Fritz Leiber
Known for Acting · 55 credits
- Born
- 1882-01-29
- Died
- 1949-10-14
- Place of birth
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Also known as
- Fritz Lieber · Fritz Reuter Leiber Sr.
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.
Known For
Movies (55)
Samson and Delilah
1949
as Lord Sharif
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1939
as Old Nobleman
Monsieur Verdoux
1947
as Father Fareaux
Angel on My Shoulder
1946
as Chemist Who Poisoned Wife (uncredited)
A Tale of Two Cities
1935
as Gaspard
Bagdad
1949
as Emir
Cobra Woman
1944
Scarlet Street
1945
as Evangelist (uncredited)
Anthony Adverse
1936
as Ouvrard
Phantom of the Opera
1943
as Franz Liszt
The Sea Hawk
1940
as Inquisitor
Crossroads
1942
as Foreign Minister Deval (uncredited)
All This, and Heaven Too
1940
as Abbe Gallard
To the Ends of the Earth
1948
as Binda Sha
Strange Journey
1946
as Prof. Jenner
The Web
1947
as Leopold Kroner
The Prince and the Pauper
1937
as Father Andrew
Humoresque
1947
as Hagerstrom
Gateway
1938
as Dr. Weilander
The Spanish Main
1945
as Bishop
The Jury's Secret
1938
as John Morrow
The Story of Louis Pasteur
1936
as Dr. Charbonnet
A Scandal in Paris
1946
as Painter
Champagne Waltz
1937
as Franz Strauss
Cry of the Werewolf
1944
as Dr. Charles Morris
Another Part of the Forest
1948
as Col. Isham
Devil's Doorway
1950
as Mr. Poole
Bells of San Angelo
1947
as Padre
Inner Sanctum
1948
as Dr. Valonius
Aloma of the South Seas
1941
as High Priest
Cleopatra
1917
as Caesar
The Way of All Flesh
1940
as Max
Nurse Edith Cavell
1939
as Sadi Kirschen
Romeo and Juliet
1916
as Mercutio
Bride of Vengeance
1949
as Filippo
This Love of Ours
1945
as Dr. Bailey
Youth Runs Wild
1944
as Judge (uncredited)
Adventures of Casanova
1948
as D'Anneci
The Great Garrick
1937
as Horatio in 'Hamlet'
They Made Her a Spy
1939
as Dr. Krull
Lady with Red Hair
1940
as Mr. Foster
Sins of Man
1936
as Father Prior
Down to the Sea
1936
as Gregory Pappas
High Conquest
1947
as Priest
Dangerous Venture
1947
as Chief Xeoli
Hearts in Bondage
1936
as Capt. John Ericsson
Flight Into Nowhere
1938
as Ti-Ana
Song of India
1949
as Nanaram
Pack Up Your Troubles
1939
as Pierre Ferrand
The Cisco Kid Returns
1945
as The Padre
The Song of the Soul
1920
as Jerry Wendover
First Comes Courage
1943
as Dr. Aanrud
Under Southern Stars
1937
as Stonewall Jackson
The Queen of Sheba
1921
as King Solomon
If I Were King
1920
as Louis XI
About Fritz Leiber
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… With 55 credits spanning from 1916 to 1950, Fritz Leiber has appeared in 55 films and 0 TV shows.
Fans searching for Fritz Leiber movies, Fritz Leiber filmography, or the latest projects starring Fritz Leiber can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Fritz Leiber Movies
- Samson and Delilah (1949) — as Lord Sharif
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) — as Old Nobleman
- Monsieur Verdoux (1947) — as Father Fareaux
- Angel on My Shoulder (1946) — as Chemist Who Poisoned Wife (uncredited)
- A Tale of Two Cities (1935) — as Gaspard
Where to Watch Fritz Leiber Films
Most Fritz Leiber movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Fritz Leiber, check our movies catalogue and browse page.