Leni Stengel

Leni Stengel (12 September 1901 – 1 July 1982) was a German-born actress who appeared on Broadway, on television, and in films, through the 1920s to 1950s.

Early life
She was born in Berlin, Germany, and was a grandniece of the German composer Friedrich von Flotow.

Career
Her work in films includes Half Shot at Sunrise (1930), Cracked Nuts (1931), Beau Ideal (1931), The Animal Kingdom (1932), and Hollywood Speaks (1932). She worked with Buster Keaton in Casanova wider Willen ("The Reluctant Casanova", 1931), the German version of Parlor, Bedroom and Bath (1931).

In television, she appeared in Lux Video Theatre, "Ti Babette" (1953), "Legacy of Love" (1952); Police Story, "Detective Sergeant, Martin Stephens" (1952); Lights Out, "Carmelita" (1951), The Clock, "Accident on Canigou" (1951).

On Broadway, she appeared in Princess Turandot (1926, fantasy), These Few Ashes (1928, comedy), Tovarich (1936, comedy), and Swan Song (1946, her final Broadway appearance).

In her films and radio performances with comedy duo Wheeler & Woolsey, such as Half Shot at Sunrise (1930) and Cracked Nuts (1931), she worked as the straight man and romantic interest with Robert Woolsey, as Dorothy Lee did with Bert Wheeler.

In Half Shot at Sunrise, they share a comic dance routine, during which she tears off most of Woolsey's doughboy uniform, until he ends up in his skivvies, posing in a fountain.

Later life
She died in 1982 in New York City, New York, USA.

Partial filmography and television credits



 * 1952-1953: Lux Video Theatre (TV series), "Ti Babette" (1953), "Legacy of Love" (1952)
 * 1952: Police Story (TV series), "Detective Sergeant, Martin Stephens"
 * 1951: Lights Out (TV series), "Dark Image"
 * 1951: The Clock, "Accident on Canigou" (1951)
 * 1934: Art Trouble (short), as Girl at nightclub, with Shemp Howard
 * 1934: Henry the Ache (short), with Shemp Howard
 * 1933: Kickin' the Crown Around (short), as The Queen, with Clark and McCullough
 * 1933: The Barbarian, as Ilsa, a German Tourist
 * 1933: Luxury Liner (1933 film), as Slattern (uncredited)
 * 1932: The Animal Kingdom, as Franc Schmidt, an artist
 * 1932: Hollywood Speaks, as Mrs. Landau
 * 1932: Man About Town (1932 film), as Countess Vonesse
 * 1931: Husband's Holiday, as Molly Saunders
 * 1931: The Beloved Bachelor, as Julie Stressman
 * 1931: Casanova wider Willen, German version of Parlor, Bedroom and Bath, with Buster Keaton
 * 1931: The Road to Reno, as Mrs. Stafford Howes
 * 1931: Cracked Nuts, as Queen Carlotta
 * 1931: Beau Ideal, as Zuleika
 * 1930: Half Shot at Sunrise, as Olga, with Wheeler & Woolsey