{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} [[File:Lester Sharpe-Wade Crosby in The Lone Ranger.jpg|thumb|Lester Sharpe (left) and Wade Crosby in ''The Lone Ranger'']] '''Lester Scharff''' (March 21, 1894 – November 30, 1962) was an American character actor of stage and screen. He performed under his own name on the stage and in film until adopting the pseudonym '''Lester Sharpe''' in 1942. He began his career performing in light operas and musicals in the 1910s before branching out into stage plays in the 1920s. He appeared in five productions on Broadway between 1916 and 1933. After this he was primarily active as a film actor from 1935 through 1956. He also made appearances on American television from 1949 through 1957, and produced the 1944 film ''Thoroughbreds''.
==Early life== The son of Isadore and Bertha Scharff,<ref name="CENSUS">Isidor Scharff, Bertha Scharff, and Lester Scharff in ''1900 United States Federal Census'', New York New York, Manhattan, Supervisor District 1, Enumeration District 0780, sheet A20</ref> Lester Scharff was born in New York City on March 21, 1894.<ref>Lester Scharff in the ''U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918'', Registration Card No. 153, Registrar's Report 1098</ref><ref>Lester Scharff in the ''U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942'', California, Lacayo, File: Jose Renato - Utley, Orla Charles</ref> Both of his parents were born in Germany with his father becoming a naturalized American citizen in 1876 and his mother becoming an American citizen nine years later.<ref name="CENSUS"/>
==Stage career== Scharff was a bass who worked in musical theatre.<ref name="Yesterday">{{cite news|work=Trenton Evening Times|date= March 8, 1919|page=10|title=''Yesterday'' Will be Here Thursday}}</ref> His first significant part on the stage was Carfuso in Sigmund Romberg's light opera ''The Girl from Brazil'' which was adapted from Robert Winterberg's 1915 German operetta '' Die schöne Schwedin''.{{sfn|Dietz|2021|page=355}} It was first given under the title ''A Brazilian Honeymoon'' at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston where it ran in May 1916.<ref>{{cite news|title=''A Brazilian Honeymoon'' Holds Favor at the Wilbur|work=The Boston Globe|date=May 21, 1916|page= 58}}</ref> Scharff was still playing the role of Carfuso when the production reached Broadway's 44th Street Theatre on August 30, 1916<ref>{{cite news|first=Heywood|last=Broun|title=Musical Comedy Observes Rules: ''Girl from Brazil'' is a Twin Sister to Many|work=New-York Tribune|date= August 31, 1916|page= 7}}</ref> where it ran for 61 performances before continuing on its tour.{{sfn|Dietz|2021|pages=354-355}} One of the stops on the tour with Scharff in the cast included the Princess Theatre in Montreal in December 1916.<ref>{{cite news|title=''Girl from Brazil'' at the Princess|work=The Montreal Gazette|date= December 12, 1916|page= 7}}</ref>
On January 29, 1917 Scharff performed in the United States premiere of Oscar Straus's operetta ''Die Schöne Unbekannte'' which was performed using an English language translation entitled ''The Beautiful Unknown''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Real Music in Strauss Operetta: ''The Beautiful Unknown'' Finely Staged and Well Sung|work=Hartford Courant|date= January 30, 1917|page= 7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Oscar Strauss's New Operetta at Parson's Three Days Next Week|work=Meriden Morning Record|date= January 27, 1917|page= 15}}</ref> The production then toured to the Academy of Music in Baltimore.<ref>{{cite news|title=Strauss Operetta at Academy|work=The Baltimore Sun|date= February 4, 1917|page= 18}}</ref> In 1918 he performed a pianologue number in vaudeville,<ref>{{cite news|title=Clever Vaudeville Show Entertains Upton Police|work=Brooklyn Eagle|date= June 20, 1918|page=21}}</ref> and worked as theatrical booking agent for producer Henry W. Savage.<ref>{{cite news|title=About Plays and Players|last=Dudley|first=Bide|work=The Evening World|date= July 31, 1918|page= 16}}</ref> In December 1918 he left his position with Savage to work for theatrical impresario Chamberlain Brown as the head of his musical department.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rare Closing Order|work=The Lincoln Star|date= December 15, 1918|page= 26}}</ref>
