Luis Van Rooten(1906-1973)
- Actor
Ethnic bald-domed character actor Luis Van Rooten was born November 29,
1906, in Mexico City, but raised in the United States and would become
known in post-war Hollywood as a specialist in multiple dialects.
Studying at the University of Pennsylvania, he received his B.A. and
set up a sturdy practice as an architect before making a dramatic
transition into acting sometime during WWII. He built up his reputation
initially on stage at the Cleveland Playhouse, then in radio serials,
notably playing the titular sleuth in "The Adventures of Nero Wolfe."
He also did special French, Italian and Spanish broadcasts during the
war
After serving in the Armed Forces, he settled into post-war films,
playing outright villains or slick, shady suspects. Interestingly, he
bookended his film career impersonating the nefarious Nazi ringleader
Heinrich Himmeler (1900-1945), who organized the extermination of
millions of Jews during the Third Reich, in the films
Hitler's Madman (1943) and
Operation Eichmann (1961). In
between he backed up the various studio's top stars including
Alan Ladd in the rugged adventures
Two Years Before the Mast (1946),
Beyond Glory (1948) and
Saigon (1947);
Ray Milland and
Charles Laughton in the exceptional
film noir The Big Clock (1948);,
Edward G. Robinson in
Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948)
and Kirk Douglas in "Champion" (1949). One notable exception from the
usual villainous typecast was his role as a plainclothes cop in the
classic film
Detective Story (1951).
By the 1950's Van Rooten had moved with ease into TV drama, performing
in a number of live dramas during its vital "Golden Age." His regular
work in TV series included
One Man's Family (1949) and
_"Major Dell Conway of the Flying Tigers" (1951)._ He is remembered by
50s TV fans as the fight manager in "The Joe Palooka Story"(1954-55).
His slick, cultivated tones were utilized quite frequently in various
documentaries and narrative projects. In later years (the 1960s), Van
Rooten was seen less and less. He eventually retired during the decade
to become an author and expert on horticultural subjects. He also
enjoyed painting as a creative sideline. He died in 1973 at the age of
66 of unreported causes in Massachusetts.
1906, in Mexico City, but raised in the United States and would become
known in post-war Hollywood as a specialist in multiple dialects.
Studying at the University of Pennsylvania, he received his B.A. and
set up a sturdy practice as an architect before making a dramatic
transition into acting sometime during WWII. He built up his reputation
initially on stage at the Cleveland Playhouse, then in radio serials,
notably playing the titular sleuth in "The Adventures of Nero Wolfe."
He also did special French, Italian and Spanish broadcasts during the
war
After serving in the Armed Forces, he settled into post-war films,
playing outright villains or slick, shady suspects. Interestingly, he
bookended his film career impersonating the nefarious Nazi ringleader
Heinrich Himmeler (1900-1945), who organized the extermination of
millions of Jews during the Third Reich, in the films
Hitler's Madman (1943) and
Operation Eichmann (1961). In
between he backed up the various studio's top stars including
Alan Ladd in the rugged adventures
Two Years Before the Mast (1946),
Beyond Glory (1948) and
Saigon (1947);
Ray Milland and
Charles Laughton in the exceptional
film noir The Big Clock (1948);,
Edward G. Robinson in
Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948)
and Kirk Douglas in "Champion" (1949). One notable exception from the
usual villainous typecast was his role as a plainclothes cop in the
classic film
Detective Story (1951).
By the 1950's Van Rooten had moved with ease into TV drama, performing
in a number of live dramas during its vital "Golden Age." His regular
work in TV series included
One Man's Family (1949) and
_"Major Dell Conway of the Flying Tigers" (1951)._ He is remembered by
50s TV fans as the fight manager in "The Joe Palooka Story"(1954-55).
His slick, cultivated tones were utilized quite frequently in various
documentaries and narrative projects. In later years (the 1960s), Van
Rooten was seen less and less. He eventually retired during the decade
to become an author and expert on horticultural subjects. He also
enjoyed painting as a creative sideline. He died in 1973 at the age of
66 of unreported causes in Massachusetts.