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.
Photos
Movies (135)
Amazing Stories: The Movie III
1998 · Maitre D
Homer and Eddie
1989 · Mortician
Barfly
1987 · Bum
A Fine Mess
1986 · Bit Part (uncredited)
Last of the Great Survivors
1984 · Marty LaFontaine
Heidi's Song
1982 · Sebastian (voice)
History of the World: Part I
1981 · Maitre 'D - The Roman Empire
Herbie Goes Bananas
1980 · Chief Steward
Legend of the Northwest
1978 · Trapper
The World's Greatest Lover
1977 · Tomaso Abalone
Freaky Friday
1976 · Mr. Jackman
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976 · Rudy's Butler
Silent Movie
1976 · Maitre d'
The Sunshine Boys
1975 · Mr. Gilbert
The Strongest Man in the World
1975 · Uncle Frederick
Only with Married Men
1974 · Chef
Herbie Rides Again
1974 · Maitre D'
Call Her Mom
1972 · Waiter
The Phynx
1970 · Fritz Feld
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
1969 · Sigmund Van Dyke
Hello, Dolly!
1969 · Rudolph's Assistant
The Comic
1969 · Armand
Barefoot in the Park
1967 · Restaurant Proprietor
Penelope
1966 · Penelope's Dance Partner (uncredited)
Three on a Couch
1966 · The Attaché
Made in Paris
1966 · Josef
Harlow
1965 · Fritz (uncredited)
The Patsy
1964 · Maitre D'
4 for Texas
1963 · Fritz
Who's Minding the Store?
1963 · Irving Catastrophe
Promises! Promises!
1963 · Ship's Doctor
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
1962 · John Swallowtail
Pocketful of Miracles
1961 · Pierre
The Errand Boy
1961 · Busby - Roaring 20's Director
The Ladies Man
1961 · Mrs. Wellenmellon's Hairdresser (uncredited)
The Miracle of the White Reindeer
1960 · Geronimo
Juke Box Rhythm
1959 · Ambrose
Up In Smoke
1957 · Dr. Bluzak (uncredited)
So You Want to Be Pretty
1956 · Dr. Von Slaughter (uncredited)
Jail Busters
1955 · Dr. Fernando F. Fordyce
Living It Up
1954 · Barber (uncredited)
Riding Shotgun
1954 · Fritz
Paris Playboys
1954 · Marcel the Maitre d'
Crime Wave
1953 · Jess (uncredited)
So You Want to Be a Musician
1953 · Lasagna Pizza - Orchestra Leader
So You Want to Wear the Pants
1952 · Psychiatrist (uncredited)
O. Henry's Full House
1952 · Maurice (segment "The Gift of the Magi") (uncredited)
Has Anybody Seen My Gal?
1952 · Alvarez (uncredited)
Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick
1952 · Headwaiter
So You Want to Enjoy Life
1952 · Dr. Hugo Flugleman (uncredited)
Sky High
1951 · Dr. Kapok
Journey Into Light
1951 · Clothing Salesman
Kentucky Jubilee
1951 · Rudolph Jouvet
Missing Women
1951 · Pierre (hairdresser)
Rhythm Inn
1951 · Prof. Rinaldo
The Jackpot
1950 · Pianist (uncredited)
Riding High
1950 · French Dressmaker (uncredited)
Appointment with Danger
1950 · Window Dresser
Belle of Old Mexico
1950 · Dr. Quincy
The Lovable Cheat
1949 · Monsieur Louis
Mexican Hayride
1948 · Professor Ganzmeyer
Trouble Makers
1948 · Mr. Andre Schmidtlap - Hotel Manager
You Gotta Stay Happy
1948 · Pierre
Julia Misbehaves
1948 · Pepito
The Noose Hangs High
1948 · Psychiatrist
My Girl Tisa
1948 · Prof. Tabor
If You Knew Susie
1948 · Chez Henri
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
1947 · Anatole
Hollywood Wonderland
1947 · Director (clip from "Swingtime in the Movies", 1938) (uncredited)
Fun on a Weekend
1947 · Sergei Stroganoff
Carnival in Costa Rica
1947 · Hotel Clerk
I've Always Loved You
1946 · Nicholas Kavlun
Gentleman Joe Palooka
1946 · Club Steward
Her Sister's Secret
1946 · Wine Salesman
The Catman of Paris
1946 · Prefect of Police
Movieland Magic
1946 · (archive footage)
Captain Tugboat Annie
1945 · Al Pucci aka Alfred Puccini
George White's Scandals
1945 · Montescu
The Great John L.
