CINEFILER

Fritz Feld

Born
October 14, 1900
Died
November 18, 1993
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.
Known For
Barfly
(1987)
Bum
Herbie Goes Bananas
(1980)
Chief Steward
Herbie Rides Again
(1974)
Maitre D'
Freaky Friday
(1976)
Mr. Jackman
Pocketful of Miracles
(1961)
Pierre
Phantom of the Opera
(1943)
Lecours
History of the World: Part I
(1981)
Maitre 'D - The Roman Empire
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
(1947)
Anatole
Hello, Dolly!
(1969)
Rudolph's Assistant
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
(1969)
Sigmund Van Dyke
Bringing Up Baby
(1938)
Fritz Lehman
Barefoot in the Park
(1967)
Restaurant Proprietor
The Golem: How He Came into the World
(1920)
Jester (uncredited)
O. Henry's Full House
(1952)
Maurice (segment "The Gift of the Magi") (uncredited)
4 for Texas
(1963)
Fritz
Harlow
(1965)
Fritz
Full Filmography
Acting
The Golem: How He Came into the World
(1920)
Jester (uncredited)
Christian Wahnschaffe II: Escape from the Golden Dungeon
(1921)
The Last Command
(1928)
A revolutionist
A Ship Comes In
(1928)
Sokol
Broadway
(1929)
Mose Levett
Black Magic
(1929)
James Fraser
One Hysterical Night
(1929)
Paganini
The Wizard's Apprentice
(1930)
Wizard
Tovarich
(1937)
Martelleau
Lancer Spy
(1937)
Fritz Mueller
True Confession
(1937)
Krayler's Butler
I Met Him in Paris
(1937)
Swiss Hotel Clerk
Expensive Husbands
(1937)
Herr Meyer, Hotel Director
Bringing Up Baby
(1938)
Fritz Lehman
Hollywood Hotel
(1938)
The Russian
Out Where the Stars Begin
(1938)
Mr. Nitvitch
Gold Diggers in Paris
(1938)
Luis Leoni
Swingtime in the Movies
(1938)
Mr. Nitvitch
Go Chase Yourself
(1938)
Count Pierre Fountaine de Louis-Louis
Artists and Models Abroad
(1938)
Dubois
The Affairs of Annabel
(1938)
Vladimir
I'll Give a Million
(1938)
Max Primerose
Campus Confessions
(1938)
'Lady MacBeth'
Romance in the Dark
(1938)
Fritz
At the Circus
(1939)
Jardinet
Quiet, Please
(1939)
Mr. Nitvitch
Everything Happens at Night
(1939)
Gendarme
When Tomorrow Comes
(1939)
Nicholas
Idiot's Delight
(1939)
Pittatek
Little Accident
(1939)
Malisse
It's a Date
(1940)
Oscar, the Headwaiter
Little Old New York
(1940)
Tavern Keeper
I Was an Adventuress
(1940)
Henri Gautier
Millionaire Playboy
(1940)
'G.G.' Gorta
Victory
(1940)
Signor Makanoff
Sandy Is a Lady
(1940)
Mario
Ma, He's Making Eyes at Me!
(1940)
Forsythe
Come Live with Me
(1941)
Mac, the Headwaiter (uncredited)
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
(1941)
Pierre Gaston de la Blanc
Three Sons o' Guns
(1941)
Stage Director
World Premiere
(1941)
Field Marshal Muller
You Belong to Me
(1941)
Hotel Clerk
Maisie Gets Her Man
(1942)
Professor Orco
Four Jacks and a Jill
(1942)
Mr. Hoople
Shut My Big Mouth
(1942)
Robert Oglethorpe
Iceland
(1942)
Herr Tegnar
Sleepytime Gal
(1942)
Chef Petrovich
Phantom of the Opera
(1943)
Lecours
Heavenly Music
(1943)
Niccolò Paganini (uncredited)
Henry Aldrich Swings It
(1943)
Josef Altman
Holy Matrimony
(1943)
Critic
Passport to Destiny
(1944)
Chief Janitor
Ever Since Venus
(1944)
Michele
Knickerbocker Holiday
(1944)
Poffenburgh
Take It Big
(1944)
Doctor Dittenhoffer
The Great John L.
