Torben Emil Meyer (1 December 1884 – 22 May 1975) was a Danish character actor, who appeared in more than 250 film and television roles in a 55-year career. He began his acting career in Europe before moving to the United States, where he often worked with director Preston Sturges.
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Early life
Meyer was born in Aarhus, Denmark, the son of hotelier Holger Meyer and his wife Kirstine (née Pedersen). He lived in Paris from 1899 to 1901, where he worked as a porter. In 1902, he joined the drama school at the Dagmarteatret in Copenhagen.
Career
He made his professional stage debut at the Dagmarteatret in 1905, and was a member of its repertory company for two years. In 1908, he joined the company of the Det Ny Teater, where he remained until 1923, when he left due to a disagreement with management.
Starting in 1912, Meyer acted in 20 European silent movies, culminating with Don Quixote in 1926. He emigrated to the United States in 1927.
Danish friends Benjamin Christensen and Jean Hersholt may have helped Meyer obtain his first roles in Hollywood films. For decades Meyer found roles playing characters from many countries. A 1948 newspaper article stated Meyer can't complain about being typecast for he speaks German in Sealed Verdict, was a 17th-century Dutch sea captain in The Exile, a French professor in To the Victor, and the headwaiter in Variety Girl.
Meyer also wrote a column for the Danish newspaper Politiken.
Horror films
Meyer became a member of the "all-star peasant cast" in The Black Room, and considered Boris Karloff to be a good friend. He played the Dane in Murders in the Rue Morgue, and was strangled by Boris Karloff in Bride of Frankenstein. Meyer was Gaston, the night watchman, in the 1958 film The Fly
Preston Sturges films
Meyer was in numerous Preston Sturges films, and addressed him as Maitre (French for director). Meyers played Mr. Schmidt in Christmas in July, Purser in The Lady Eve, Doctor in both Sullivan's Travels and The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, Mr. Schultz in Hail the Conquering Hero, Dr. Dahlmeyer in The Great Moment, Barber in The Sin of Harold Diddlebock, and Dr. Schultz in The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend.
Later roles
In 1961, when Meyer was 76 years old, he played Werner Lampe, an ex-Nazi judge on trial in Judgment at Nuremberg. His last film role was in A New Kind of Love, released in 1963, and his last television role was as Pedro Sven in the 1966 I Dream of Jeannie episode Jeannie Breaks the Bank.
Honors
In 1962 Frederik IX of Denmark honored Meyer with the Knights’ Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog. It was presented to him by the consul general of Denmark, Honorable A.C. Karsten.
Death
On 22 May 1975 Meyer died of bronchial pneumonia in Hollywood, California. He was cremated, and his remains are vaulted in the Chapel of the Pines.