David Bauer (actor) explained

David Bauer
Birth Name:Herman Bernard Waldman
Birth Date:6 March 1917
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Death Date:February 8 or 13, 1973; aged 55
Death Place:London, England
Other Names:Herman Waldman, David Wolfe
Alma Mater:Washington University in St. Louis
Occupation:Actor
Yearsactive:1941–1973
Spouse:
Children:1

David Bauer (born Herman Bernard Waldman,[1] March 6, 1917[2]  - February 8 or 13, 1973[3] [4]) was an American film, television, and stage actor who, from November 1958 until his death, was based primarily in Britain.[5] [6]

Early life and career

Born in Chicago, Illinois to Leo Waldman and Ida Katz,[2] [7] Waldman attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating in 1938.[8] Aside from his Bachelor of Arts,[9] Waldman was awarded the school's $75 Dramatic Club Prize[10] and, more important, a scholarship to the Berkshire Playhouse in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where he had a chance to meet, among others, Jane Wyatt, Edith Barrett and Sinclair Lewis, and to perform alongside such actors as Fred Stone, Jane Cowl and Eugenie Leontovich.[11]

After serving in the army from 1943 to 1946, Waldman joined the Actors' Laboratory Theatre in Los Angeles,[3] appearing that year in the west coast premiere of Harry Brown's A Sound of Hunting, wherein, according to Los Angeles Daily News critic David Hanna, Brown's sometimes "overdrawn" supporting characters managed to retain some "semblance of credulity [sic], thanks largely to the finesse of the men who play them. Michael Vincent and Herman Waldman carry the comedy burden with surety and excellent timing."[12]

Waldman's radio credits include ongoing roles in Big Town[13] and Those We Love[14] [15] and at least one appearance on the anthology series Favorite Story.[16]

In the summer of 1948, by which time he had amassed more than 100 stage and radio credits (along with his first feature film[17]), Waldman adopted the stage name David Wolfe, appearing in such films as The Undercover Man,[18] 5 Fingers,[19] Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie,[20] and Salt of the Earth.[21]

Following his appearance before the House Un-American Activities Committee, Wolfe was blacklisted; consequently, the professional alias underwent one last tweak, and, as of no later than the December 1956 New York Shakespeare Festival revival of Titus Andronicus, Waldman was being billed as David Bauer.[1] [22]

As David Bauer, he appeared in The Baron, The Champions (where he provided opening narration for each episode), The Avengers, Department S, Gideon's Way, Jason King, The Prisoner, The Protectors, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), The Saint, Strange Report, and Undermind.

He appeared in films such as Patton, Inspector Clouseau, Diamonds Are Forever, You Only Live Twice, and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

Personal life and death

Bauer was married twice: to Rose Cherub from July 1946 until at least April 1950,[7] [23] and, from 1960 until his death, to British actress Stella Tanner, with whom he had one child,[24] [3] [25] Santa Fe-based actress and disc jockey Alexa Bauer.[26] [27]

David Bauer died of a heart attack at his home in London on either the 8th or 13th of February 1973.[3] [4] [28]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1948The Vicious Circle Lieber as Herman Waldman
1949The Undercover Man Stanley Weinburg as David Wolfe
1949House of Strangers Prosecutor Uncredited
1949Slattery's Hurricane Dr. Ross Uncredited
1949Flaming Fury Tony Polacheck as David Wolfe
1949Sword in the Desert Gershon as David Wolfe
1949Tokyo Joe Photo Sergeant Uncredited
1949A Dangerous Profession Matthew Dawson as David Wolfe
1949Bagdad Mahmud as David Wolfe
1950Prisoners in Petticoats Sam Clark as David Wolfe
1950Side Street Smitty Uncredited
1950Appointment with Danger David Goodman as David Wolfe
1950Where the Sidewalk Ends Sid Kramer, Scalise Hood Uncredited
1951I Can Get It for You Wholesale Speaker on Dais Uncredited
1951Smuggler's Island Lorca as David Wolfe
1951The Mark of the Renegade Landlord as Dave Wolfe
1951Kansas Raiders Rudolph Tate as Dave Wolfe
1951The Scarf Level Louie as David Wolfe
1951The Guest (Short) Martin Androvitch as David Wolfe
19525 Fingers Da Costa Uncredited
1952The Cimarron Kid Sam Swanson as David Wolfe
1952The Iron Mistress James Black Uncredited
1952Wait 'Til the Sun Shines, Nellie Sam Eichenbogen Uncredited
1952Bloodhounds of Broadway Counsel Uncredited
1954Salt of the Earth Barton as David Wolfe
1962Flat Two Emil louba
1963Live It Up! Mark Watson U.S. ' Sing and Swing '.
1964Man in the Middle Colonel Mayburt
1964Walk a Tightrope Ed
1965The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Young Judge Uncredited
1967The Double Man Andrew Miller
1967You Only Live Twice American Diplomat Uncredited
1967Danger Route Bennett
1967Torture Garden Mike Charles (segment 2 "Terror Over Hollywood")
1968Dark of the Sun Adams (UK title: The Mercenaries)
1968Inspector Clouseau Police Chief Geffrion
1969Crooks and Coronets Jack
1969The Royal Hunt of the Sun Villac Umu
1970Patton Lieutenant General Harry Buford
1971Fun and Games Gribney
1971Diamonds Are Forever Morton Slumber
1972Embassy Kadish
1972Endless Night Uncle Frank
1974Road Movie Harry (final film role)

