Zita Johann

Zita Johann born Elisabeth Johann was an AustrianAmerican stage and screen actress best known for her dual role as Helen Grosvenor Princess Ankhesenamón in the 1932 film The Mummy Born July 14 1904 in Temesvar AustriaHungary which is today part of Romania Johann immigrated to the United States when she was approximately seven years old After appearing in school plays and with the Theatre Guild Repertory Company she made her Broadway debut in 1924 Although she signed a contract with MGMwhich included a script approval clause unique for the timeher tenure there was very brief and she would later make her big screen debut in DW Griffiths The Struggle in 1931 Her defining role in The Mummy would come the next year although her working relationship with director Karl Freund was acrimonious After seven films she left the Hollywood system entirelylater stating that she felt it was exploitiveand returned to theater in addition to penning plays and film scripts A deeply spiritual person Johann described herself as a mystic and would pray before each performance to fully surrender herself to a role She also did community service and taught acting classes for children and people with learning disabilities She was married and divorced three times including a fouryear marriage to actor John Houseman from 1929 to 1933 In her later years she bought a home in Rockland County New York where she remained for decades never having children or remarrying Johann died of pneumonia in Nyack New York on September 24 1993