsody (1954) as Nicholas Durant
- The Student Prince (1954) as King of Karlsberg
- Julius Caesar (1953) as Julius Caesar
- Confidentially Connie (1953) as Opie Bedloe
- Remains to Be Seen (1953) as Benjamin Goodman
- Main Street to Broadway (1953) as Self
- Latin Lovers (1953) as Grandfather Eduardo Santos
- The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) as Georgia Lorrison's Father (voice) (uncredited)
- We're Not Married! (1952) as Freddie Melrose
- The Prisoner of Zenda (1952) as Col. Zapt
- Invitation (1952) as Simon Bowker
- Washington Story (1952) as Charles W. Birch
- The Man with a Cloak (1951) as Charles Theverner
- It's a Big Country (1951) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- The Asphalt Jungle (1950) as Alonzo D. Emmerich
- Annie Get Your Gun (1950) as Col. Buffalo Bill Cody
- Devil's Doorway (1950) as Verne Coolan
- A Life of Her Own (1950) as Jim Leversoe
- Two Weeks with Love (1950) as Horatio Robinson
- The Magnificent Yankee (1950) as Oliver Wendell Holmes
- Nancy Goes to Rio (1950) as Gregory Elliott
- The Red Danube (1949) as Colonel Piniev
- The Red Pony (1949) as Grandfather
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Arch of Triumph (1948) as Boris Morosov
- Notorious (1946) as Paul Prescott
- Up in Arms (1944) as Colonel Ashley
- The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1944) as Don Andre - The Viceroy
- Heaven Can Wait (1943) as Randolph Van Cleve
- Nobody's Darling (1943) as Curtis Farnsworth
- Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940) as Dr. Brockdorf
- I Take This Woman (1940) as Dr. Martin Sumner Duveen
- Juarez (1939) as LeMarc
- Fifth Avenue Girl (1939) as Dr. Kessler
- Charlie McCarthy, Detective (1939) as Arthur Aldrich
- Fast Company (1938) as Elias Z. Bannerman
- The Life of Emile Zola (1937) as Major Dort
- Her Husband Lies (1937) as Joe Sorrell
- The Gorgeous Hussy (1936) as Leroy Sunderland
- The Last Days of Pompeii (1935) as Prefect Allus Martius
- Woman Wanted (1935) as Smiley
- The Arizonian (1935) as Sheriff Jake Mannen
- The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) as De Villefort Jr.
- The Affairs of Cellini (1934) as Ottaviano
- Sweet Adeline (1934) as Major Jim Day
- The Man with Two Faces (1934) as Stanley Vance
- Duck Soup (1933) as Ambassador Trentino
- The Woman Accused (1933) as Leo Young
- Diplomaniacs (1933) as Winkelreid
- Strictly Personal (1933) as Jack Magruder
- Frisco Jenny (1933) as Steve Dutton
- The World Gone Mad (1933) as Christopher Bruno
- 20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932) as Joe Finn
- Night After Night (1932) as Dick Bolton
- Afraid to Talk (1932) as Asst. District Attorney John Wade
- Okay, America! (1932) as Mileaway Russell
- They Call It Sin (1932) as Ford Humphries
- Blonde Crazy (1931) as 'Dapper Dan' Barker
- The Road to Singapore (1931) as Dr. George March
- Stolen Heaven (1931) as Steve Perry
- The Last Moment (1923) as Harry Gaines
- The Blot (1921) as Phil West
- Too Wise Wives (1921) as David Graham
- What's Worth While? (1921) as 'Squire' Elton
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Louis Calhern best known for?
Louis Calhern is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including That's Entertainment, Part II (1976), High Society (1956), Blackboard Jungle (1955), The Prodigal (1955).
When and where was Louis Calhern born?
Louis Calhern was born on February 18, 1895 in Brooklyn [now in New York City], New York, USA. They passed away on May 12, 1956.
How many credits does Louis Calhern have?
Louis Calhern has accumulated over 74 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1921 to 2022.
What is Louis Calhern's background in cinema and television?
Louis Calhern, born Carl Henry Vogt on February 19, 1895, in Brooklyn, New York, was an American stage and screen actor. Often cast in films as distinguished and sophisticated characters, his notable roles include the scheming Ambassador Trentino in the Marx Brothers comedy Duck Soup in 1933. For his portrayal of Olive...
Louis Calhern by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Notorious (1946) as Paul Prescott — aged about 51
- The Asphalt Jungle (1950) as Alonzo D. Emmerich — aged about 55
- The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) as Georgia Lorrison's Father (voice) (uncredited) — aged about 57
- Duck Soup (1933) as Ambassador Trentino — aged about 38
- Executive Suite (1954) as George Nyle Caswell — aged about 59
- Julius Caesar (1953) as Julius Caesar — aged about 58
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