Scharff was a featured bass vocalist in Reginald De Koven's short lived musical ''Yesterday'' in 1919.<ref name="Yesterday"/><ref>{{cite news|title=''Yesterday'' an Entrancing Play|work=Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser|date=March 9, 1919|page=24}}</ref> That same year he returned to Broadway in the small part of the Headwaiter in Jacques Presburg and Charles Jules's musical ''Oh, What A Girl!'' which played at the Shubert Theatre,{{sfn|Dietz|2021|pages=487-488}}<ref>{{cite news|title=''Oh, What A Girl!'' Amuses|work=The New York Times|date= July 29, 1919|page= 20}}</ref> and then toured to Massachusetts,<ref>{{cite news|title=Second Week of ''Oh, What A Girl!'' at the Shubert|work=The Boston Globe|date= November 16, 1919|page= 60}}</ref> Pennsylvania,<ref>{{cite news|title=''Oh, What A Girl!''|work=Lancaster Daily Intelligencer|date= December 8, 1919|page= 7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Theater Memoranda|work=The Pittsburgh Post|date= December 12, 1919|page= 5}}</ref> Ohio,<ref>{{cite news|title=Lyric|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date= December 28, 1919|page= 44}}</ref> and Canada.<ref>{{cite news|title=''Oh, What A Girl!''–Royal Alexandra Theatre|work=The Toronto Star|date= December 13, 1919|page= 30}}</ref> He was still with that tour when it reached the Shubert Theatre in Detroit, Michigan in January 1920.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shubert–Detroit–''Oh, What A Girl!''|work=Detroit Free Press|date= January 5, 1920|page=4}}</ref> In 1923 he performed in Harry Delf's musical ''Sun Showers''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sun Showers|work=Lewiston Evening Journal|date= May 4, 1923|page= 9}}</ref> and portrayed Quinn in the Broadway production of Owen Davis's play ''Home Fires'' at the 39th Street Theatre.{{sfn|Mantle|1924|page=304}} He returned to Broadway twice more during his career; portraying the photographer in Theodore Westman Jr.'s play ''Solid Ivory'' at the Central Theatre in 1925,{{sfn|Mantle|1926|page=498}} and the Mock Turtle in Eva Le Gallienne and Florida Friebus's stage adaptation of ''Alice in Wonderland'' at the Civic Repertory Theatre in 1932-1933.{{sfn|Mantle|1966|page=435}}
==Screen career== Scharff was a character actor who portrayed mostly minor roles in films.{{sfn|Ragan|1992|p=1535}} Using his own name, Lester Scharff, he made his film debut in the 1927 Paramount Pictures silent drama film ''New York'' in the duel roles of Sharpe and Izzy Blumenstein.{{sfn|Ragan|1992|page=1506}} He continued to use his own name for credited roles in films into the early 1940s.{{sfn|Ragan|1992|page=1506}} Some of the films where he was credited under him real name included ''The Great Commandment'' (1939, as the First Zealot),{{sfn|Kinnard|1992|page=61}} ''Earthbound'' (1940, as the Detective),{{sfn|Lentz|2001|page=1064}} ''The Man Who Wouldn't Talk'' (1940, as Henri Picot),{{sfn|Nash|Ross|1986|page=1860}} ''Remedy for Riches'' (1940, as Eddie),<ref name="RFR">{{cite journal|title=Remedy for Riches|journal=Showmen's Trade Review|date=November 23, 1940|page=25}}</ref> and ''Secrets of the Lone Wolf'' (1941, as Deputy Duval).{{sfn|Pitts|1979|page=178}}
In 1942 Scharff adopted the pseudonym Lester Sharpe for his work in film.{{sfn|Ragan|1992|page=1506}}{{sfn|Tiger|Colbert|2015|page=373}} He used that name in film into the 1950s.{{sfn|Ragan|1992|page=1506}} One of his more significant parts under this name was Blum, the benevolent elderly tailor in the 1952 film ''Carrie''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parsons |first=Louella O. |date=October 31, 1950 |title=Jeanne Crain Gets Top Role In New Film, The Loud Red Patrick |pages=11 |work=The Fresno Bee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/707762749/?terms=%22Lester%20Sharpe%22&match=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
