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Brother Theodore est un Acteur Américain né le 11 novembre 1906 à Düsseldorf (Allemagne)

Brother Theodore

Brother Theodore
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Nom de naissance Theodore Gottlieb
Nationalité Etats-Unis
Naissance 11 novembre 1906 à Düsseldorf (Allemagne)
Mort 5 avril 2001 (à 94 ans) à New York (Etats-Unis)

Brother Theodore (November 11, 1906 – April 5, 2001), born Theodore Gottlieb, was a German-American monologuist and comedian known for rambling, stream-of-consciousness dialogues which he called "stand-up tragedy". He was a man described as "Boris Karloff, surrealist Salvador Dalí, Nijinsky and Red Skelton . . . simultaneously".

Biographie

Early years
Gottlieb was born into a wealthy Jewish family in Düsseldorf, in the Rhine Province, where his father was a magazine publisher. He attended the University of Cologne. At age 32, under Nazi rule, he was imprisoned at the Dachau concentration camp until he signed over his family's fortune for one Reichsmark. After being deported for chess hustling from Switzerland he went to Austria where Albert Einstein, a family friend and alleged lover of his mother, helped him escape to the United States.


To America
He worked as a janitor at Stanford University, where he demonstrated his prowess at chess by beating 30 professors simultaneously, and later became a dockworker in San Francisco. He played a bit part in Orson Welles's 1946 movie The Stranger. This was one of the several movie appearances he made beginning in the 1940s and continuing into the 1990s. These were mostly small parts in B-movies, although he did provide the voice of Gollum in the 1977 made-for-television animated version of The Hobbit and the follow-up adaptation of The Return of the King (1980). He also voiced Ruhk, Mommy Fortuna's assistant and carnival barker in The Last Unicorn (1982).


1946 advertisement for theatrical performance by Brother Theodore
Success
Theodore's career as a monologuist began in California in the late 1940s, with dramatic Poe recitals. He moved to New York City, and by the 1950s his monologues, now darkly humorous, had attracted a cult following. In 1958 he presented a one-man show that promoted the idea that human beings should walk on all fours. Jay Landesman booked him at St. Louis' Crystal Palace during the 1960s. He reached a wider audience through television, with 36 appearances on The Merv Griffin Show in the 1960s and '70s, and was also a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Dick Cavett Show, and The Joey Bishop Show. After his nightclub and TV appearances in the 1950s and '60s waned, he retired in the mid-1970s.


Comeback
He was pulled out of retirement and booked by magician Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brooks in the Magic Towne House on the affluent Upper East Side of Manhattan for special weekend midnight performances. Years earlier, Brooks had remembered seeing Brother Theodore drawing packed crowds at small, funky and eclectic clubs all across the Lower East Side (Greenwich and the East Village) and sought him out for his new club. This resulted in a resurgence of interest in Brother Theodore that brought him success in his later years starting with Tom Snyder's Tomorrow Show in 1977 followed by more TV appearances and movies. According to Brooks, it took multiple calls to Theodore to convince him to make a comeback. Theodore's attitude was very bleak, and he felt his career was over. Brooks wanted to charge ten or more dollars, but Theodore insisted on four dollars, so as not to scare people away. The show was a success and ran for several seasons. A picture of the Magic Towne House ad appeared in local New York newspapers such as the Village Voice and The New York Post.

Theodore made 16 appearances on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman in the 1980s. In the early 1980s, he was a regular on the Billy Crystal Show. In 1989 he appeared in the Joe Dante comedy film The 'Burbs. Up until the late 1990s, he was a guest actor in several episodes of Joe Frank: Work in Progress radio show on National Public Radio (NPR).

An article on Theodore appeared in RAVE magazine with color photos. Segments from it are in the book Who's Who in Comedy. Just prior to his death from pneumonia, he recorded several monologues for the controversial documentary series, Disinformation. He appeared in Billy Crystal's mockumentary Don't Get Me Started and voiced the character of an ointment expert on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday version of Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer in 1995.


Documentary
In early 2001, from the encouragement of his long-time friend & confidant, Jack Finelli, Theodore requested to meet with film artist Jeff Sumerel to consider the possibility of him producing a documentary about Theodore. After an in-person meeting, Sumerel received Theodore's approval, and they agreed to proceed with the film.

Theodore was cautious, because of past documentary attempts that were aborted because of his eventual suspicions and distrust of the filmmaker(s). Sumerel was too, hearing of Theodore's tendencies to self-sabotage past efforts. In February, preliminary shooting began, with informal interviews with Theodore in his apartment; however, in April, Theodore became ill with pneumonia and died.

