Louis Jean Heydt

Louis Jean Heydt (April 17, 1903, Montclair, New Jersey - January 29, 1960, Boston, Massachusetts) was an American character actor in film, television and theatre, most frequently seen in hapless, ineffectual, or fall-guy roles.

Early life

Heydt was born in 1903 (not 1905, as many sources have it) in Montclair, New Jersey, the son of German parents George Frederick Heydt (a jeweler and the secretary and executor for Louis Comfort Tiffany^[1] and Emma Foerster Heydt,^{[2] [3]} and educated at Worcester Academy and Dartmouth College. He initially wanted to be a journalist and worked as a reporter for The New York World. He got his start in the theatre while visiting a classmate backstage at the National Theatre, where The Trial of Mary Dugan was in rehearsal. As an actual reporter, he caught the attention of the producers and was offered the role of a reporter in the play. He made his stage debut therein and went on to appear in a dozen plays including Strictly Dishonorable, Before Morning and Happy Birthday.^[4] He also played in the London company of The Trial of Mary Dugan.^[5]

Film and TV career

In the 1930s, Heydt traveled to Hollywood where he appeared in over 100 films and TV series, most notably The Big Sleep, Gone With the Wind, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, The Great McGinty and Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. Other films he appeared in include I Am the Law, They Made Me a Criminal, Mr Smith Goes to Washington, Manila Calling, Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet, Zombies on Broadwayand They Were Expendable. He also appeared on the 1950s TV series Waterfront, Mackenzie's Raiders,^[6] Adventures of Superman, Treasury Men in Action, Cavalcade of America, TV Reader's Digest, Lux Video Theatre, Wagon Train and Maverick.

Personal life and death

Heydt married Leona Maricle, an actress in the Broadway company of The Trial of Mary Dugan, on August 13, 1928.^[7]

Heydt died of a heart attack on January 29, 1960, in Boston, Massachusetts, collapsing immediately after coming offstage following the first scene of a pre-Broadway performance of the play There Was a Little Girl, in which he played opposite Jane Fonda. Actor Joseph Curtiss carried him to his dressing room, but it was apparent he had died instantly.^[8] Heydt's understudy, William Adler, finished the performance and the run.^[9]

Heydt was survived by his wife Dora (maiden name unknown).^[10] He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

References

External links

• Louis Jean Heydt at the Internet Movie Database

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