Fritz Feld
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.
Acted in
Homer and Eddie
1989
as Mortician
Barfly
1987
as Bum
Sledge Hammer!
1986
as Announcer
A Fine Mess
1986
as Bit Part (uncredited)
Amazing Stories
1985
as Maitre 'd
Last of the Great Survivors
1984
as Marty LaFontaine
Heidi's Song
1982
as Sebastian (voice)
Simon & Simon
1981
History of the World: Part I
1981
as Maitre 'D - The Roman Empire
Magnum, P.I.
1980
as Lars
Herbie Goes Bananas
1980
as Chief Steward
Legend of the Northwest
1978
The World's Greatest Lover
1977
as Tomaso Abalone
Tabitha
1977
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
1977
Freaky Friday
1976
as Mr. Jackman
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976
as Rudy's Butler
Silent Movie
1976
as Maitre d'
The Sunshine Boys
1975
as Mr. Gilbert
The Strongest Man in the World
1975
as Uncle Frederick
Only with Married Men
1974
as Chef
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
1974
as Waiter
Herbie Rides Again
1974
as Maitre D'
Call Her Mom
1972
as Waiter
The Odd Couple
1970
as Maitre D'
The Phynx
1970
as Fritz Feld
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
1969
as Sigmund Van Dyke
Hello, Dolly!
1969
as Rudolph's Assistant
The Comic
1969
as Armand
Love, American Style
1969
as Captain
Love, American Style
1969
as Walter
Land of the Giants
1968
as Quigg
Barefoot in the Park
1967
as Restaurant Proprietor
Penelope
1966
as Penelope's Dance Partner (uncredited)
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
1966
Three on a Couch
1966
as The Attaché
Batman
1966
as Prof. Greenleaf
Batman
1966
as Oliver Muzzy
The Wild Wild West
1965
as Chef
Lost in Space
1965
as Mr. Zumdish
Harlow
1965
as Fritz
Valentine's Day
1964
Bewitched
1964
The Patsy
1964
as Maitre D'
4 for Texas
1963
as Fritz
Who's Minding the Store?
1963
as Irving Catastrophe
Burke's Law
1963
as Captain of Waiters
Promises! Promises!
1963
as Ship's Doctor
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
1962
as John Swallowtail
Pocketful of Miracles
1961
as Pierre
The Errand Boy
1961
as Busby - Roaring 20's Director
The Ladies Man
1961
as Mrs. Wellenmellon's Hairdresser (uncredited)
The Miracle of the White Reindeer
1960
as Geronimo
Adventures in Paradise
1959
as Fontaine
Juke Box Rhythm
1959
as Ambrose
Peter Gunn
1958
Shirley Temple's Storybook
1958
as King's Bidder
Up In Smoke
1957
as Dr. Bluzak (uncredited)
The Thin Man
1957
So You Want to Be Pretty
1956
as Dr. Von Slaughter (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Maitre D
Jail Busters
1955
as Dr. Fernando F. Fordyce
December Bride
1954
Living It Up
1954
as Barber (uncredited)
Riding Shotgun
1954
as Fritz
Paris Playboys
1954
as Marcel the Maitre d'
Crime Wave
1953
as Jess (uncredited)
General Electric Theater
1953
as Doctor
So You Want to Wear the Pants
1952
as Psychiatrist (uncredited)
Mr. & Mrs. North
1952
O. Henry's Full House
1952
as Maurice (segment "The Gift of the Magi") (uncredited)
Has Anybody Seen My Gal?