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Ragan, David (1992) Who's Who in Hollywood : The Largest Cast of International Film Personalities Ever Assembled. Volume 1: A–L New York : Facts on File. p. 102. . "Bauer, David (d. 1973, age 55) American-born supporting actor who, after a busy Hollywood career as David Wolfe (1949-1952) adopted the name David Bauer and, as Bauer, acted on TV (The Saint) and in movies: Dark of the Sun, The Double Man, Embassy (as Kadish), Inspector Clousseau, Patton (Lt. Gen. Harry Bufford), Torture Garden, Tropic of Cancer, others (see David Wolfe)." See also:
  2. "Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7SF-6R6 : Wed Nov 15 09:54:04 UTC 2023), Entry for Herman Bernard Waldman.
  3. News: Obituary: David Bauer. August 29, 1973. The Stage. 45. David Bauer, who joined the National Theatre Company to play Sheriff Hoffman in 'The Front Page,' died on February 8, aged fifty-five. [...] Born in Chicago, he worked with university theatres before becoming an apprentice at the Berkshire Playhouse. He worked in radio, summer stock and in Hollywood before joining the Army in 1943. When demobbed in 1946, he went to the Actors' Laboratory in Hollywood, and also played a large number of character parts in films. He came to London in 1958 to play Doc in 'West Side Story.' He married, for a second time, Stella Tanner, one of the Tanner Sisters, and they had a daughter.. .
  4. News: Obituaries: David Bauer. February 21, 1973. Variety. 62. David Bauer, 55, Chicago-born actor who transferred his career to England in 1958, when he played 'Doc' in the London company of 'West Side Story,' died Feb. 13 at his home in the British capital.. .
  5. https://www.newspapers.com/image/876159785/?clipping_id=135373526 "Behind Your Screen: getting Away From It All"
  6. Cohen, Harold (November 27, 1958). "Local Scrappings; Addenda". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 48. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  7. "California, County Marriages, 1850-1953,", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8K4-XP6 : 9 March 2021), Herman B Waldman and Rose Cherub, 06 Jul 1946; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,115,601.
  8. https://www.newspapers.com/image/569281872/?clipping_id=135322369 "Social News"
  9. https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat/135381799/ "74 to be Graduated at Washington U; Dr. M. H. Ittner of Newark, N. J., to Give Commencement Address Tuesday; Bachelor of Arts"
  10. https://www.newspapers.com/image/140464767/?clipping_id=135380245 "Washington U. Prize and Honor Winners"
  11. Start, Clarissa (April 9, 1939). "Girl About Town". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 38. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  12. Hanna, David (June 3, 1946). "Stage Review: 'A Sound of Hunting'". Los Angeles Daily News. p. 13. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  13. https://www.newspapers.com/image/913044230/?clipping_id=135439072 "Hollywood Actor Gets Chance by Going East"
  14. https://www.newspapers.com/image/718608181/?clipping_id=135439025 "Will Re-Shuffle Radio Stations"
  15. https://www.otrr.org/OTRRPedia/pedia.html?s=pgm&id=8959&t=1 "'Those We Love' Cast & Crew"
  16. Little, Mary (July 19, 1947). "Airglances". Des Moines Tribune. p. 6. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  17. "'Vicious Circle Gripping; Well Done Drama on Timely Theme". The Hollywood Reporter. May 26, 1948. p. 5. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  18. Smith, Darr (June 24, 1948). "Darr Smith". Los Angeles Daily News. p. 37. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  19. News: David Wolfe in 'Fingers'. October 1, 1951. The Hollywood Reporter. 2. David Wolfe is currently playing akey role in 'Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie' at 20th-Fox, has been signed by the same studio to portray a South American banker in '5 Fingers.' He will alternate between the two sets.. .
  20. News: 'NELLIE' ENCHANTING DRAMA FINELY ACTED AND DIRECTED: Jessel, King Score With Grand Prod'n; Wayne Acting Tops. May 26, 1952. The Hollywood Reporter. 3. Miss Peters is appealing and effectively fiery as Nellie, with Albert Dekker, Charles Watts, Alan Hale, Jr., and David Wolfe registering nicely as Wayne's friends.. .
  21. Monaco, James (1992). The Movie Guide. New York: Perigee Books. p. 809.
  22. News: Legitimate: Off-Broadway Shows - The Inspector General. Geor.. December 12, 1956. Variety. 74. David Bauer, as the town's leading politico, gives a bustling performance, racing around with buckled knees used to bending for favors, and expostulating wetly through his mutton-chops.. .
  23. "United States 1950 Census",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XGC-C9XN : Thu Oct 05 23:52:01 UTC 2023), Entry for Herman B Waldman and Rose Waldman, 10 April 1950.
  24. "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVDT-5THN : 8 October 2014), David Bauer and null, 1960; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1960, quarter 3, vol. 5C, p. 2051, Hampstead, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
  25. News: Richard Anthony. Baker. Stella Tanner . The Stage . 2012-04-18 . 2012-05-28.
  26. North, Max (June 6, 1964). "Do You Prefer Villains to Nice Guys". Manchester Evening News. p. 3.
  27. News: GIRL, CORRUPTED. Nott, Robert. June 13, 2003. The Santa Fe New Mexican. P-20. He had a plethora of talent to choose from, including Global Jam disc jockey Alexa Bauer (who plays Gloria, the tough-as-nails, always-smoking veteran) [...] Bauer has an odd connection to the play. Her mother, actress Stella Tanner, was in a stage production of Prisoner: Cellblock H, a theatrical adaptation of the old Australian women-in-prison television series, to which Women Behind Bars also owes a debt.. .
  28. News: Chatter: London. March 7, 1973. Variety. 77. National Theatre Company gave special latenight performance of 'The Front Page' as a benefit for the widow and daughter of David Bauer, American actor who expired from a heart attack three weeks ago.. .