(1945)
Claire's manager
George White's Scandals
(1945)
Montescu
Captain Tugboat Annie
(1945)
Al Pucci aka Alfred Puccini
The Catman of Paris
(1946)
Prefect of Police
Her Sister's Secret
(1946)
Wine Salesman
I've Always Loved You
(1946)
Nicholas Kavlun
Movieland Magic
(1946)
(archive footage)
Gentleman Joe Palooka
(1946)
Club Steward
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
(1947)
Anatole
Carnival in Costa Rica
(1947)
Hotel Clerk
Hollywood Wonderland
(1947)
Director (clip from "Swingtime in the Movies", 1938) (uncredited)
Fun on a Weekend
(1947)
Sergei Stroganoff
The Noose Hangs High
(1948)
Psychiatrist
Julia Misbehaves
(1948)
Pepito
Trouble Makers
(1948)
Mr. Andre Schmidtlap - Hotel Manager
If You Knew Susie
(1948)
Chez Henri
Mexican Hayride
(1948)
Professor Ganzmeyer
You Gotta Stay Happy
(1948)
Pierre
My Girl Tisa
(1948)
Prof. Tabor
The Lovable Cheat
(1949)
Monsieur Louis
Appointment with Danger
(1950)
Window Dresser
Belle of Old Mexico
(1950)
Dr. Quincy
The Jackpot
(1950)
Pianist (uncredited)
Riding High
(1950)
French Dressmaker (uncredited)
Missing Women
(1951)
Pierre (hairdresser)
Kentucky Jubilee
(1951)
Rudolph Jouvet
Rhythm Inn
(1951)
Prof. Rinaldo
Journey Into Light
(1951)
Clothing Salesman
Sky High
(1951)
Dr. Kapok
O. Henry's Full House
(1952)
Maurice (segment "The Gift of the Magi") (uncredited)
Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick
(1952)
Headwaiter
Has Anybody Seen My Gal?
(1952)
Alvarez (uncredited)
So You Want to Enjoy Life
(1952)
Dr. Hugo Flugleman (uncredited)
So You Want to Wear the Pants
(1952)
Psychiatrist (uncredited)
Crime Wave
(1953)
Jess (uncredited)
Riding Shotgun
(1954)
Fritz
Living It Up
(1954)
Barber (uncredited)
Paris Playboys
(1954)
Marcel the Maitre d'
Jail Busters
(1955)
Dr. Fernando F. Fordyce
So You Want to Be Pretty
(1956)
Dr. Von Slaughter (uncredited)
Up In Smoke
(1957)
Dr. Bluzak (uncredited)
Juke Box Rhythm
(1959)
Ambrose
The Miracle of the White Reindeer
(1960)
Geronimo
Pocketful of Miracles
(1961)
Pierre
The Errand Boy
(1961)
Busby - Roaring 20's Director
The Ladies Man
(1961)
Mrs. Wellenmellon's Hairdresser (uncredited)
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
(1962)
John Swallowtail
4 for Texas
(1963)
Fritz
Promises! Promises!
(1963)
Ship's Doctor
Who's Minding the Store?
(1963)
Irving Catastrophe
The Patsy
(1964)
Maitre D'
Harlow
(1965)
Fritz
Three on a Couch
(1966)
The Attaché
Barefoot in the Park
(1967)
Restaurant Proprietor
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
(1969)
Sigmund Van Dyke
The Comic
(1969)
Armand
Hello, Dolly!
(1969)
Rudolph's Assistant
The Phynx
(1970)
Fritz Feld
Call Her Mom
(1972)
Waiter
Herbie Rides Again
(1974)
Maitre D'
Only with Married Men
(1974)
Chef
The Sunshine Boys
(1975)
Mr. Gilbert
The Strongest Man in the World
(1975)
Uncle Frederick
Silent Movie
(1976)
Maitre d'
Freaky Friday
(1976)
Mr. Jackman
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
(1976)
Rudy's Butler
The World's Greatest Lover
(1977)
Tomaso Abalone
Legend of the Northwest
(1978)
Herbie Goes Bananas
(1980)
Chief Steward
History of the World: Part I
(1981)
Maitre 'D - The Roman Empire
Heidi's Song
(1982)
Sebastian
Last of the Great Survivors
(1984)
Marty LaFontaine
Barfly
(1987)
Bum
Homer and Eddie
(1989)
Mortician
Data provided by TMDB