In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, we continue to recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of notable immigrants and refugees who helped shape America’s vibrant tapestry. Today, we highlight Austrian American actor, Peter Lorre.
Peter Lorre was born László Löwenstein in Rózsahegy, Hungary, in 1904, shortly after his parents, German-speaking Jews, relocated there for work. When he was four years old, his mother passed, leaving his father to raise him and his two brothers. Also serving as a lieutenant in the Austrian Army, Peter’s father relocated the family to Vienna in anticipation of being called to serve in the Second Balkan War.
While attending school in Vienna, Peter discovered his passion for the stage as a teenager, quickly developing a penchant for acting. After relocating to Germany, he found a place playing bit parts with a local stage company, where he became a favorite of playwright Bertolt Brecht. Although Lorre’s interests were more closely tied to comedy, he earned international accolades for playing the sinister character Hans Beckert in the classic film M.
When Hitler and the Nazis came to power in 1933, Lorre left for Paris, eventually making his way to London. There, Alfred Hitchcock discovered Lorre and cast him in the film The Man Who Knew Too Much. Despite his limited proficiency in English, Lorre made his English-language debut in that film and then performed in Hollywood’s production of Mad Love three years later.
Nicknamed the “Master of Menace” for having carved a niche playing nefarious, shadowy characters in Hollywood’s Golden Age, Lorre continued to appear in iconic productions, including The Maltese Falcon, Crime and Punishment, and Casablanca.
Later in his career, Lorre looked to break free of his reputation for playing wicked characters, albeit with limited success. Following World War II, he struggled to maintain his prominence in the Hollywood acting scene, leading him to concentrate on lesser-known radio, stage, and television work.
Peter Lorre passed away in 1964 at the age of 59.
Others we are celebrating in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month:
2025
Ralph Henry Baer, German American inventor and engineer
Emma Goldman, Russian American, pioneer for women’s rights
Emile Berliner, German American inventor and innovator\
Irving Berlin, prolific Russian American composer