Nevertheless, Sumerel was encouraged by Theodore's family and friends to continue with the documentary. Since no funding was available, Sumerel continued the project as a "labor of love", when time and financing allowed. It was his interview with Henry Gibson that began to lead to other notable performers who were Theodore devotees. Gibson connected Sumerel with Penn & Teller (friends of Gibson's) who were long-time, avid Theodorians. Over the next 5 years Sumerel was able to capture interviews with Dick Cavett, Eric Bogosian, Tom Schiller, Len Belzer, Joe Dante, Mark Shulman, and Woody Allen, among others. All of them gave no hesitation to participate, because of their admiration of and respect for Theodore. Sumerel spent the next 2 years gathering archival materials and working with editor, Jeter Rhodes, to sift through the vast amount of content conveying Theodore's personal and professional life. In the end, Sumerel & Rhodes wove both stories into a non-traditional documentary fitting for Theodore and titled To My Great Chagrin: The Unbelievable Story of Brother Theodore. The film was selected for premiere, February 13, 2008 at the opening night of The Museum of Modern Art's Fortnight Series.


Death
Theodore died in New York City on April 5, 2001, at the age of 94 in Mount Sinai Hospital, and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

His headstone reads: Known as Brother Theodore / Solo Performer, Comedian, Metaphysician / "As Long as There Is Death, There Is Hope"

Le plus souvent avec

Jules Bass
Jules Bass
(3 films)
Orson Welles
Orson Welles
(2 films)
Harry Hurwitz
Harry Hurwitz
(2 films)
John Huston
John Huston
(3 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmographie de Brother Theodore (12 films)

