Otto Kruger

Kruger was born in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Bernard Alben Kruger and Elizabeth Winers Kruger. His family was of German and South African descent; he was the grandnephew of South African president Paul Kruger. Kruger was musically trained, but switched careers and became an actor after studying engineering at the University of Michigan, completing his studies at Columbia University. ==Career==

Making his Broadway debut in 1915, Kruger quickly became a matinee idol. Though he played the hero on occasion, for most of his career, he played the main villain or a charming or corrupt businessman. One of his best known roles was in the Douglas Sirk film Magnificent Obsession (1954). Kruger played the supporting role of Judge Percy Mettrick, who unsuccessfully urges Will Kane to leave town in High Noon (1952). Kruger is also remembered for playing the villain Tobin in Alfred Hitchcock's spy film Saboteur (1942) and mob boss Stevens in the film noir 711 Ocean Drive (1950). as Franklyn Malleson Ghentin in the 1961 episode "A Fool for a Client" of James Whitmore ABC's legal drama, The Law and Mr. Jones, and as Karl in the episode "Quite a Woman" of the short-lived 1961 CBS series The Investigators starring James Franciscus. Kruger made four guest appearances on CBS's Perry Mason. In his first two appearances, "The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather" (1961) and "The Case of the Counterfeit Crank" (1962), he was cast as Mason's client, and in both episodes was the title character. In his final appearance, he played Judge Norris in "The Case of the Missing Button" (1964). In 1955, he appeared in the live telecast of The Desert Song as General Birabeau. ==Personal life==

On March 20, 1920, Kruger married Broadway actress Susan "Sue" MacManamy. Their daughter, Ottilie Kruger (1926–2005), was also an actress and was the first wife of cinematographer Gayne Rescher. Ottilie portrayed Esther in Queen Esther: A Story from the Bible (1947). In 1960, Kruger suffered a stroke. He continued his career, with some difficulty, for another four years before retiring from acting. Kruger supported Thomas Dewey in the 1944 United States presidential election. == Death ==

Kruger died at the Motion Picture and Television Country House in Woodland Hills, California, on his 89th birthday. ==Filmography==

Film Television • The Nash Airflyte Theater (November 23, 1950) in "Suppressed Desires" • Lights Out (1951) as Carlton Dane • The Desert Song (1955) as General Birabeau • Lux Video Theatre (1955–1956) as Host • The Rebel (1959) as Ben Tully • Perry Mason (1961–1964) as Judge Norris/Timothy Balfour Sr./August Dalgran/J. J. Gideon • The Law and Mr. Jones (1961) as Franklyn Malleson Ghent • Frontier Circus (1961) as General Frederic Jellich • The Investigators (1961) as Karl (episode "Quite a Woman") • Thriller (1962) as Bert Farrington • Checkmate (1962) as George Emory • Dr. Kildare (1962) as Louis Conrad • Bonanza (1963) as Judge Whitaker == Partial list of appearances on radio ==

Kruger appeared as Mr. Hardecker in "After Dinner Story" (airdate October 26, 1943; story by Cornell Woolrich) from the Suspense radio program series. == Awards and honors ==

Kruger was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; one for TV and one for film. ==Notes==