Albert M. Ottenheimer

Albert M. Ottenheimer (September 6, 1904 – January 25, 1980) was an American stage actor whose Broadway career spanned from 1956 to 1975. Born in Tacoma, Washington, he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Washington in 1927, where he participated in stage productions and contributed to school publications.

In 1928, Ottenheimer co-founded the Seattle Repertory Playhouse alongside Florence and Burton James. During his time with the organization, he authored two plays produced there, L'Envoi and Funny Man, and wrote the books for two musicals, Calico Cargo and San Juan Story. He also took a leave from the Playhouse to work as a screenwriter at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Beyond his theatrical work, Ottenheimer was a founding member of the Seattle local of the American Federation of Radio Artists and served as chairman of its Negotiating Committee, where his responsibilities included writing exhibits and briefs for The Brotherhood in Presidential Emergency Board cases.

During the McCarthy era, Ottenheimer was blacklisted in Seattle after the Canwell Committee investigated communist activity on the University of Washington campus. He refused to answer questions about his activities and beliefs, resulting in a 30-day jail sentence and placement on the blacklist. The Seattle Repertory Playhouse also suffered consequences from this period and eventually closed, later reopening as the Seattle Repertory Theater. In 1951, Ottenheimer relocated to New York City and joined the Equity Union. The blacklisting eventually disrupted his acting work there as well, forcing him to take employment as a temporary typist until he was able to resume acting by the late 1950s.

Following his return to the stage, Ottenheimer worked in television serials, commercials, and dramas, while continuing to pursue theatrical roles. His most prominent stage role was Doc in the musical West Side Story, a production he also toured in Europe. While performing the show in Amsterdam, he met actor Mies Waalewijn, whom he married before returning to the United States. His Broadway credits also included The Deputy, Yentl, and the comedy Affair of Honor. Ottenheimer died on January 25, 1980, while rehearsing for a production at the Cincinnati Playhouse in Cincinnati, Ohio.