Zita Johann (born Elizabeth Johann) (14 July 1904 – 24 September 1993) was an Austrian-American actress and writer. She is best known for her role in Karl Freund's film The Mummy (1932) starring Boris Karloff.
Contents
Early life
Johann was born on 14 July 1904 in Temesvar, Austria-Hungary, which is now Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.
A German-speaking Banat Swabian, Zita Johann was born Elizabeth Johann in the village of Deutschbentschek (near Timișoara), Austria-Hungary. The village is now part of Romania. Johann left her home and moved to the U.S. when she was about 7 years old. Her father, a hussar officer named Stefan Johann, emigrated with his family to the United States in 1911.
In high school, Johann began to act in school plays. Later, she appeared with the Theatre Guild Repertory Company in touring productions of Peer Gynt, The Devil's Disciple and He Who Gets Slapped.
Career
Johann debuted on Broadway in 1924. She turned down the lead in Universal's 1929 theatrical version of Show Boat, so she could star in the play Machinal with a young Clark Gable. She subsequently signed a contract with MGM to act in films. Her contract was unique at the time in that it had a script approval clause, an indication of how much the studio had wanted to sign her. She took full advantage of the clause and turned down most scripts she was offered. She was said to have once asked Irving Thalberg why he made such awful pictures. About six months later, she asked to be released from her contract.
