Fritz Feld

Fritz Feld

1900-10-14 – 1993-11-18 (age 93) Berlin, Germany
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Biography

Fritz Feld was born on October 15, 1900 in Berlin, Germany as Fritz Feilchenfeld. He is known for his work on Bringing Up Baby (1938), Barefoot in the Park (1967) and Hello, Dolly! (1969). He was married to Virginia Christine. He died on November 18, 1993 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Born in Berlin, Germany, Feld began his acting career in Germany in 1917, making his screen debut in Der Golem und die Tänzerin (The Golem and the Dancing Girl). Feld filmed the sound sequences of the Cecil B. DeMille film The Godless Girl, released by Pathé, without DeMille's supervision since DeMille had already broken his contract with Pathé, and signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

He developed a characterization that came to define him. His trademark was to slap his mouth with the palm of his hand to create a "pop!" sound that indicated both his superiority and his annoyance. The first use of the "pop" sound was in If You Knew Susie.

Feld often played the part of a maître d', but also a variety of aristocrats and eccentrics; his characters were indeterminately European, sometimes French and sometimes Belgian but always with his particular mannerisms. In the 1938 screwball comedy Bringing Up Baby he played the role of Dr. Lehman. In 1939 he appeared with the Marx Brothers in At The Circus in the small but memorable role of French orchestra conductor Jardinet. In one 1967 episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., "The Napoleon's Tomb Affair", Feld played a banker, a beatnik, a diplomat and a waiter. The episode also featured Ted Cassidy from The Addams Family. In his later years, Feld appeared in several Walt Disney films and also played an uncharacteristically dramatic role in Barfly. In addition to films, he acted in numerous television series in guest roles, including the recurring role of "Zumdish", the manager of the intergalactic Celestial Department Store on Lost In Space, in two Season 2 episodes, The Android Machine and The Toymaker. Zumdish returned in the Season 3 episode Two Weeks In Space, where he has been brainwashed by bank robbers into believing he is a tour director taking the robbers on holiday. He also portrayed one of the Harmonia Gardens waiters in the movie Hello Dolly!

Feld made his final film appearance in 1989.

Photos

Known For

Bringing Up Baby
Bringing Up Baby

1938

as Dr. Lehman

Barfly
Barfly

1987

as Bum

Hello, Dolly!
Hello, Dolly!

1969

as Rudolph's Assistant

The Comic
The Comic

1969

as Armand

Herbie Rides Again
Herbie Rides Again

1974

as Maitre D'

Barefoot in the Park
Barefoot in the Park

1967

as Restaurant Proprietor

History of the World: Part I
History of the World: Part I

1981

as Maitre 'D - The Roman Empire

Silent Movie
Silent Movie

1976

as Maitre d'

Herbie Goes Bananas
Herbie Goes Bananas

1980

as Chief Steward

Riding Shotgun
Riding Shotgun

1954

as Fritz

The Ladies Man
The Ladies Man

1961

as Mrs. Wellenmellon's Hairdresser (uncredited)

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes

1969

as Sigmund Van Dyke

The Strongest Man in the World
The Strongest Man in the World

1975

as Uncle Frederick

Freaky Friday
Freaky Friday

1976

as Mr. Jackman

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Phantom of the Opera
Phantom of the Opera

1943

as Lecours

Pocketful of Miracles
Has Anybody Seen My Gal?
Has Anybody Seen My Gal?

1952

as Alvarez (uncredited)

The Golem: How He Came into the World
The Golem: How He Came into the World

1920

as Jester (uncredited)

Crime Wave
Crime Wave

1953

as Jess (uncredited)