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360:. In an interview in 1946, she claimed to receive up to 20 prank calls a day about her name, some with false news about her son, such as that he had been involved in an accident. Despite mistaking a friend for a prank caller, she did not want to unlist her phone number as she feared losing contact with friends. Werbezirk ultimately gained
229:
Like many Jewish women in Vienna, Werbezirk had immigrated from
Eastern Europe with the dream of becoming a stage actress, and she received praise from critics for her humor and acting ability. However, her appearance was often criticized, with male Jewish critics suggesting that she was too
345:" for his anti-Nazi activities, as well as being a Jew who fought for the Czech army. He was arrested and deported to Germany, but managed to escape with his family to France and then London. Werbezirk reportedly tried to commit suicide on six occasions following the invasion of Austria.
234:
Austrian newspaper as being "probably the strongest comic force that can currently be seen on a
Viennese stage". In late 1923, she landed one of her most successful roles in the play "Frau Breier aus Gaya," where she played the part of Sali Breier, a successful poultry woman.
355:
as refugees bound for
America in late 1938, where she hoped they would be safe from Nazi persecution. Once in America, she was taunted over her name, ultimately opting to drop the "Piffl". While the name Piffl is honorable in Austria, she was initially unaware it had a
336:
three days later, helped by friends and family. Her family name was well-known and they had traveled to Italy many times before, making it possible for them to escape across the border. Her son Henry was high on the
206:) in 1875 to a Jewish family. Before becoming a film actress, she began her career as a stage actress in Vienna, where she played the part of a 35-year-old "old" woman, despite being only 15 years old at the time.
262:
in late 1938, Werbezirk expected she would find work straight away due to her popularity in Europe, however she was unheard of in
America and was mocked due to her name. During her earlier years, she performed on
1104:
226:, where she gained recognition for playing strong widows in comedic productions. Her roles were often compared to the stereotype of the "Yiddishe mama", a controlling mother who dotes on her son.
296:
reporter
Lillard M'Gee stating that she gave "a good account of herself". She is believed to have played around 150 roles, typically as an older lady, although also had many minor film roles.
230:
unattractive to play non-Jewish roles convincingly. Despite this, Werbezirk remained a respected and accomplished actress in the Jewish theater scene. In 1921, she was described by
316:. Piffl was described by one reporter as being a "ponderously fat, talkative man". Together they had a son, Heinrich Piffl, who later changed his name to Henry Peever in America.
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Among other
European cities she toured was Berlin, from where she returned to Vienna in 1929 following a long stay. In 1936, she had a lead role in the play
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222:. She was best known in Vienna, where she appeared on stage and was popular among theater-goers. She was a prominent actress in Jewish theaters in
173:, she emigrated with her family to America as a Jewish refugee to escape Nazi persecution. She arrived in New York in late 1938 and performed on
259:
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in Vienna's
Deutsches Volkstheater, where she performed over 100 times across three different Vienna theaters alongside an
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across cities in Europe over 1,000 times, during which time she was reportedly the highest paid German-speaking actress.
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Werbezirk was Jewish and married to Johann Piffl, who also acted as her manager. Her husband was the nephew of
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Werbezirk became well known as a stage actress for over 35 years in Europe and was described by
California's
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in 1946 as having been "Europe's foremost comedienne". Across Europe, she was compared to stage actress
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She also performed in film and was praised for her role as an elderly German lady in the 1943 film
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actress. For most of her career, she performed across theaters in Europe, notably in
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Jewish emigrants from
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869:"Heinrich Piffl, forced to flee with parents from Austria, stops here"
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887:"'Women in Bondage' - Gisela Werbisek and Nancy Kelly earn praise"
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Becoming
Austrians: Jews and Culture Between the World Wars
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Women in world history : a biographical encyclopedia
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and lived the rest of her life in the United States.
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267:and her debut performance was the title role in a
808:"UP Reporter Pays Visit to Gisela Werbisek Piffl"
738:[Mizzi play performed by ensemble cast].
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181:films. She died in 1956 due to kidney failure.
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279:. Another earlier role was a major part in
844:"Viennese star has debut in Yiddish farce"
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832:(in German). 21 December 1921. p. 7.
776:Askin, Leon; Davidson, C. Melvin (1989).
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1125:Deaths from kidney failure in California
629:Commire, Anne; Klezmer, Deborah (1999).
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965:"German Actress, 81, Dies in Hollywood"
358:less desirable English-language meaning
149:, 8 April 1875 – 15 April 1956) was an
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724:(in German). 15 April 1921. p. 6.
679:(in German). 29 April 1929. p. 9.
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27:Austrian-Hungarian actress (1875–1956)
806:Virginia MacPhearson (13 June 1946).
