Kurt Kasznar

Kurt Kasznar's stage career began in his native Vienna in 1931. Kasznar's star rose under the aegis of the great Max Reinhardt, who brought the actor to the U.S. in the mammoth 1937 production The Eternal Road. His better-known Broadway roles include Uncle Louis in The Happy Time (a characterization he repeated in the 1952 film version) and Max Detweiler in The Sound of Music. Kasznar also produced and directed Crazy With the Heat, and wrote First Cousin. Though he made an isolated silent movie appearance as a youngster, Kasznar's official film debut didn't come about until 1951's The Light Touch. His bombastic style was supremely suited to such film roles as Jacquot in Lili (1952) and Mr. Appopoulos in My Sister Eileen. His TV roles leaned towards the devious and sinister, notably his ongoing portrayal of Fitzhugh on the Irwin Allen extravaganza Land of the Giants (1968-70). Twice married, Kurt Kasznar's second wife was American actress Leora Dana.

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide