Paul Lukas

Paul LUKAS, formerly Pál Lukács, born Munkacsi Stekkermann: b. 26 May 1894, Budapest - d. 15 Aug 1971, Tangiers

Information courtesy of various sources, including the following:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Lukas

Paul Lukas (born Pál Lukács; 26 May 1894 – 15 August 1971) was a Hungarian actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor, and the first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama for his performance in the film Watch on the Rhine (1943), reprising the role he created on the Broadway stage.

Biography:

Lukas was born Pál Lukács in Budapest into a Hungarian-Jewish family,[1][2] the son of Adolf Munkácsi and Mária Schneckendorf. He was later adopted by Mária (née Zilahy) and János Lukács, an advertising executive.[3][4]

Lukas made his stage debut in Budapest in 1916 and his film debut in 1917. At first, he played elegant, smooth womanizers, but increasingly he became typecast as a villain. He had a successful stage and film career in Hungary, Germany, and Austria, where he worked with Max Reinhardt. He arrived in Hollywood in 1927 and became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1937. In 1935 he built a home near the new Racquet Club of Palm Springs, California.[5]

He was busy in the 1930s, appearing in such films as the melodrama Rockabye, the crime caper Grumpy, Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes, the comedy Ladies in Love, and the drama Dodsworth. He followed William Powell and Basil Rathbone portraying the series detective Philo Vance, a cosmopolitan New Yorker, once in The Casino Murder Case (1935).

His major film success came in Watch on the Rhine (1943), where he played a man working against the Nazis, a role he originated in the Broadway premiere of the play of the same name in 1941.[6] His portrayal of Kurt Mueller, a German émigré with an American wife, played by Bette Davis, was universally lauded by critics. Brooks Atkinson of the New York Times, wrote, "As the enemy of fascism, Mr. Lukas' haggard, loving, resourceful determination becomes heroic by virtue of his sincerity and his superior abilities as an actor."[7] He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the role. He also received the New York Film Critics Award for his performance.[7]

In 1943, he guest starred as the lead character in an episode of the radio program Suspense, "Mr. Markham, Antique Dealer",[8] as well as the character of a blind composer in the episode "A World of Darkness".[9] On 2 April 1944, he starred in "The Steadfast Heart" on Silver Theater.[10] In the 1940s, Lukas was a charter member of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, a conservative lobbying group opposed to possible Communist influence in Hollywood.

Lukas also starred as Professor Aronnax in Walt Disney's film version of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954).

Lukas' film career continued into the 1960s with nine films, including Fun in Acapulco with Elvis Presley in 1963 and Lord Jim with Peter O'Toole in 1965. His final film, The Challenge, was released in 1970.

The remainder of his career moved from Hollywood to the stage to television. His only singing role was as Cosmo Constantine in the original 1950 Broadway stage version of Irving Berlin's Call Me Madam, opposite Ethel Merman for over 600 performances (although he is heard singing a song in the 1933 film Little Women).[11]

Lukas died 15 August 1971, in Tangier, Morocco,[12] reportedly while searching for a place to spend his retirement years. He is buried in Spain.

Recognition:

Lukas was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6821 Hollywood Boulevard on February 8, 1960.[13]

Several more precious details in the Hungarian version:

Lukács Pál (színművész, 1894–1971) – Wikipédia

https://hu.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luk%C3%A1cs_P%C3%A1l_(sz%C3%ADnm%C5%B1v%C3%A9sz,_1894%E2%80%931971)

...

Basic birth data from Jewish Hungarian births, courtesy of Jewish Gen:

STEKKERMANN, Pal 26-May-1894
________________________________________M Adolf
________________________________________SCHNEKENDORF Mari Budapest/205-02
________________________________________Local Gov't
________________________________________Pest-Pilis-Solt-Kiskun Pest Mother b. Munkacs [Mukachevo], Ukraine / Father's name changed to MUNKACSI / Adopted and name changed to LUKACS in 1903 LDS 642972, Vol. 23

Details from actual IKG-Budapest birth registration, viewable courtesy of:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DB5Q-QN?cat=292437

"legitimate", district VII

Father: Adolf STEKKERMANN, "szabo" - tailor

Mother: Mari SCHNEKENDORF of Munkacs

Copious notes re. father's change of surname to MUNKACSI, subsequent adoption of Pál MUNKACSI by Janós LUKACS - on 17.08.1903, and consequent change of his surname again ...

not quite clear why the two siblings were adopted in 1903 ...

