Hungarian and American actor (1904–1964)
Factsheet
Born László Löwenstein
(1904-06-26)June 26, 1904
Rózsahegy, Hungary, Austria-Hungary
(1904-06-26)June 26, 1904
Rózsahegy, Hungary, Austria-Hungary
Died March 23, 1964(1964-03-23) (aged 59)
Los Angeles, California, US
Los Angeles, California, US
Resting place Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, US
Born László Löwenstein
(1904-06-26)June 26, 1904
Rózsahegy, Hungary, Austria-Hungary
(1904-06-26)June 26, 1904
Rózsahegy, Hungary, Austria-Hungary
Died March 23, 1964(1964-03-23) (aged 59)
Los Angeles, California, US
Los Angeles, California, US
Resting place Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, US
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Peter_Lorre
Peter Lorre - Wikipedia
2 weeks ago - Peter Lorre (German: [ˈpeːtɐ ˈlɔʁə]; born László Löwenstein, Hungarian: [ˈlaːsloː ˈløːvɛ(n)ʃtɒjn]; June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964) was a Hungarian and American actor, active first in Europe and later in the United States. Known for his timidly devious characters, appearance, ...
IMDb
imdb.com › name › nm0000048
Peter Lorre | Actor, Writer, Director
October 19, 2021 - Known for: Arsenic and Old Lace, The Maltese Falcon, M
[Hated Trope] The entire character is just an impression of Peter Lorre
What I find particularly odd about this trope is that these Lorre characters are often "Igor" type characters even though the real Lorre didn't really play roles like that. He did play villains and was in horror films (he was even a mad doctor a few times) but the specific Igor archetype was never a character played by Lorre. More on reddit.com
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February 10, 2025Can someone explain to me why Peter Lorre was so influential in animation?
He was a big star during the Golden Age of Animation, and was a person who was very easy to caricature and do impressions of at the time due to his memorably unique look and voice. As a result tons of Golden Age cartoons have caricatures of him and have characters doing impressions of him. He's not the only one -- there were tons of similar caricatures/impressions of contemporary celebrities too -- but there were SO many of Peter Lorre that it transcended him and turned into a character archetype by itself. This is why impressions of him have lingered for so long and you have animators who grew up well after Lorre passed still creating characters based on him. More on reddit.com
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October 10, 2025'M' (1931), the first sound film from 'Metropolis' director Fritz Lang, has one of the best examples of sound motif shown on film, where the serial killer, played by Peter Lorre, whistles "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" before committing his murders.
I think "M" should be mandatory viewing in every psychology classes.
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March 6, 2015Peter Lorre as Hans Beckert was magnificent in ''M''
The goal of /r/Movies is to provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases. Submissions should be for the purpose of informing or initiating a discussion, not just to entertain readers. Read our extensive list of rules for more information on other types ... More on reddit.com
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October 7, 2013Videos
Instagram
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Actor Peter Lorre was born on June 26th, 1904. His ...
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Hollywood Walk of Fame
walkoffame.com › home › blog › peter lorre
Peter Lorre - Hollywood Walk of Fame
December 9, 2020 - Peter Lorre was an Austrian-American actor frequently typecast as a sinister foreigner. He caused an international sensation in 1931 with his portrayal of a serial killer who preys on little girls in the German film M. Later he became a popular featured player in Hollywood crime films and ...
Harvard Film Archive
harvardfilmarchive.org › programs › peter-lorre-a-sinister-centennial
Peter Lorre. A Sinister Centennial - Harvard Film Archive
One of the great character actors of Hollywood cinema, Hungarian-born Peter Lorre (born in June 1904 as Ladislav Loewenstein) left his family home at the age of seventeen and traveled through Switzerland and Austria before settling in Germany, ...
Facebook
facebook.com › groups › SvengoolieSvengooligans › posts › 2388785464826226
Remembering Peter Lorre, a unique actor in classic movies
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Rotten Tomatoes
rottentomatoes.com › celebrity › peter_lorre
Peter Lorre Movies & TV Shows List | Rotten Tomatoes | Rotten Tomatoes
A product of Berlin's post World War I experimental theatre scene, Peter Lorre honed his craft in plays by Shakespeare, Goethe and Shaw, but achieved international fame as a child killer in Fritz Lang's incendiary "M" (1931).
