Dachshunds in Pop Culture: Mischa Auer

Mischa Auer prepares his face with the help of his dachshund in 1950

Who? Mischa Auer (1905 - 1967), born Mischa Ounskowsy, was a Russian-born American stage, film, radio and TV actor who was best known for his zany comedy roles. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1936 for his performance in My Man Godfrey. What a fun photo of Mischa and his dachshund! He led an interesting life; his father died as an officer in the Imperial Russian Navy, and he lived on the street as a homeless child in extreme poverty. He was reunited with his mother, and they fled Stalin's socialist Russia to Turkey, where his mother, who had nursing experience, contracted typhus from her patients and died. The young Mischa dug her grave with his hands. He later emigrated to New York to live with his grandfather, violinist Leopold Auer. His grandfather encouraged him to study music, and while he became an accomplished musician and was able to play multiple instruments, he turned to acting. Find out more about Mischa Auer at The Internet Movie Database.