Berry Kroeger

Berry Kroeger (October 16, 1912 – January 4, 1991) was an American film, television and stage actor.

Berry Kroeger
Kroeger as the narrator for The Big Story, 1947.
Born(1912-10-16)October 16, 1912
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
DiedJanuary 4, 1991(1991-01-04) (aged 78)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1932-1991
Spouse(s)Mary Agnes (?-1991) (his death)

Career

The San Antonio, Texas-born Kroeger got his acting start on radio as an announcer on Suspense and as an actor, playing for a time The Falcon in the radio series[1] Also on radio, he portrayed Dr. Reed Bannister on Big Sister,[2] narrated Salute to Youth,[2]:293 and was a regular as Sam Williams on Young Doctor Malone.

He debuted on Broadway in The World's Full of Girls (1943)[3] and went on to appear in Reclining Figure (1954), Julius Caesar (1950), and The Tempest (1944).[4] He portrayed the High Lama in the 1956 musical adaptation of Lost Horizon titled Shangri-La.

Kroeger was discovered by filmmaker William Wellman while performing on Broadway[5] and began appearing in films with his role in The Iron Curtain (1948). He specialized in playing slimy bad guys in films like Act of Violence (1948), The Iron Curtain (1948), a crooked lawyer in Cry of the City (1948) and a heavy in Joseph H. Lewis' crime film, Gun Crazy (1949).

His flair for decadent leering and evil scowls often led to his being cast in "schlock fare", like Chamber of Horrors (1966) and The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971). He appeared in a small role as a village elder in Young Frankenstein (1974). He also appeared in dozens of television programs. He guest starred on seven episodes of Perry Mason as well as in episodes of Hawaiian Eye, Get Smart (as a character spoofing actor Sydney Greenstreet) and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. His last major film role was in 1977's The Demon Seed (1977).

Death

On January 4, 1991, Berry Kroeger died of kidney failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 78. He was survived by his wife[3] and a sister.[5]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1941Tom, Dick and HarryBoy Lead in MovieVoice, Uncredited
1948The Iron CurtainJohn Grubb, aka 'Paul'
1948Cry of the CityW.A. Niles
1948The Dark PastMike
1949Act of ViolenceJohnny
1949Down to the Sea in ShipsManchester
1949Black MagicAlexandre Dumas, Sr.
1949Fighting Man of the PlainsCliff Bailey
1949Chicago DeadlineSolly Wellman
1950Gun CrazyPackett
1950Guilty of TreasonHungarian State Police Col. Timar
1951The Sword of Monte CristoMinister Charles La Roche
1952Battles of Chief PontiacCol. von Weber
1955YellowneckPlunkett
1955Blood AlleyOld Feng
1956Man in the VaultWillis Trent
1960Seven ThievesHugo Baumer
1960The Story of RuthHuphim
1960The Walking TargetArnie Hoffman
1961The RiflemanAnsel BainEpisode: "Closer than a Brother"
1961Atlantis, the Lost ContinentSurgeon
1962WomanhuntPetrie / Osgood
1962HitlerErnst Röhm
1964The Time TravelersPreston
1964Youngblood HawkeJock Maas
1966Chamber of HorrorsChun Sing
1969Nightmare in WaxMax Black
1970The Wild SceneTim O'Shea
1970Tora! Tora! Tora!U.S. Army GeneralUncredited
1971The Mephisto WaltzRaymont
1971The Incredible 2-Headed TransplantMax
1971The Seven MinutesPaul Van Fleet
1973PetsThe Art Connoisseur
1974Young FrankensteinFirst Village ElderUncredited
1975The Man in the Glass BoothJoachim Berger
1977Demon SeedPetrosian

References
  1. Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. pg. 13.
  2. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  3. Fraser, C. Gerald (January 12, 1991). "Berry Kroeger, 78, An Actor in Radio, Theater and Films". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  4. "("Berry Kroeger" search results)". Playbill Vault. Playbill. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  5. "Berry Kroeger". Variety. January 13, 1991. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.

Turner Classic Movies


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