But also cf.

https://archives.hungaricana.hu/hu/lear/Arvaszeki/4844/?list=eyJxdW...

HU BFL - IV.1411.b - 1903 - 02864 - Munkácsi
Levéltári jelzet HU BFL - IV.1411.b - 1903 - 02864 - Munkácsi
Adatbázis Árvaszéki ügyek
Levéltári irategyüttes IV.1411.b - Budapest Főváros Levéltára. A megyei törvényhatóságok és törvényhatósági jogú városok. Budapest Székesfőváros Árvaszékének (1873-1875 Budapest Székesfőváros Tanácsának, mint gyámhatóságnak) iratai. Általános iratok
Ügytípus örökbefogadási ügy
Évszám 1903
Ügyszám 02864
Ügyleírás magyar
Résztvevők
Név Lukács János
Szerepe az ügyben örökbefogadó
Esemény ideje 1903.07.14.
Státus/foglalkozás tisztviselő (Franklin Társulat)
Lakhely/telephely Budapest VI. Szív u. 44. lakhely

Név Lukács (Munkácsi) Júlia kisk.
Szerepe az ügyben örökbefogadott
Anyja neve Schneckendorf Margit
Születési hely Budapest
Születési idő 1892.10.18.
Esemény ideje 1903.07.14.
Név Lukács (Munkácsi) Pál kisk.
Szerepe az ügyben örökbefogadott
Anyja neve Schneckendorf Margit
Születési hely Budapest
Születési idő 1894.05.26.
Esemény ideje 1903.07.14.

As name of biological father - Adolf MUNKACSI not highlighted it may simply be that Maria - Margit - SCHNECKENDORF was struggling as a "single mother" ...

Paul LUKAS was married three times.

1st. wife: not yet known ... at some point the couple divorced ...

2nd. wife: Gizella "Daisy" BENES.

It is not clear why Paul Lukas was given up for adoption nor whether his adoptive parents were originally of the Catholic faith or converted. The surname LUKACS can be a variant of eg. lICHTENSTEIN, LICHTENSTERN etc.

However, by the time of his marriage in 1927 to Gizella BENES Paul's religion is noted as "Catholic".

Details from actual Budapest civil marriage registration, viewable courtesy of

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DTC9-4WC?i=223&cc=...

Groom. Pál LUKACS, "elvalt" - divorced - "?", kath. b. 26.05.1894, Budapest, son of Adolf MUNKACSI & Maria SCHNEKENDORF

Bride: Gizella BENES, kath., b. 08.11.1905, Budapest, daughter of Pál Matyás BENES & Gizella EDER

cf. 1950 US Census:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-PQH7-19TG-D?person...

Paul Lukacs Male 55 years 1895 Hungary Married Actor White Yes Motion Picture Station Head 66-675a 77

Daisy Lukacs Female 44 years 1906 Hungary Married White Yes Wife 66-675a 77

Gizella Benes Female 72 years 1878 Hungary Widowed White No Mother-in-law 66-675a 77

After the death of his second wife Paul married again.

3rd. wife: Annette "Anna" Margarethe DRIESENS/DRIESSEN

cf.https://www.nytimes.com/1963/11/08/archives/paul-lukas-remarries.html

Paul Lukas, the stage and screen actor, and Miss Annette M. Driesens of Groningen, the Netherlands, were married here yesterday by Judge Irving I. Schreckinger in his chambers at Criminal Court. Mr. Lukas's first wife, Daisy, died last year. It was the bride's first marriage.

Some sources say that this couple was still married at the time of death, while others say that they were divorced.

The following basic data would seem to support the latter:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP52-DHQ

Name Anneke M Driesens
Art des Ereignisses Divorce
Datum des Ereignisses Jul 1968
Ereignisort Riverside, California
Ereignisort (original) Riverside
Name des Ehepartners Paul Lukacs

Though her first name given slightly different this would fit the couple.

Some sources state that Paul died a day after his "wife", while others give her death a day after her "husband". No details traced yet to confirm either.

In the following obituary two of Paul's marriages are mentioned along with the names of his wives but no further information is given ablout Annette DRIESENS ...

cf.

https://www.nytimes.com/1971/08/17/archives/paul-lukas-1943-oscarwi...

TANGIER, Morocco, Aug. 16 (Reuters) — Paul Lukas, who won an Academy Award as best actor in 1943 for his part in “Watch on the Rhine,” died of heart failure‐in a hospital here last night. He was 76 years old.