In 1944 Scharff signed a contract with Republic Pictures as a producer.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hopper |first=Hedda |date=June 24, 1944 |title=Hedda Hopper Looking At Hollywood |pages=5 |work=The Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/380851264/?terms=%22Lester%20Sharpe%22&match=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He produced only one film with the company; ''Thoroughbreds'' in 1944.{{sfn|Nash|Ross|1987|page=3400}}
==Later life==
Scharff died in Los Angeles, California on November 30, 1962.<ref>Lester Scharff in the ''California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997''</ref>
==Partial filmography== ===Actor=== {{div col|colwidth=18em}} *''New York'' (1927) as Sharpe and Izzy Blumenstein (as Lester Scharff){{sfn|Ragan|1992|page=1506}} *''The Great Commandment'' (1939) as the First Zealot (as Lester Scharff){{sfn|Kinnard|1992|page=61}} *''Earthbound'' (1940) as Detective (as Lester Scharff){{sfn|Lentz|2001|page=1064}} *''The Man Who Wouldn't Talk'' (1940) as Henri Picot (as Lester Scharff){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1986|page=1860}} *''Remedy for Riches'' (1940) as Eddie (as Lester Scharff)<ref name="RFR"/> *''Secrets of the Lone Wolf'' (1941) as Deputy Duval (as Lester Scharff){{sfn|Pitts|1979|page=178}} *''Time to Kill'' (1942) as Elisha Washburn (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1987|page=3459}} *''Desperate Journey'' (1942) as a Driver (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1985|page=630}} *''This Land Is Mine'' (1943) as German lieutenant (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1987|page=3392}} *''Hangmen Also Die!'' (1943) as Rudy (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Picart|2004|page=335}} *''The Purple V'' (1943) as Nazi Doctor (as Lester Sharpe)<ref name="AFI">{{Cite web |title=Lester Sharpe|work=AFI Catalog |publisher=American Film Institute|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Person/98402-Lester-Sharpe?sid=6c0417d7-16a8-45c7-b306-44fd3b8d36e0&sr=10.887892&cp=1&pos=0&isMiscCredit=false |access-date=April 14, 2023}}</ref> *''The Strange Death of Adolf Hitler'' (1943) as Dr. Kaltenbach (as Lester Sharpe)<ref name="AFI"/> *''The Mummy's Ghost'' (1944) as Dr. Ayab (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1986|page=2043}} *''Lady in the Dark'' (1944) as Pianist (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1986|page=1584}} *''The Lost Weekend'' (1945), as Jewish Man (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1986|page=1738}} *''Port Said'' (1948) as Lt. Zaki (as Lester Sharpe)<ref name="AFI"/> *''Call Northside 777'' (1948) as a Technician (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1985|page=334}} *''Song of My Heart'' (1948) as Nikolai Rubinstein (as Lester Sharpe)<ref name="AFI"/> *''The Gallant Legion'' (1948) as Matt Kirby (as Lester Sharpe)<ref name="AFI"/> *''Letter from an Unknown Woman'' (1948) as Critic (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1986|page=1662}} *''Oh, You Beautiful Doll'' (1949) as music store proprietor (as Lester Sharpe)<ref name="AFI"/> *''Amazon Quest'' (1949) as Clerk (as Lester Sharpe)<ref name="AFI"/> *''I Was a Male War Bride'' (1949) as Waiter (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Ragan|1992|page=1506}} *''Mystery Submarine'' (1950) as Citadel Captain (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1986|page=2097}} *''Unmasked'' (1950) as Mr. Schmidt (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1987|page=3638}} *''The Vicious Years'' (1950) as Matteo (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1987|page=3680}} *''The Flying Saucer'' (1950) as Colonel Marikoff (as Lester Sharpe)<ref name="AFI"/> *''The Desert Hawk'' (1950) as a merchant (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1985|page=631}} *''Mask of the Avenger'' (1951) as Majordomo (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1986|page=1897}} *''Carrie'' (1952) as Blum (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1985|page=363}} {{div col end}}
