Fritz Richard

{{Short description|Austrian actor and theatre director}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Fritz Richard

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_name = Josef Richard Löwit

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1869|11|17|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Chotieborsch, Austria-Hungary (now, Chotěboř, Czech Republic)

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1933|02|09|1869|11|17|df=yes}}

| death_place = Berlin, Germany

| nationality = Austrian

| other_names =

| education =

| occupation = Actor, theatre director

| years_active= 1886–1933

| spouse = Frida Richard (née Friederike Raithel; 1898–1933)

| children = 3

| awards =

}}

Fritz Richard (born Josef Richard Löwit; 17 November 1869 – 9 February 1933) was an Austrian actor and theatre director.

Fritz Richard was born as Josef Richard Löwit in Chotěboř, Austria-Hungary into a Jewish family.{{Cite book|title= Das große Personenlexikon des Films. Die Schauspieler, Regisseure, Kameraleute, Produzenten, Komponisten, Drehbuchautoren, Filmarchitekten, Ausstatter, Kostümbildner, Cutter, Tontechniker, Maskenbildner und Special Effects Designer des 20. Jahrhunderts. Vol. 6|last=Weniger|first=Kay|date=2011|publisher=Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf|location=Berlin|page=508|isbn=3-89602-340-3|language=de}}

Richard trained as a stenographer and took acting lessons in Vienna at the Pauline Loewe Theatre School. His first engagement as a stage actor was in Mülheim in 1886. He then appeared at various Austrian and German provincial theatres.{{cite web|url=https://www.derstandard.at/story/1277338804902/geschichte-der-festspiele-laufende-verfolgung|title=Laufende Verfolgung|date=23 July 2010|work=Der Standard|first=Gert|last=Kerschbaumer|accessdate=16 August 2021|language=de}}

From Metz in 1905 his path took him to Berlin, where he mainly worked at the Deutsches Theater and the Lessing Theater. He was part of Max Reinhardt's ensemble. He was particularly successful in Karl Schönherr's Der Weibsteufel and as Jedermann. From 1913 Richard also took part in numerous silent films.

Richard married his fellow student Friederike Raithel in 1898, who later also became an actress under the name Frida Richard. Richard died in Berlin shortly after Adolf Hitler came to power. After his death, rumours circulated that he had murdered by the Gestapo.