Celia Lovsky
Encyclopedia
Celia Lovsky was an Austrian American actress. She was born Cäcilie Lvovsky in Vienna
, daughter of Bretislav Lvovsky (1857–1910), a minor Czech
opera composer. She studied theater, dance, and languages at the Austrian Royal Academy of Arts and Music.
She later moved to Berlin
, where she acted in the surrealist plays Dream Theater and Dream Play by Karl Kraus
. There she met Peter Lorre
, who had seen her in a production of Shakespeare's Othello
near Vienna, and would later become her husband. The couple traveled to Paris
, London
, and the United States. Celia was instrumental in bringing Lorre to the attention of Fritz Lang
, leading eventually to Lorre's debut film M
in 1931. They lived together for five years before their marriage, and stayed married until 1945, remaining close friends for the rest of Lorre's lifetime.
After the couple settled in Santa Monica, California
, Lorre had not wished Lovsky to work, believing he should be the breadwinner and she should remain at home. For the rest of Lorre's life, she was his publicist, manager, secretary, financial planner, nurse and confidant. However, after their divorce, she started taking roles in American movies and television. She made a name for herself playing slightly exotic roles such as the deaf-mute mother of Lon Chaney
in Man of a Thousand Faces
with James Cagney
and Apache
Princess Saba in the Jane Russell
film Foxfire.
As she grew older, she was given a number of dignified dowager
roles, such as Romany matriarchs and expatriate Russia
n princesses, and a brief but memorable role as the widowed mother of Reinhard Schwimmer, one of the victims of the St. Valentines Day Massacre in the 1967 film of the same name.
Her final movie appearance was of the "Exchange Leader" in 1973's Soylent Green
. She delivers the final confirmation to Edward G. Robinson
's character Sol about Soylent Green's true ingredient. It was also Robinson's final movie. She also appeared in the 1964 Twilight Zone
episode "Queen of the Nile
" as the elderly daughter of a never-aging actress (played by Ann Blyth
). One of her best-known roles may be that of T'Pau in an episode of the original Star Trek
, entitled "Amok Time."
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, daughter of Bretislav Lvovsky (1857–1910), a minor Czech
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
opera composer. She studied theater, dance, and languages at the Austrian Royal Academy of Arts and Music.
She later moved to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where she acted in the surrealist plays Dream Theater and Dream Play by Karl Kraus
Karl Kraus
Karl Kraus was an Austrian writer and journalist, known as a satirist, essayist, aphorist, playwright and poet. He is regarded as one of the foremost German-language satirists of the 20th century, especially for his witty criticism of the press, German culture, and German and Austrian...
. There she met Peter Lorre
Peter Lorre
Peter Lorre was an Austrian-American actor frequently typecast as a sinister foreigner.He caused an international sensation in 1931 with his portrayal of a serial killer who preys on little girls in the German film M...
, who had seen her in a production of Shakespeare's Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
near Vienna, and would later become her husband. The couple traveled to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and the United States. Celia was instrumental in bringing Lorre to the attention of Fritz Lang
Fritz Lang
Friedrich Christian Anton "Fritz" Lang was an Austrian-American filmmaker, screenwriter, and occasional film producer and actor. One of the best known émigrés from Germany's school of Expressionism, he was dubbed the "Master of Darkness" by the British Film Institute...
, leading eventually to Lorre's debut film M
M (1931 film)
M is a 1931 German drama-thriller directed by Fritz Lang and written by Lang and his wife Thea von Harbou. It was Lang's first sound film, although he had directed more than a dozen films previously....
in 1931. They lived together for five years before their marriage, and stayed married until 1945, remaining close friends for the rest of Lorre's lifetime.
After the couple settled in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
, Lorre had not wished Lovsky to work, believing he should be the breadwinner and she should remain at home. For the rest of Lorre's life, she was his publicist, manager, secretary, financial planner, nurse and confidant. However, after their divorce, she started taking roles in American movies and television. She made a name for herself playing slightly exotic roles such as the deaf-mute mother of Lon Chaney
Lon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
in Man of a Thousand Faces
Man of a Thousand Faces
Man of a Thousand Faces is a film detailing the life of silent movie actor Lon Chaney, in which the title role is played by James Cagney.Directed by Joseph Pevney, the film's cast included Dorothy Malone, Jane Greer and Jim Backus...
with James Cagney
James Cagney
James Francis Cagney, Jr. was an American actor, first on stage, then in film, where he had his greatest impact. Although he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of performances, he is best remembered for playing "tough guys." In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him eighth...
and Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
Princess Saba in the Jane Russell
Jane Russell
Jane Russell was an American film actress and was one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s....
film Foxfire.
As she grew older, she was given a number of dignified dowager
Dowager
A dowager is a widow who holds a title or property, or dower, derived from her deceased husband. As an adjective, "Dowager" usually appears in association with monarchical and aristocratic titles....
roles, such as Romany matriarchs and expatriate Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n princesses, and a brief but memorable role as the widowed mother of Reinhard Schwimmer, one of the victims of the St. Valentines Day Massacre in the 1967 film of the same name.
Her final movie appearance was of the "Exchange Leader" in 1973's Soylent Green
Soylent Green
Soylent Green is a 1973 American science fiction film directed by Richard Fleischer. Starring Charlton Heston, the film overlays the police procedural and science fiction genres as it depicts the investigation into the murder of a wealthy businessman in a dystopian future suffering from pollution,...
. She delivers the final confirmation to Edward G. Robinson
Edward G. Robinson
Edward G. Robinson was a Romanian-born American actor. A popular star during Hollywood's Golden Age, he is best remembered for his roles as gangsters, such as Rico in his star-making film Little Caesar and as Rocco in Key Largo...
's character Sol about Soylent Green's true ingredient. It was also Robinson's final movie. She also appeared in the 1964 Twilight Zone
Twilight zone
-Television series and spinoffs:*The Twilight Zone, the anthology television series and its franchise:**The Twilight Zone , the 1959–1964 original television series***Twilight Zone: The Movie, a 1983 film based on the original series...
episode "Queen of the Nile
Queen of the Nile (The Twilight Zone)
"Queen of the Nile" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone.-Synopsis:Columnist Jordan Herrick, a noted cynic, prepares to interview famed actress Pamela Morris. She is known for her vitality and beauty, and many want to know her secret to staying young and...
" as the elderly daughter of a never-aging actress (played by Ann Blyth
Ann Blyth
Ann Marie Blyth is an American actress and singer, often cast in Hollywood musicals, but also successful in dramatic roles. Her performance as Veda Pierce in the 1945 film Mildred Pierce was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.-Life and career:Blyth was born in Mount Kisco,...
). One of her best-known roles may be that of T'Pau in an episode of the original Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
, entitled "Amok Time."