Fritz Leiber
Acting • Born 1882-01-29 – Died 1949-10-14
Biography
Fritz Reuter Leiber Sr. was an American actor. A Shakespearean actor on stage, he also had a successful career in film. He was the father of science fiction and fantasy writer Fritz Leiber Jr., who was also an actor for a time. Leiber and his wife spent much of their time touring in a Shakespearean acting company, known by the 1930s as Fritz Leiber & Co. Leiber made his film bow in 1916, playing Mercutio in the Francis X. Bushman version of “Romeo and Juliet.” With his piercing eyes and shock of white hair, Leiber seemed every inch the priests, professors, musical professors, and religious fanatics that he was frequently called upon to play in films. His many silent-era portrayals included Caesar in Theda Bara's 1917 “Cleopatra” and Solomon in the mammoth 1921 Betty Blythe vehicle “The Queen of Sheba.” He thrived as a character actor in sound films, usually in historical roles. In the film “Champagne Waltz” he portrayed an orchestra maestro; the role required him to play classical music on a violin and jazz on a clarinet. One of Leiber's larger assignments of the 1940s, and his most notable musical role, was as Franz Liszt in the Claude Rains' remake of “Phantom of the Opera” (1943). Leiber appears together with his son Fritz Leiber Jr. in the wedding-feast scene of Greta Garbo's film “Camille” (1936) and in Warner Bros.' “The Great Garrick” (1937). Leiber also appeared with his son Fritz Leiber Jr. in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1939), but Fritz Leiber Jr. was not credited for his small speaking part. Late in his career, Leiber performed briefly opposite Charles Chaplin as the priest who visits Monsieur Verdoux in his prison cell.
Filmography
55 credits
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Movie • 1939
Old Nobleman
Devil's Doorway
Movie • 1950
Mr. Poole
Romeo and Juliet
Movie • 1916
Mercutio
The Web
Movie • 1947
Leopold Kroner
The Prince and the Pauper
Movie • 1937
Father Andrew
Phantom of the Opera
Movie • 1943
Franz Liszt
A Tale of Two Cities
Movie • 1935
Gaspard
Inner Sanctum
Movie • 1948
Dr. Valonius
Cleopatra
Movie • 1917
Caesar
To the Ends of the Earth
Movie • 1948
Binda Sha
Bells of San Angelo
Movie • 1947
Padre
Dangerous Venture
Movie • 1947
Chief Xeoli
The Story of Louis Pasteur
Movie • 1936
Dr. Charbonnet
The Spanish Main
Movie • 1945
Bishop
First Comes Courage
Movie • 1943
Dr. Aanrud
Lady with Red Hair
Movie • 1940
Mr. Foster
They Made Her a Spy
Movie • 1939
Dr. Krull
Hearts in Bondage
Movie • 1936
Capt. John Ericsson
Under Southern Stars
Movie • 1937
Stonewall Jackson
The Great Garrick
Movie • 1937
Horatio in 'Hamlet'
A Scandal in Paris
Movie • 1946
Painter
Aloma of the South Seas
Movie • 1941
High Priest
Bagdad
Movie • 1949
Emir
Down to the Sea
Movie • 1936
Gregory Pappas
This Love of Ours
Movie • 1945
Dr. Bailey
Pack Up Your Troubles
Movie • 1939
Pierre Ferrand
Adventures of Casanova
Movie • 1948
D'Anneci
The Queen of Sheba
Movie • 1921
King Solomon
Gateway
Movie • 1938
Dr. Weilander
Song of India
Movie • 1949
Nanaram
Nurse Edith Cavell
Movie • 1939
Sadi Kirschen
Bride of Vengeance
Movie • 1949
Filippo
Scarlet Street
Movie • 1945
Evangelist (uncredited)
Sins of Man
Movie • 1936
Father Prior
All This, and Heaven Too
Movie • 1940
Abbe Gallard
Monsieur Verdoux
Movie • 1947
Father Fareaux
The Cisco Kid Returns
Movie • 1945
The Padre
Champagne Waltz
Movie • 1937
Franz Strauss
Flight Into Nowhere
Movie • 1938
Ti-Ana
The Sea Hawk
Movie • 1940
Inquisitor
The Way of All Flesh
Movie • 1940
Max
Crossroads
Movie • 1942
Foreign Minister Deval (uncredited)
Humoresque
Movie • 1947
Hagerstrom
Strange Journey
Movie • 1946
Prof. Jenner
Anthony Adverse
Movie • 1936
Ouvrard
Cry of the Werewolf
Movie • 1944
Dr. Charles Morris
Samson and Delilah
Movie • 1949
Lord Sharif
The Jury's Secret
Movie • 1938
John Morrow
Angel on My Shoulder
Movie • 1946
Chemist Who Poisoned Wife (uncredited)
High Conquest
Movie • 1947
Priest
The Song of the Soul
Movie • 1920
Jerry Wendover
Another Part of the Forest
Movie • 1948
Col. Isham
If I Were King
Movie • 1920
Louis XI
Cobra Woman
Movie • 1944
Youth Runs Wild
Movie • 1944
Judge (uncredited)