--- name: "Mischa Auer" canonical: "https://film.one/person/mischa-auer" roles: ["Actor"] born: "17 November 1905" died: "5 March 1967" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 71 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-09-19T23:33:18.790617+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Mischa Auer Actor. Born 17 November 1905 in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire [now Russia]. Died 5 March 1967. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 17 November 1905, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire [now Russia] - **Died:** 5 March 1967 - **Active:** 1936–1938 - **Also known as:** Mikhail Semyonovich Unskovsky, Mischa Ounskowsky, Misha Auer, Mischa Aver, Михаил Семёнович Унковский, Михаил Унковский, Миша Ауэр - **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 2 acting, 2 other - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 2 titles - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mischa_Auer, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1375447, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0041681/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/39801 ## Streaming the US now - **The Roku Channel:** [*You Can't Take It with You*](https://film.one/film/you-cant-take-it-with-you.md) (70) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Mischa Auer > Mischa Auer played the Mad Russian for Hollywood for thirty years: the accent, the manner, the grand verdicts on other people's art delivered to a room that had not asked. It is one note. In the right ensemble it is the one you remember. In the Vanderhof parlour in *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), Essie dances across the parlour in a tutu, her husband plays the xylophone for her, fireworks go off in the cellar, and a tall Russian at the edge of it all watches the dancing and announces that, confidentially, it stinks. That is Mischa Auer's part in one line. He is the man in the corner with opinions about art, a heavy accent and no intention of leaving. Capra gives him little else to do, and he does not need it. He had been in American films since 1928, mostly uncredited or as villainous foreigners, when Gregory La Cava cast him as Carlo in *My Man Godfrey* (1936). It changed what Hollywood wanted from him. "That one role made a comedian out of me," he said later. "I haven't been anything else since." What followed was a run of eccentric Russians and assorted foreigners in the comedies of the late thirties and early forties: Kolenkhov for Capra, Boris in *Destry Rides Again* (1939), Pepi in *Hellzapoppin'* (1941). Later there was television, European work, and the Professor in Orson Welles's *Mr. Arkadin* (1955). What works is the ensemble. In the Capra film Joseph Walker shoots the house in depth, so there are always two or three things going on behind whoever is talking, and Gene Havlick cuts to the racket rather than to the lines. Auer is built for that arrangement. He does not need a scene of his own; he needs a room to disapprove of. We laughed at the verdict on Essie's dancing, and then found we were still watching him after the line had gone, waiting to see what else he would find wanting. He is funnier waiting than talking. What does not work is anything that asks for a second note. After 1936 the parts changed their names and hardly changed their manner, and the complaint that there was little light or shade in him followed him to the end, into the stage revivals of the sixties. On the evidence we have, it is fair. He did not seem to mind. The Mad Russian was a type Hollywood wanted for a long time, and he supplied it. So see him in the Vanderhof house, where the film is at its best when it is simply making noise and he is one of the noises. Do not go looking for another Auer somewhere in the filmography. He told us himself there was not one. ## Biography Mischa Auer was a Russian-born American actor. Born Mikhail Semyonovich Unskovsky in Saint Petersburg in 1905, he moved to the United States as a teenager and began his career on the stage in the 1920s, including work in Yiddish theatre in New York. He made his film debut in 1928 and appeared in numerous supporting roles through the early 1930s. Auer gained prominence in the mid-1930s with comic character parts. He played Count Arisztid in the musical comedy *Three Smart Girls* (1936) and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Carlo in *My Man Godfrey* (1936). He is also known for appearances as Kolenkhov in *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), Boris in *Destry Rides Again* (1939) and Nikita Starloff in *And Then There Were None* (1945). Auer continued working in films and later television into the 1960s, including roles in European productions. He died in Rome in 1967. