Eduard Franz - Life and Career

Life and Career

Franz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a leading Broadway actor for nearly 20 years, in such plays as First Stop to Heaven and Embezzled Heaven, before making his film debut opposite John Wayne in Wake of the Red Witch in 1948. He portrayed Chief Broken Hand in White Feather. He played such intellectuals as Dr. Stern in The Thing (From Another Planet) (1951), a university professor in The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake (1959), and Justice Louis Brandeis in The Magnificent Yankee. He appeared in a 1957 television adaptation of A. J. Cronin's novel, Beyond This Place, which was directed by Sidney Lumet.

In 1956, he guest starred with Joan Fontaine in the episode "The De Santre Story" of the NBC anthology series, The Joseph Cotten Show. By 1958, he was in the second season of Zorro, playing the role of Señor Gregorio Verdugo. He guest starred as Jules Silberg in the 1960 episode "The Test" of CBS's anthology series The DuPont Show with June Allyson, with June Allyson portraying the role of Ruth Taylor.

In 1961, Franz and Scott Marlowe guest starred in the episode "The Duke of Texas" of CBS's western series Have Gun - Will Travel, with Richard Boone, as two Austrians involved in intrigue in the days of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico. In 1961, Franz guest starred as Gustave Helmer in the ABC legal drama The Law and Mr. Jones with James Whitmore in the title role and Jack Mullaney as a second guest. About that same time, he appeared on NBC's anthology series, The Barbara Stanwyck Show and on the NBC western Cimarron City.

In 1963, Franz was cast as psychiatric clinic director Dr. Edward Raymer on the weekly ABC medical drama Breaking Point with co-star Paul Richards.