Menacing Facts About Peter Lorre, The Original Bond Villain
Peter Lorre was Hollywood’s favorite bad guy. Famous for his menacing on-screen appearance, Lorre’s personal life took on nightmarish themes of its own. From an encounter with the infamous “Hillside Strangler”
to a post-mortem stalker, read these facts about Peter Lorre, the original Bond villain.
1. He Was A Loner
Peter Lorre was born to Hungarian Jewish parents in June of 1904. His real name was László Löwenstein, which would have made for a much cooler stage name. His father was a bookkeeper but also a lieutenant, so he was rarely home.
As a result, Lorre spent a lot of time alone. From the very beginning, his life was something of a nightmare.
2. He Grew Up With A Villain
It’s little wonder that Lorre knew how to portray a villain on screen—he grew up with one. Lorre’s mother passed away he was just four years old and his father remarried his deceased wife’s best friend. Lorre’s new stepmother was so cruel to him that he used to hide underneath the bed to escape her. And it wasn’t just because she was mean.
His fears might have been legitimate.
3. His Mother’s Passing Was Suspicious
By all accounts, Lorre’s mother had been healthy up to the point of her sudden demise and her quick end raised some eyebrows. In all likelihood, Lorre’s mother had succumbed to food poisoning. It’s only speculation, but her untimely passing benefited Lorre’s new monster of a stepmother more than anyone else. He had to escape.
4. He Ran Away
Peter Lorre ran away from home at the age of 17 to get away from his stepmother—in case she made him a suspect “family dinner”. Lorre found his way to Germany and began working as a bank clerk but took stage acting lessons as well. He soon found stage work in Vienna, Berlin and Zurich. But bigger, scarier things were right around the corner.
