Gregory Ratoff
Gregory Ratoff ( born April 20, 1897 in St. Petersburg, Russia, † December 14, 1960 in Solothurn, Switzerland ) was an American actor, film director and producer.
Life
Ratoff was born as the son of Russian Jews and moved in 1922 to the United States. There he began his career as an actor on Broadway, but was later also seen in supporting roles in Hollywood productions - Thanks to his accent, especially as a foreigner. In 1939, he staged for David O. Selznick film Intermezzo, the first film Ingrid Bergman in Hollywood.
In 1944 he produced the pro-Soviet propaganda film Song of Russia. He took over in 1950 in Joseph L. Mankiewiczs successful production All About Eve His most famous role as an actor. Ratoff was one of the first producers, for 6000 dollars the rights to James Bond acquired by Ian Fleming, James Bond and brought into American television for the first time on 21 October 1954.
In 1923 he married actress Eugenie Leontovich, from which he left in 1949 divorced.