Mr. tukai, who starred in many movies in the 1930's and 1940's, came to Tangier in April.

Epitome of Suavity

In a career of more than half a century that included appearances in scores of films, on the stage, television and radio, Mr. Lukas won his greatest renown for his Broad way and Hollywood portrayals of Kurt Mueller in “Watch on the Rhine.”

Although 25 years as an ac tor were behind him in 1941 when he undertook the role in the Lillian Hellman play of the anti‐Nazi German who has come to America in 1940 to find peace and freedom, Mr. Luke's performance appeared to take many critics and the public by‐surprise.

The tall, cultivated, hazel eyed actor, who epitomized Continental suavity, had ap peared only once previously on the ‘American stage, with Ruth Goldon i in a revival of “A. Doll's House.” For the most part, he was known to the public from films in which he portrayed the villain or “the other man” in romantic tri angles.

When “Watch on the “Rhine” opened at the Martin Beck Theater on April 1, 1941, Brooks Atkinson of The New York Times wrote: “As the enemy of fascism, Mr. Lukas's haggard, loving resourceful de termination becomes heroic by virtue of his sincerity and his superior abilities as an actor.” Later, the critic called the performance “a masterpiece, easily recognizable by every one who sees it.”

The outpouring of praise from the critics was met by Mr. Lukas with amused calm, and he expressed the hope that it would not be the last time that he was discovered. He said of Miss Hellman's play, “The writing is so right you don't have to learn the part; it sticks to you. I amuse my self by changing a gesture oc casionally.”

With Bette Davis portraying his wife, Mr. Lukas re‐created his stage role for Warner Brothers and was voted the best actor of 1943 by the New York film critics and by the Academy of Motion Pic ture Arts and Sciences, for which he was awarded the Oscar.

Bosley Crowther, The Times film critic said, “Mr. Lukas created a character—out of richly written part, to be sure —which will live in the mem ory of this reviewer so long as it is possible to recall.”

Mr. Lukas—the name was actually Lukacs, Lut Holly wood executives ordered it changed to spare audiences any difficulties in pronuncia tion—was born in Budapest, on May 26, 1895. The son of Janos Lukacs, an advertising executive, and the former Maria Zilahy, he said that he was born on a train as it pulled into the city.

In 1913, to avoid going into his father's business, he en listed in the Austro‐Hungarian Army. “I double‐crossed the old man,” he said once, “and the war double‐crossed me.”

After serving in the ca valry, he became an aviator, was wounded and was sent home. He had begun to per form in shows for soldiers and after leaving the service in 1915 he, studied at the Hun garian Academy of Acting.

He made his formal stage debut in 1916 with a National, Theater troupe and after two, years moved to the Comedy Theater in Budapest, playing scores of characters in the works of Shakespeare, Chek hov, Shaw, Wilde and Moliere during the ensuing nine years.

Max Reinhardt, the noted director, took him as a guest artist to the theaters of Vienna and Berlin, where he made his film debut in “Samson and Delilah.” Adolph Zukor, the American producer, was im pressed by Mr. Lukas's per formance in “Antonia” in Bu dapest, and brought him to the United States in 1927 to make his American debut with Pola Negri in “Loves of an Actress.”

Mr. Lukas could barely speak English, and when talking pie tures proved a success, Para modrit offered to buy back his contract, but. Mr. Lukas asked for a chance to take English lessons and within eight months achieved remarkable fluency.

Among his many films were “Address Unknown,” “The Lady Vanishes,” “Captured,” “The Secret of the Blue Room,” “Little Womeh,” “Strange Car go,” ‘Captain Fury;’ “The Three Musketeers,” ‘Dodsworth,” “Confessions of a Nazi Spy,” “Uncertain Glory,” “Deadline at Dawn,” “Berlin Express,” “Kim,” “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” “The Four Horsemen, of the Apocalypse,” “The Roots of Heaven” and “Fun in Aca pulco.”

His Broadway stage appear ance included “Call Me Ma dam” and “Flight Into Egypt.”

His first wife, the former Gizella Bense, known as Daisy, died in 1962. Mr. Lukas mar ried Annette Driesens in 1963.

A very interesting article about Paul LUKAS - the attachment to Spain in the final years of his life and his burial in the Benalmadena International Cemetery is to be found here:

https://olebenalmadena-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/olebenalmadena.co... %251%24s&aoh=16842670930339&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com

https://olebenalmadena.com/en/paul-lukas-oscar-award-sought-in-bena...