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Francis Lederer, actor
Born: Frantisek Lederer, 6 November, 1899, in Prague Died: 25 May, 2000, in Palm Springs, California, aged 100
THE death of the centenarian Francis Lederer severs one more link to cinema's silent era.
A gravely handsome leading man of the Twenties, he partnered the legendary Louise Brooks in GW Pabst's Pandora's Box (1928) before pursuing a Hollywood career that brought him co-starring roles alongside the likes of Ginger Rogers, Claudette Colbert and Paulette Goddard.
Although long retired from an active film career, he continued to teach his weekly Los Angeles acting class until just a few weeks prior to his death.
Born in Prague, he was acting from his teenage years and later attended the city's Academy Of Music and Academy Of Dramatic Art. During the Twenties, he built a notable European stage career in Berlin and Vienna performing across the classics from Shakespeare to translations of Noel Coward.
He came to films at the twilight of the silent era as the young man...