===Producer=== *''Thoroughbreds'' (1944) (as Lester Sharpe){{sfn|Nash|Ross|1987|page=3400}}
==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist}} ===Bibliography=== *{{cite book|first1=Dan|last1=Dietz|title=The Complete Book of 1910s Broadway Musicals|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|year=2021|isbn=978-1-5381-5028-3}} *{{cite book|title=Divine Images: A History of Jesus on the Screen|year=1992|last=Kinnard|first= Roy|publisher=Carol Publishing Group|isbn=9780806512846}} *{{cite book|last=Lentz|first=Harris M.|title=Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits, 2nd Edition|volume=II|publisher=McFarland & Company|year=2001|isbn=0786409428}} *{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bestplaysof1923200mant/page/304/mode/2up?q=%22Home+Fires%22+%22Lester+Scharff%22|title=The Best Plays of 1923-24 and the Year Book of the Drama in America|editor-first=Burns|editor-last=Mantle|editor-link=Burns Mantle|chapter=Home Fires|publisher=Small, Maynard & Company|year=1924}} *{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.151331/page/n7/mode/2up?q=%22Solid+Ivory%22+%22Lester+Scharff%22|title=The Best Plays of 1925-26 and the Year Book of the Drama in America|editor-first=Burns|editor-last=Mantle|editor-link=Burns Mantle|chapter=Solid Ivory|publisher=Dodd, Mead & Co.|year=1926}} *{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bestplaysof193210000unse/page/n5/mode/2up?q=%22Mock+Turtle%22+%22Lester+Scharff%22|title=The Best Plays of 1932-33 and the Year Book of the Drama in America|editor-first=Burns|editor-last=Mantle|editor-link=Burns Mantle|chapter=Alice and Wonderland|publisher=Dodd, Mead & Co.|year=1966}} *{{cite book|title=Mickey Rooney|first= Alvin H.|last= Marill|year=2005|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=9780786420155}} *{{cite book|title=The Motion Picture Guide: C-D, 1927-1983|first1= Jay Robert|last1= Nash|first2=Stanley Ralph|last2= Ross|url=https://archive.org/details/motionpicturegui0002jayr/page/n5/mode/2up?q=%22Lester+Sharpe%22|publisher=Cinebooks|year=1985}} *{{cite book|title=The Motion Picture Guide: L-M, 1927-1983|first1= Jay Robert|last1= Nash|first2=Stanley Ralph|last2= Ross|url=https://archive.org/details/motionpicturegui0005jayr/page/1860/mode/2up|publisher=Cinebooks|year=1986}} *{{cite book|title=The Motion Picture Guide: T-V, 1927-1983|first1= Jay Robert|last1= Nash|first2=Stanley Ralph|last2= Ross|url=https://archive.org/details/motionpicturegui0003jayr/page/n9/mode/2up?q=%22Florence+Shirley%22|publisher=Cinebooks|year=1987}} *{{cite book|title=The Holocaust Film Sourcebook, Volume II|editor-last=Picart|editor-first=Caroline Joan (Kay)|publisher=Praeger|year=2004|isbn=978-0275978501}} *{{cite book|title=Famous Movie Detectives|last=Pitts|first= Michael R.|year=1979|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810812369}} *{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinhollywo02raga/page/1506/mode/2up?q=Scharff|title=Who's Who in Hollywood: The Largest Cast of International Film Personalities Ever Assembled, Volume II: M-Z|publisher=Facts on File|last=Ragan|first=David|year=1992}} *{{cite book|title=Real Names of Movie Stars: World-Wide Past & Present|year=2015|isbn=0971472440|first=Leo|last= Tiger|first2= Eddie|last2= Colbert|publisher=MegaStar Press}}
==External links== *{{IBDB name|id=59255|name=Lester Scharff}} *{{imdb name|id=0789247|name=Lester Sharpe}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scharff, Lester}} Category:1894 births Category:1962 deaths Category:American musical theatre actors Category:American male film actors Category:American male silent film actors Category:American male stage actors