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (4) ### Performed in (2) — the average rests on these - *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), Fi1m 70, as Kolenkhov — [page](https://film.one/film/you-cant-take-it-with-you.md) - *Three Smart Girls* (1936), Fi1m 72, as Count Arisztid — [page](https://film.one/film/three-smart-girls.md) ### Also credited (2) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *The Lives of a Bengal Lancer* (1935), Fi1m 74, as Captured Afridi (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lives-of-a-bengal-lancer.md) - *Viva Villa!* (1934), Fi1m 66, as Military Attaché (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/viva-villa.md) ## Complete filmography (164) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Legends of the West* (1992), as Boris Callahan in 'Destry Rides Again' (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Going Hollywood: The '30s* (1984), as (archive footage) - *Per amore... per magia...* (1967), as il Granduca di Forilarì - *Arrivederci, Baby!* (1966), as Romeo - *The Christmas That Almost Wasn't* (1966), as Jonathan, the Elf Foreman - *What Ever Happened to Baby Toto?* (1964), as Barone Miscia - *These Mad, Mad Women* (1964), as Psychiatrist - *The Two Mafiosi* (1964), as Mischa - *Tarzan the Fearless* (1964), as High Priest - *Cleopazza* (1964), as Produttore Strombic - *We Joined the Navy* (1963), as Colonel & President - *Ladies First* (1963), as Le baron Lionel de Balconi - *The King's Breakfast* (1963), as The Master of the King's Music - *Ninotchka* (1960), as Buljanoff - *The Dennis O'Keefe Show* (1959), series, as Count Hager - *Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse* (1958), series, Actor - *A Dog, A Mouse and a Sputnik* (1958), as Professor Papov - *Sacred Youth* (1958), as Professor Koranoff - *Le Tombeur !!!* (1958), as Pedro Olivaro - *Tabarin* (1958), as Boris - *Nathalie* (1957), as Cyril Boran - *La Polka des menottes* (1957), as Charles Magne - *The Monte Carlo Story* (1956), as Hector, the Maitre D' - *Mannequins of Paris* (1956), as Yaschlik - *That Naughty Girl* (1956), as Igor, Ballet Master - *Thirteen at the Table* (1955), as Badabof - *Three of the Canebière* (1955), as Garopoulos - *The Miller's Saucy Wife* (1955), as Pascual - *Mr. Arkadin* (1955), as The Professor - *The Impossible Mr. Pipelet* (1955), as l'écrivain médiocre et alcoolique - *Frou-Frou* (1955), as Grand-Duc Alexis - *School for Love* (1955), as Berger - *Song of Paris* (1952), as Comte Marcel de Sarliac - *Vivere a sbafo* (1950), as Pippo Berlocco - *Fame and the Devil* (1949), as Bernard Stork - *Snow White and the Seven Thieves* (1949), as Danilo Biruski - *Studio One* (1948), series, as Cosmo - *Sofia* (1948), as Ali Imagu - *For You I Die* (1947), as Alec Shaw - *She Wrote the Book* (1946), as Joe - *Sentimental Journey* (1946), as Gregory Petrovich Rogozhin - *And Then There Were None* (1945), as Nikita "Nikki" Starloff - *Brewster's Millions* (1945), as Mikhail Mikhailovich - *A Royal Scandal* (1945), as Captain Sukov - *Up in Mabel's Room* (1944), as Boris - *Lady in the Dark* (1944), as Russell Paxton - *Around the World* (1943), as Mischa Auer - *Dr. Terror's House of Horrors* (1943), as Chief Lukulla - *Twin Beds* (1942), as Nicolai Cherupin - *Don't Get Personal* (1942), as Stanislaus "Charlie" Noodnick - *Hellzapoppin'* (1941), as Pepi - *Moonlight in Hawaii* (1941), as Clipper Canovan - *Sing Another Chorus* (1941), as Stanislaus - *Hold That Ghost* (1941), as Gregory - *The Flame of New Orleans* (1941), as Zolotov - *Cracked Nuts* (1941), as Boris Kabikoff - *Trail of the Vigilantes* (1940), as Bolo - *Seven Sinners* (1940), as Sasha - *Spring Parade* (1940), as Gustav - *Public Deb No. 1* (1940), as Grisha - *Margie* (1940), as Gomez - *Sandy Is a Lady* (1940), as Felix Lobo Smith - *Alias the Deacon* (1940), as Andre - *Destry Rides Again* (1939), as Boris - *Unexpected Father* (1939), as Boris Bebenko - *East Side of Heaven* (1939), as Nicky - *Sweethearts* (1938), as Leo Kronk - *Little Tough Guys in Society* (1938), as Dr. Trenkle - *Service de Luxe* (1938), as Bibenko - *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), as Kolenkhov — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/you-cant-take-it-with-you.md) - *The Rage of Paris* (1938), as Mike, Head Waiter - *Prescription for Romance* (1937), as Count Sandor - *Merry Go Round of 1938* (1937), as Mischa - *One Hundred Men and a Girl* (1937), as Michael - *It's All