Julius Frankenburg
South African-American actor, director, playwright and inventor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Julius Frankenberg (January 1, 1871 – June 1964)[1] was a South African-American actor and director in silent film and on the stage, as well as a playwright[2][3][4] and inventor.[5] He starred in films such as The Haunted House, Personal Magnetism and A Blowout at Santa Banana working with actors such as Harry von Meter and Louise Lovely. He also directed two silent films.
Early life and career
Born in South Africa to a German father,[6] Julius Herbert Frankenberg,[7] and a Dutch mother, F. Meier,[6] Frankenberg served with distinction against the British in the Boer War; so much so that posters were placed all across the Transvaal, stating, "Capture! At all costs, dead or alive, the Little German Scout on a Big White Horse." He later escaped to Germany and, from there, emigrated to the United States,[8] where he became a naturalized citizen in 1907.[9]
Filmography
- The Girl at the Cupola (1912)
- Betty Fools Dear Old Dad (1912)
- The Peanut Puzzle (1912) – Court Clerk[10]
- The Miller of Burgundy (1912) – a collector
- Bread Upon the Waters (1912)
- The Lost Inheritance (1912)
- A Freight Train Drama (1912)
- The False Order (1913)
- The Understudy (1913) – Rudolph Lehar, the leader[11]
- A Husband Won by Election (1913)
- The Food Chopper War (1913) – a drummer (billed as Julius Frankenberg)
- Pauline Cushman, the Federal Spy (1913) – Joe Martin, General Bragg's telegraph operator (billed as Julius Frankenberg)[12]
- Absent-Minded Mr. Boob (1913), Mr. Boob (billed as Julius Frankenberg)
- Arabia Takes the Health Cure (1913)
- The Haunted House (1913) – Bob, the timorous lover (billed as Julius Frankenberg)[13]
- Tobias Wants Out (1913)
- Personal Magnetism (1913) – Hiram Crabapple, hired man (billed as Julius Frankenberg)[14]
- The Shriner's Daughter (Writer, 1914)[15]
- A Blowout at Santa Banana (1914)
- The Cricket on the Hearth (1914)
- Italian Love (1914) – Tony Spezotti, Angelo's cousin (billed as Julius Frankenberg)[16]
- The Peacock Feather Fan (1914)
- The Sealed Package (1914)
- The Land Just Over Yonder (Director, 1916) – Hasseyampa Jim Titus, Toyiabe's Partner (billed as Julius Frankenberg)[17]
- Humanizing Mr. Winsby (Director, 1916) – The Pronto Kid (billed as Julius Frankenberg)[18]
- The Adventures of Pietro (Writer/director, 1917) – Pietro (billed as Julius Frankenberg)[19]
- "Pietro the Detective"
- "Pietro and the Black Handers"
- "Pietro's Dream"
- Nine-Tenths of the Law (1918)
Personal life and death
Frankenberg married at least twice; first in 1915 to Margareth Hampf,[7] resulting in at least one child, a son who appeared with his father in "Pietro the Detective", the first installment of Frankenberg's 1917 serial, The Adventures of Pietro.[19] The second marriage produced at least two children: a daughter, Irene,[20] and a son, Richard.[6]
Frankenburg died at age 93 in Illinois in November 1964.[1]