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › entertainment & pop culture › actors
Peter Lorre | Film Star, Character Actor & Horror Icon | Britannica
1 month ago - Peter Lorre was a Hungarian-born American motion-picture actor who projected a sinister image as a lisping, round-faced, soft-voiced villain in thrillers. A player of bit parts with a German theatrical troupe from 1921, Lorre achieved international ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/topcharactertropes › [hated trope] the entire character is just an impression of peter lorre
r/TopCharacterTropes on Reddit: [Hated Trope] The entire character is just an impression of Peter Lorre
February 10, 2025 -
Dr. Lorre (Looney Tunes)
Slappy Laszlo (SpongeBob SquarePants)
Edgar E. Gore (Frankenweenie)
N. Gin (Crash Bandicoot)
Chameleon (TUFF Puppy)
The Maggot (Corpse Bride)
Hanging Lamp (Brave Little Toaster)
King of Flan (Courage the Cowardly Dog)
To be a touch more specific, what I dislike most about a lot of these characters is they feel less like a homage and more borderline mocking him based on his appearance. I understand Lorre has a very noteworthy appearance, but the way a lot of depictions in various media focus on his face, his bulging eyes, and his raspy voice feels like they’re making fun of him. I’m not a big fan of this given if you know anything about Lorre’s history, he’s a lot more than a funny face, and his story is really great.
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What I find particularly odd about this trope is that these Lorre characters are often "Igor" type characters even though the real Lorre didn't really play roles like that. He did play villains and was in horror films (he was even a mad doctor a few times) but the specific Igor archetype was never a character played by Lorre.
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My favorite Looney Tunes version of him is from Racketeering Rabbit. It’s not because he is scary or potentially off putting, but rather his amazing voice. That, above all, is what makes a good Lorre homage.
Facebook
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Peter Lorre, born in 1904, is best remembered for his roles ...
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Los Angeles Times
latimes.com › local › obituaries › la-me-peter-lorre-19640324-story.html
From the Archives: Movie Villain Peter Lorre Found Dead in His Hollywood Apartment - Los Angeles Times
April 1, 2016 - Actor Peter Lorre, the Carpathian mountain boy who became a professional ogre, sleepy-voiced comedian, and bon vivant, died Monday of an apparent stroke in his tiny Hollywood apartment.
Facebook
facebook.com › austinfilm › videos › the-eyes-of-peter-lorre › 2734071060109280
A small, rounded man with bulging eyes and a lugubrious ...
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The Hitchcock Zone
the.hitchcock.zone › wiki › Peter_Lorre
Peter Lorre - The Alfred Hitchcock Wiki
Peter Lorre (1904—1964), was a stage and screen actor of Austrian descent especially known for playing roles with sinister overtones in Hollywood crime films and mysteries.
Logos Journal
logosjournal.com › home › articles › the lost one: a life of peter lorre,by stephen d. youngkin
The Lost One: A Life Of Peter Lorre,by Stephen D. Youngkin - Logos Journal
July 2, 2025 - Iconic actor Peter Lorre once was described fondly as a rococo cherub gone slightly astray, but as Youngkins 613 page opus shows, this extremely talented man strayed very far indeed from his astonishingly accomplished theatrical beginnings propelled by the rise of Nazism, a World War, fickle ...
EBSCO
ebsco.com › research-starters › biography › peter-lorre
Peter Lorre | Research Starters | EBSCO Research
Peter Lorre, born László Löwenstein in 1904 in Rószahegy, Hungary, was a noted actor celebrated for his unique physical appearance and versatile performances. Growing up in a family that faced tremendous personal challenges, including the ...
Iibuffalo
iibuffalo.org › home › peter lorre: jewish american heritage month, recognizing immigrants and refugees
Peter Lorre: Jewish American Heritage Month, Recognizing Immigrants and Refugees - International Institute of Buffalo
June 12, 2025 - While attending school in Vienna, Peter discovered his passion for the stage as a teenager, quickly developing a penchant for acting. After relocating to Germany, he found a place playing bit parts with a local stage company, where he became a favorite of playwright Bertolt Brecht. Although Lorre’s interests were more closely tied to comedy, he earned international accolades for playing the sinister character Hans Beckert in the classic film M.
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
AFS Presents: The Eyes of Peter Lorre - YouTube
A small, rounded man with bulging eyes and a lugubrious manner of speaking, Peter Lorre was an actor who was born to be impersonated. He was also an absolute...
Published October 11, 2024
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How to do a Peter Lorre Impression with Impressionist Jim Meskimen and Gur Haskel - YouTube
@gur.haskel and I do a little impressions training video. I felt like he could probably match #peterlorre from #casablanca and he did great!Please follow @gu...
Published October 8, 2024
Reddit
reddit.com › r/cartoons › can someone explain to me why peter lorre was so influential in animation?
r/cartoons on Reddit: Can someone explain to me why Peter Lorre was so influential in animation?
October 10, 2025 - As a result tons of Golden Age cartoons have caricatures of him and have characters doing impressions of him. He's not the only one -- there were tons of similar caricatures/impressions of contemporary celebrities too -- but there were SO many of Peter Lorre that it transcended him and turned into a character archetype by itself.