452:as The Harpy - Ruth's Roommate (1941)
873:The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune
742:(in German). 15 May 1936. p. 9.
376:on 15 April 1956, at the age of 81.
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652:"Czech Star Plays in 'High Window'"
635:. Yorkin Publications. p. 370.
283:, despite only having a brief run.
246:. She claimed to have performed in
177:before later having minor roles in
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826:"Gisela Werbisek in American Film"
677:Wiener Sunday and Monday newspaper
25:
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473:Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas
420:as Mrs. Kelerman, Budapest (1932)
850:. 29 December 1938. p. 370.
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1115:20th-century American actresses
1070:21st-century Austrian actresses
1065:20th-century Austrian actresses
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957:
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909:Gene Handsaker (26 July 1946).
893:. 18 December 1943. p. 15.
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765:. 18 November 1938. p. 28.
393:Kri-Kri, the Duchess of Tarabac
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935:. 25 November 1938. p. 1.
782:. Ariadne Press. p. 252.
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720:[Stage achievements].
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348:From London, they boarded the
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953:. 13 August 1946. p. 18.
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409:Das Kabinett des Dr. Larifari
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169:shortly before the onset of
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983:"Cast of 'The Dark Corner'"
971:. 17 April 1956. p. 8.
875:. 10 July 1949. p. 11.
658:. 26 July 1946. p. 13.
425:The Hunchback of Notre Dame
332:, Werbezirk and her family
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1120:Yiddish theatre performers
1100:20th-century American Jews
1095:20th-century Austrian Jews
989:. 5 July 1946. p. 20.
433:Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet
417:When Love Sets the Fashion
1110:Actresses from Bratislava
1090:Jewish American actresses
1085:Jewish Austrian actresses
947:"Actress drops last name"
830:Wiener Allgemeine Zeitung
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1080:Austrian stage actresses
1004:Silverman, Lisa (2012).
602:General Electric Theater
540:as Aunt Ernestine (1946)
372:She died at her home of
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1075:Austrian film actresses
1012:Oxford University Press
468:as Mrs. Polashek (1942)
384:
328:before the outbreak of
969:Long Beach Independent
759:"Actress flees Vienna"
580:as (Uncredited) (1949)
564:as (Uncredited) (1947)
548:as Mrs Schwartz (1946)
532:as (Uncredited) (1945)
524:as Mrs. Schmidt (1945)
457:That Uncertain Feeling
444:as Mrs. Krupnik (1940)
306:Friedrich Gustav Piffl
194:Werbezirk was born in
891:The Commercial Appeal
740:Salzburger Volksblatt
492:as Rita Rumann (1943)
401:The City Without Jews
320:Emigration to America
310:Roman Catholic Church
293:The Commercial Appeal
101:Hollywood, California
933:Salinas Morning Post
915:Ironwood Daily Globe
585:Bride of the Gorilla
553:The Brasher Doubloon
362:American citizenship
314:Archbishop of Vienna
260:emigrated to America
51:Bride of the Gorilla
572:(Uncredited) (1947)
556:(Uncredited) (1947)
516:(Uncredited) (1944)
508:(Uncredited) (1944)
500:(Uncredited) (1944)
484:(Uncredited) (1943)
476:(Uncredited) (1943)
460:(Uncredited) (1941)
436:(Uncredited) (1940)
428:(Uncredited) (1939)
380:Partial filmography
167:invasion of Austria
779:Quietude and Quest
707:, pp. 99–100.
673:"Gisela Werbezirk"
605:(1 episode) (1953)
537:A Scandal in Paris
465:Tough As They Come
308:, Cardinal of the
151:Austrian-Hungarian
588:as Al-Long (1951)
513:The Seventh Cross
449:So Ends Our Night
254:Career in America
248:Abie's Irish Rose
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74:8 April 1875
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1060:1956 deaths
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271:version of
165:. Upon the
1049:Categories
848:Daily News
611:References
594:Television
569:Wallflower
521:Wonder Man
343:black list
200:Bratislava
190:Early life
109:Occupation
79:Bratislava
70:1875-04-08
718:"Hotizen"
616:Citations
281:Gray Farm
196:Pressburg
179:Hollywood
120:1890–1951
722:The Bomb
265:Broadway
232:The Bomb
204:Slovakia
175:Broadway
147:Werbisek
133:Children
998:Sources
339:Gestapo
290:, with
269:Yiddish
258:Having
112:Actress
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396:(1920)
185:Career
159:Berlin
155:Vienna
125:Spouse
54:(1951)
368:Death
240:Mizzi
198:(now
1040:IMDb
1016:ISBN
784:ISBN
385:Film
341:'s "
312:and
157:and
103:, US
90:Died
60:Born
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