As a young apprentice in his stepfather's Viennese restaurant, Kurt Kasznar encountered director Max Reinhardt, a meeting that diverted his trajectory toward the stage. Born Kurt Servischer in 1913, he later moved to the United States, carving out a multifaceted career as an actor, writer, and cinematographer who bridged the gap between wartime service and postwar theatrical success.
Early Roles and Theatrical Foundations
Before migrating to the United States in 1936 with Max Reinhardt's company, Kasznar gained early experience in Vienna. His initial cinematic credit arrived at age eleven in the 1924 film Der Zirkuskönig. By 1931, he was performing at the Salzburg Festival in Jedermann. Upon reaching New York, he immersed himself in the expansive Broadway production of The Eternal Road, where he performed a dozen roles during its three-month run.
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Drafted into the United States Army in 1941, Kasznar received training as a cinematographer. His service took him to the Pacific theater, where he recorded landings in New Guinea and the Philippines, as well as the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri. He was among the first American military photographers to document the destruction in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. During this period, he also wrote the one-act play First Cousins, which saw performances at Hyde Park for President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Broadway and Television Milestones
Kasznar achieved significant Broadway recognition for his 1950 performance as Uncle Louie in The Happy Time, a role he reprised in the 1952 film adaptation, earning a Golden Globe nomination. His subsequent stage credits included the original Broadway productions of Waiting for Godot and Barefoot in the Park. He famously performed as Max Detweiler in The Sound of Music, maintaining a perfect attendance record throughout its run. On television, he was cast as Alexander Fitzhugh in the science fiction series Land of the Giants.
Personal Life and Final Years
Kasznar married Cornelia Woolley in 1939, who died in 1948. In 1950, he married actress Leora Dana, with whom he had worked in The Happy Time; the couple divorced in 1958. In his later career, he continued to tour with John Houseman's production of Don Juan in Hell. Following a cancer diagnosis in 1978, he died in Santa Monica, California, on August 6, 1979.
Fast facts
- Born: 13 August 1913, Vienna, Austria-Hungary
- Died: 6 August 1979, Santa Monica, California
- Original Name: Kurt Servischer
- Military Rank: Corporal
- Major Television Role: Alexander Fitzhugh in Land of the Giants
- Broadway Tony Nomination: The Sound of Music
- Citizenship: United States; Austria
Questions readers ask
Did Kurt Kasznar ever miss a performance in The Sound of Music?
No, he was the only actor who did not miss a single show during the musical's first 1,000 performances.
What military contribution is Kasznar known for?
He served as a U.S. Army photographer, capturing footage of the aftermath of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Achievements
- Worked as stage actor, film actor and writer