1945 · Claire's manager
Ever Since Venus
1944 · Michele
Take It Big
1944 · Doctor Dittenhoffer
Knickerbocker Holiday
1944 · Poffenburgh
Passport to Destiny
1944 · Chief Janitor
Holy Matrimony
1943 · Critic
Phantom of the Opera
1943 · Lecours
Henry Aldrich Swings It
1943 · Josef Altman
Heavenly Music
1943 · Niccolò Paganini (uncredited)
Iceland
1942 · Herr Tegnar
Maisie Gets Her Man
1942 · Professor Orco
Sleepytime Gal
1942 · Chef Petrovich
Shut My Big Mouth
1942 · Robert Oglethorpe
Four Jacks and a Jill
1942 · Mr. Hoople
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
1941 · Pierre Gaston de la Blanc
You Belong to Me
1941 · Hotel Clerk
World Premiere
1941 · Field Marshal Muller
Three Sons o' Guns
1941 · Stage Director
Come Live with Me
1941 · Mac, the Headwaiter (uncredited)
Victory
1940 · Signor Makanoff
Sandy Is a Lady
1940 · Mario
I Was an Adventuress
1940 · Henri Gautier
It's a Date
1940 · Oscar, the Headwaiter
Ma, He's Making Eyes at Me!
1940 · Forsythe
Millionaire Playboy
1940 · 'G.G.' Gorta
Little Old New York
1940 · Tavern Keeper
Everything Happens at Night
1939 · Gendarme
Little Accident
1939 · Malisse
At the Circus
1939 · Jardinet
When Tomorrow Comes
1939 · Butler
Quiet, Please
1939 · Mr. Nitvitch
Idiot's Delight
1939 · Pittatek
Swingtime in the Movies
1938 · Mr. Nitvitch
Artists and Models Abroad
1938 · Dubois
Campus Confessions
1938 · 'Lady MacBeth'
The Affairs of Annabel
1938 · Vladimir
I'll Give a Million
1938 · Max Primerose
Gold Diggers in Paris
1938 · Luis Leoni
Out Where the Stars Begin
1938 · Mr. Nitvitch
Go Chase Yourself
1938 · Count Pierre Fountaine de Louis-Louis
Romance in the Dark
1938 · Fritz
Bringing Up Baby
1938 · Dr. Lehman
Hollywood Hotel
1938 · The Russian
Tovarich
1937 · Martelleau
True Confession
1937 · Krayler's Butler
Expensive Husbands
1937 · Herr Meyer, Hotel Director
Lancer Spy
1937 · Fritz Mueller
I Met Him in Paris
1937 · Swiss Hotel Clerk
The Wizard's Apprentice
1930 · Wizard
One Hysterical Night
1929 · Paganini
Black Magic
1929 · James Fraser
Broadway
1929 · Mose Levett
Blindfold
1928 · Thomas Bernard
The Last Command
1928 · A revolutionist
A Ship Comes In
1928 · Sokol
Christian Wahnschaffe II: Escape from the Golden Dungeon
1921
The Golem: How He Came into the World
1920 · Jester (uncredited)
TV shows (33)
Sledge Hammer!
1986 · Announcer
Amazing Stories
1985 · Maitre 'd
Simon & Simon
1981 · Yoygen Skridlew
Magnum, P.I.
1980 · Lars
Supertrain
1979 · Maitre D'
Tabitha
1977
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
1977
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
1974 · Waiter
The Odd Couple
1970 · Maitre D'
Love, American Style
1969 · Captain, Walter
Land of the Giants
1968 · Quigg
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
1966 · Chef
Batman
1966 · Prof. Greenleaf, Oliver Muzzy
The Wild Wild West
1965 · Chef
Lost in Space
1965 · Mr. Zumdish
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964 · Banker-Beatnik-Diplomat-Waiter
Valentine's Day
1964
Bewitched
1964
Burke's Law
1963 · Captain of Waiters
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
Adventures in Paradise
1959 · Fontaine
Peter Gunn
1958
Shirley Temple's Storybook
1958 · King's Bidder
The Thin Man
1957
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955 · Maitre D
December Bride
1954
General Electric Theater
1953 · Doctor
Mr. & Mrs. North
1952
Dangerous Assignment
1952
I Love Lucy
1951 · Tour Guide
The Red Skelton Show
1951 · Professor Lazlo
Racket Squad
1951
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950 · Self