Leo Ditrichstein

Austro-Hungarian actor and playwright, long in America. The son of an Austrian nobleman and grandson of novelist Joseph Von Eltoos, Ditrichstein was born in Hungary but spent his early years in Berlin, where he made his stage debut. His reputation in Europe grew and he was coaxed into appearing in the United States. He learned English quickly and joined John Drew's theatrical company. He made great successes in "Trilby" and "Hedda Gabler" and appeared as well in successful plays he wrote or co-wrote, among them "The Great Lover," "Are You a Mason?" and "Gossip" (written with Clyde Fitch). He made a few film appearances, mainly in film versions of his own plays. He abandoned America in 1924, returning to Europe and living in Italy and Austria. He died in Vienna in 1928 at the age of 63.