Yours* (1937), as Baron Rene de Montigny - *Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938* (1937), as Prince Muratov - *Marry the Girl* (1937), as Dimitri Ryeff - *Pick a Star* (1937), as Rinaldo Lopez - *Top of the Town* (1937), as Hamlet - *We Have Our Moments* (1937), as Enrico Mussetti - *That Girl from Paris* (1936), as Butch - *Three Smart Girls* (1936), as Count Arisztid — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/three-smart-girls.md) - *College Holiday* (1936), as Ticket Taker at Door - *Winterset* (1936), as Radical - *The Gay Desperado* (1936), as Diego - *My Man Godfrey* (1936), as Carlo - *The Princess Comes Across* (1936), as Morevitch - *One Rainy Afternoon* (1936), as Stage Actor - *Sons o' Guns* (1936), as German Spy - *The House of a Thousand Candles* (1936), as Victor Demetrius - *Here Comes Trouble* (1936), Actor - *Tough Guy* (1936), as Chi - *We're Only Human* (1935), as Lefty Berger - *I Dream Too Much* (1935), as Darcy's Pianist - *Condemned to Live* (1935), as Zan - *The Adventures of Rex and Rinty* (1935), as Tanaga - *The Crusades* (1935), as Monk - *Murder in the Fleet* (1935), as Kamchukan Consul (Uncredited) - *Clive of India* (1935), as Suraj Ud Dowlah - *The Lives of a Bengal Lancer* (1935), as Captured Afridi (uncredited) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lives-of-a-bengal-lancer.md) - *Mystery Woman* (1935), as Dmitri - *Biography of a Bachelor Girl* (1935), as Mr. Rabinowitz (uncredited) - *My Grandfather's Clock* (1934), as Servant (uncredited) - *Student Tour* (1934), as Sikh Cop - *Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back* (1934), as Hassan - *Beyond the Law* (1934), as Tully - *Stamboul Quest* (1934), as Ameel Roberts - *Change of Heart* (1934), as Smith (uncredited) - *Viva Villa!* (1934), as Military Attaché (uncredited) — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/viva-villa.md) - *The Woman Condemned* (1934), as Dr. Wagner - *Wharf Angel* (1934), as Sadik - *Girl Without a Room* (1933), as Walksky - *Cradle Song* (1933), as Village Priest - *After Tonight* (1933), as Agent Lehan - *Tarzan the Fearless* (1933), as High Priest - *The Flaming Signal* (1933), as Manu--High Priest - *Corruption* (1933), as Volkov - *I Loved You Wednesday* (1933), as Piano Accompanist - *Storm at Daybreak* (1933), as Gavrilo Princip (uncredited) - *Infernal Machine* (1933), as Klein - *Gabriel Over the White House* (1933), as Mr. Thieson (uncredited) - *The Intruder* (1933), as Wild Man - *Sucker Money* (1933), as Swami Yomurda - *Clear All Wires!* (1933), as Arab leader (uncredited) - *Dangerously Yours* (1933), as Kassim - *Rasputin and the Empress* (1932), as Butler Pouring Drinks at Party (uncredited) - *The Unwritten Law* (1932), as Abu Eyd - *Call Her Savage* (1932), as Agitator in Restaurant (Uncredited) - *Scarlet Dawn* (1932), as Sergei (Uncredited) - *The Western Code* (1932), as Chapman - *Drifting Souls* (1932), as Skeets - *Almost Married* (1932), as Russian Policeman (uncredited) - *Beauty Parlor* (1932), as Herman Bauer - *No Greater Love* (1932), as Rabbi - *The Last of the Mohicans* (1932), as Montcalm - *The Midnight Patrol* (1932), as Dummy Black - *Arsène Lupin* (1932), as Louvre Tour Guide (uncredited) - *Sinister Hands* (1932), as Swami - *Murder at Dawn* (1932), as Henry - *The Monster Walks* (1932), as Hanns Krug - *Delicious* (1931), as Mischa - *Mata Hari* (1931), as Firing Squad Victim (uncredited) - *Working Girls* (1931), as Elsie's Boyfriend (uncredited) - *The Yellow Ticket* (1931), as Melchior - *The Unholy Garden* (1931), as Prince Nicolai Poliakoff - *The Lady from Nowhere* (1931), as Rigo - *Women Love Once* (1931), as Oscar - *Women of All Nations* (1931), as Hassan's Aide - *The Spy* (1931), as Man in Cafe - *The Drums of Jeopardy* (1931), as Peter - *King of the Wild* (1931), as Prince Dakka - *Command Performance* (1931), as Duke Charles - *No Limit* (1931), as Romeo - *Just Imagine* (1930), as B-36 - *Shooting Straight* (1930), as Frenchie - *Inside the Lines* (1930), as Amahdi - *Paramount on Parade* (1930), as Thug (Murder Will Out) (uncredited) - *The Benson Murder Case* (1930), as Albert Brecker (uncredited) - *Guilty?* (1930), as Minor Role (uncredited) - *The Mighty* (1929), as Hood - *The Studio Murder Mystery* (1929), as Grant's Secretary - *Why Be Good?* (1929), as Man Dancing at The Boiler (uncredited) - *Marquis Preferred* (1929), as Albert - *Something Always Happens* (1928), as Clark ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1937: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *My Man Godfrey* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/mischa-auer