Afficher la filmographie sous forme de liste

Acteur

Les Banlieusards, 1h41
Réalisé par Joe Dante
Origine Etats-Unis
Genres Thriller, Comédie, Comédie dramatique, Horreur
Thèmes Comédie horrifique
Acteurs Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, Rick Ducommun, Corey Feldman, Henry Gibson
Rôle l'oncle Reuben Klopek
Note67% 3.3996453.3996453.3996453.3996453.399645
Un banlieusard, Ray Peterson (Tom Hanks), devient peu à peu persuadé que ses nouveaux voisins étrangers, les Klopek, sont de dangereux individus. À la suite de la disparition de leur voisin Walter Seznick, Ray s'allie à Art Weingartner (Ducommun) et Mark Rumsfield (Dern), deux de ses voisins, et concocte un plan d'infiltration de la propriété des Klopek lors de leur départ en voiture un après-midi.
That's Adequate, 1h22
Réalisé par Harry Hurwitz
Origine Etats-Unis
Genres Comédie
Acteurs Tony Randall, Amy Stiller, James Coco, Robert Downey Jr., Jerry Stiller, Bruce Willis
Rôle Doctor Dismal (as Brother Theodore)
Note48% 2.4270552.4270552.4270552.4270552.427055
Faux documentary about a fictional Hollywood film studio.
The Invisible Kid, 1h35
Origine Etats-Unis
Genres Science-fiction, Comédie
Acteurs Jay Underwood, Wallace Langham, Chynna Phillips, Karen Black, John Towey, Brother Theodore
Rôle Dr. Theodore
Note48% 2.4173452.4173452.4173452.4173452.417345
Following in his deceased father's footsteps, Grover Dunn (Jay Underwood) finds a magic formula that makes him vanish. The formula causes all types of trouble for Grover and his mother (Karen Black) and his crush (Chynna Phillips).
La Dernière Licorne, 1h32
Réalisé par Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Origine Etats-Unis
Genres Fantasy, Aventure, Animation
Thèmes Féminisme, Magie, Politique, Films pour enfants
Acteurs Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Tammy Grimes, Robert Klein, Angela Lansbury
Rôle Ruhk (voice)
Note72% 3.6480553.6480553.6480553.6480553.648055
Dans une forêt enchantée, une licorne réalise qu'elle est la dernière représentante de sa race et décide de s'embarquer dans une quête pour apprendre ce qu'il est advenu des autres licornes. La Licorne comprend à travers le discours tarabiscoté d'un papillon qu'une bête connue sous le nom du Taureau de Feu les a toutes menées jusqu'au bout du monde connu. S'aventurant en territoire inconnu, hors de la sécurité magique de sa forêt natale, la Licorne commence un voyage pour trouver ses semblables et les ramener dans son monde.
Le retour du roi, 1h38
Réalisé par Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Origine Etats-Unis
Genres Science-fiction, Fantasy, Aventure, Animation
Thèmes Féminisme, Magie, Monde imaginaire, La Terre du Milieu, Politique, Films pour enfants
Acteurs Orson Bean, John Huston, William Conrad, Roddy McDowall, Theodore Bikel, Brother Theodore
Rôle Gollum (voice)
Note57% 2.863272.863272.863272.863272.86327
L'histoire de la quête de l'anneau unique, forgé en secret par le démoniaque Sauron. Adapté du roman de J.R.R. Tolkien, "Le retour du roi" ("The return of the King").
Nocturna
Nocturna (1979)
, 1h25
Réalisé par Harry Hurwitz
Genres Comédie, Horreur, Musical
Thèmes Danse, La musique, Dracula, Vampire, Musique
Acteurs John Carradine, Yvonne De Carlo, Brother Theodore, Sy Richardson, Antony Hamilton, Al Sapienza
Rôle Theodore
Note44% 2.2403652.2403652.2403652.2403652.240365
Transylvania, 1979: Hard times have fallen upon the House of Dracula, and to help pay the taxes on the ancestral castle it has been converted into the Hotel Transylvania. The manager of the hotel is the beautiful and sensuous Nocturna (Nai Bonet), granddaughter of the original Count (John Carradine) who still resides in the crypt deep in the sub-basement of the establishment.
Bilbo le hobbit, 1h18
Réalisé par Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Origine Etats-Unis
Genres Science-fiction, Fantasy, Action, Aventure, Animation
Thèmes Mise en scène d'un animal, Féminisme, Magie, Monde imaginaire, La Terre du Milieu, Mise en scène d'un dragon, Politique, Films pour enfants
Acteurs Orson Bean, Richard Boone, Hans Conried, John Huston, Otto Preminger, Cyril Ritchard
Rôle Gollum (voice)
Note66% 3.347933.347933.347933.347933.34793
Bilbo Baggins est un paisible hobbit qui vit dans un trou confortable dans la Comté. Sa vie bascule lorsque le magicien Gandalf l'invite à prendre part à une aventure en se joignant à la quête qu'entreprennent treize nains menés par Thorin Oakenshield : ils veulent reprendre possession de leur ancien royaume situé sous la Montagne Solitaire, dont le dragon Smaug les a chassés jadis.
Le Troisième Homme, 1h44
Réalisé par Carol Reed, Guy Hamilton, George Pollock
Origine Royaume-uni
Genres Drame, Thriller, Action, Noir
Thèmes Politique, Politique
Acteurs Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, Trevor Howard, Bernard Lee, Wilfrid Hyde-White
Rôle un homme dans la rue
Note80% 4.0491054.0491054.0491054.0491054.049105
L'Américain Holly Martins, petit écrivain besogneux, se rend à Vienne sur l'invitation de son ancien compagnon d'études Harry Lime, qui lui a fait miroiter l'occasion de gagner de l'argent. Mais il y arrive pour assister aux obsèques de son ami, qui a été écrasé par une voiture. Désireux d'en savoir plus, Martins rencontre d'anciens amis de Lime, tous quelque peu louches. Officiellement, deux d'entre eux auraient recueilli le corps de Lime juste après l'accident. Mais le concierge de l'immeuble où habitait Lime assure qu'un troisième homme se trouvait là.
The Black Widow
Réalisé par Spencer Gordon Bennet, Fred C. Brannon
Genres Science-fiction, Action, Espionnage
Thèmes Espionnage
Acteurs Carol Forman, Anthony Warde, Ramsay Ames, I. Stanford Jolley, Brother Theodore, Virginia Carroll
Rôle Hitomu
Note63% 3.192673.192673.192673.192673.19267
The Editor of the Daily Clarion newspaper hires amateur criminologist Steve Colt to solve a series of murders, all involving poisonous spider bites.
Fall Guy
Fall Guy (1947)
, 1h4
Réalisé par Reginald Le Borg
Origine Etats-Unis
Genres Drame, Noir, Policier
Acteurs Leo Penn, Robert Armstrong, Teala Loring, Elisha Cook, Jr., Douglas Fowley, Charles Arnt
Note58% 2.943212.943212.943212.943212.94321
Ayant oublié la nuit passée, Tom Cochrane (Leo Penn) tente de se disculper d'un meurtre qu'il n'a pas commis ...
Le Criminel, 1h35
Réalisé par Orson Welles
Origine Etats-Unis
Genres Drame, Thriller, Noir, Policier
Thèmes Religion, Politique, Religion juive
Acteurs Loretta Young, Edward G. Robinson, Orson Welles, Philip Merivale, Richard Long, Konstantin Shayne
Rôle Fairbright (uncredited)
Note72% 3.6491353.6491353.6491353.6491353.649135
Peu après la Seconde Guerre mondiale, l'inspecteur Wilson traque les criminels de guerre allemands. Il suggère de libérer Konrad Merinke en espérant que, grâce à une filature, celui-ci le conduise à Franz Kindler, un important responsable des camps de concentration. Merinke cherche en effet à retrouver Kindler et ses propres recherches le conduisent aux États-Unis, à Harper, une petite ville du Connecticut.
So Dark the Night, 1h11
Réalisé par Joseph H. Lewis
Origine Etats-Unis
Genres Drame, Policier
Acteurs Steven Geray, Eugene Borden, Micheline Cheirel, Egon Brecher, Nanette Bordeaux, Helen Freeman
Rôle Georges
Note62% 3.1461453.1461453.1461453.1461453.146145
Un inspecteur de police parisien, Henri Cassin, tombe amoureux de Nanette, la fille d'un aubergiste. Mais la jeune fille disparaît la nuit de leurs fiançailles et on la retrouve morte. Cassin soupçonne un ancien fiancé, Léon, mais celui-ci est également retrouvé assassiné.