Slezak, Walter

Walter Slezak was born to Leo and Elsa (Wertheim) Slezak on May 3, 1902, in Vienna, Austria.

Mr. Slezak was known as an actor, singer, and writer. He made his New York City stage debut in 1930. He made his film debut in 1942. Mr. Slezak married Johanna Van Rijn on October 10, 1943. Mr. Slezak died on April 22, 1983.

Walter Slezak, son of the operatic tenor Leo Slezak and the actress Elsa (Wertheim) Slezak, was born in Vienna, Austria, on May 3, 1902. He began a film and stage career in Berlin in 1921. Coming to the United States in 1930 in the musical comedy Meet My Sister, Slezak played many roles in the live theater during the next four decades - his performances on Broadway as Joseph in the comedy My 3 Angels [1953], and as Panisse in the musical Fanny [1954], were probably his greatest triumphs. Between 1942 and 1976 he appeared in dozens of movies - usually typecast in character roles because of his portliness. Slezak also appeared in numerous radio and television productions.

In 1959, at New York's Metropolitan Opera, Walter Slezak made his operatic debut as Szupan in Johann Strauss' The Gypsy Baron - exactly 50 years after his father's Metropolitan debut in Verdi's Otello . In 1977, Slezak wrote a unique "recipe-plus-travelogue" book called Mein Magen geht fremd [ My Stomach Goes Abroad ]. Walter Slezak died on April 22, 1983.

Leo Slezak was born in Moravia on August 18, 1873. Making Vienna his home base, Slezak forged a highly successful international career as an operatic tenor - known especially for his Verdi and Wagner roles. Slezak also became a celebrated interpreter of German Lieder, and in later life appeared as a character actor in German and Austrian films. A prankster and wit, Slezak's irrepressible sense of humor was revealed in his four volumes of memoirs. After his death on June 1, 1946, other literary works by or about him appeared, including two that linked him with his son Walter: What Time's the Next Swan? [New York, 1962], Walter's book of memoirs that included many anecdotes about his father's life and career; and Mein lieber Bub: Briefe eines besorgten Vaters [Munich, 1966], Walter's selection of letters written to him by his father.

Johanna Van Rijn Slezak married Walter on October 10, 1943. In correspondence from friends, she is often referred to by her nickname, Kaasi. The Slezaks had three children: Ingrid Slezak, oldest child of Walter and Johanna, was born ca. 1944; Erika Slezak (also known as "Ricki" or "Rickie") was born ca. 1946; Leo Lauritz Slezak was born in 1948.