1952
as Alvarez (uncredited)
Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick
1952
as Headwaiter
So You Want to Enjoy Life
1952
as Dr. Hugo Flugleman (uncredited)
Dangerous Assignment
1952
Sky High
1951
as Dr. Kapok
I Love Lucy
1951
as Tour Guide
Journey Into Light
1951
as Clothing Salesman
Racket Squad
1951
Kentucky Jubilee
1951
as Rudolph Jouvet
Missing Women
1951
as Pierre (hairdresser)
Rhythm Inn
1951
as Prof. Rinaldo
The Jackpot
1950
as Pianist (uncredited)
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
Riding High
1950
as French Dressmaker (uncredited)
Appointment with Danger
1950
as Window Dresser
Belle of Old Mexico
1950
as Dr. Quincy
The Lovable Cheat
1949
as Monsieur Louis
Mexican Hayride
1948
as Professor Ganzmeyer
Trouble Makers
1948
as Mr. Andre Schmidtlap - Hotel Manager
You Gotta Stay Happy
1948
as Pierre
Julia Misbehaves
1948
as Pepito
The Noose Hangs High
1948
as Psychiatrist
My Girl Tisa
1948
as Prof. Tabor
If You Knew Susie
1948
as Chez Henri
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
1947
as Anatole
Hollywood Wonderland
1947
as Director (clip from "Swingtime in the Movies", 1938) (uncredited)
Fun on a Weekend
1947
as Sergei Stroganoff
Carnival in Costa Rica
1947
as Hotel Clerk
I've Always Loved You
1946
as Nicholas Kavlun
Gentleman Joe Palooka
1946
as Club Steward
Her Sister's Secret
1946
as Wine Salesman
The Catman of Paris
1946
as Prefect of Police
Movieland Magic
1946
as (archive footage)
Captain Tugboat Annie
1945
as Al Pucci aka Alfred Puccini
George White's Scandals
1945
as Montescu
The Great John L.
1945
as Claire's manager
Ever Since Venus
1944
as Michele
Take It Big
1944
as Doctor Dittenhoffer
Knickerbocker Holiday
1944
as Poffenburgh
Passport to Destiny
1944
as Chief Janitor
Holy Matrimony
1943
as Critic
Phantom of the Opera
1943
as Lecours
Henry Aldrich Swings It
1943
as Josef Altman
Heavenly Music
1943
as Niccolò Paganini (uncredited)
Iceland
1942
as Herr Tegnar
Maisie Gets Her Man
1942
as Professor Orco
Sleepytime Gal
1942
as Chef Petrovich
Shut My Big Mouth
1942
as Robert Oglethorpe
Four Jacks and a Jill
1942
as Mr. Hoople
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
1941
as Pierre Gaston de la Blanc
You Belong to Me
1941
as Hotel Clerk
World Premiere
1941
as Field Marshal Muller
Three Sons o' Guns
1941
as Stage Director
Come Live with Me
1941
as Mac, the Headwaiter (uncredited)
Victory
1940
as Signor Makanoff
Sandy Is a Lady
1940
as Mario
I Was an Adventuress
1940
as Henri Gautier
It's a Date
1940
as Oscar, the Headwaiter
Ma, He's Making Eyes at Me!
1940
as Forsythe
Millionaire Playboy
1940
as 'G.G.' Gorta
Little Old New York
1940
as Tavern Keeper
Everything Happens at Night
1939
as Gendarme
Little Accident
1939
as Malisse
At the Circus
1939
as Jardinet
When Tomorrow Comes
1939
as Nicholas
Quiet, Please
1939
as Mr. Nitvitch
Idiot's Delight
1939
as Pittatek
Swingtime in the Movies
1938
as Mr. Nitvitch
Artists and Models Abroad
1938
as Dubois
Campus Confessions
1938
as 'Lady MacBeth'
The Affairs of Annabel
1938
as Vladimir
I'll Give a Million
1938
as Max Primerose
Gold Diggers in Paris
1938
as Luis Leoni
Out Where the Stars Begin
1938
as Mr. Nitvitch
Go Chase Yourself
1938
as Count Pierre Fountaine de Louis-Louis
Romance in the Dark
1938
as Fritz
Bringing Up Baby
1938
as Fritz Lehman
Hollywood Hotel
1938
as The Russian
Tovarich
1937
as Martelleau
True Confession
1937
as Krayler's Butler
Expensive Husbands
1937
as Herr Meyer, Hotel Director
Lancer Spy
1937
as Fritz Mueller
I Met Him in Paris
1937
as Swiss Hotel Clerk
The Wizard's Apprentice
1930
as Wizard
One Hysterical Night
1929
as Paganini
Black Magic
1929
as James Fraser
Broadway
1929
as Mose Levett
Blindfold
1928
as Thomas Bernard
The Last Command
1928
as A revolutionist
A Ship Comes In
1928
as Sokol
Christian Wahnschaffe II: Escape from the Golden Dungeon
1921
The Golem: How He Came Into the World
1920
as Jester (uncredited)