American character actress in films of the 1920s and 1930s. Perhaps her most memorable role is as the harem girl who Curly Howard briefly romances -- until he unveils the lower half of her... not exactly desirable face (complete with missing tooth) -- in the Three Stooges comedy "Wee Wee Monsieur" (1938).
Her parents were Elizabeth (née Hartman, 1856-1911) and Samuel Nettrouer (1850-1908); Ida was the youngest of five children (Samuel and Elizabeth had eight total, but three passed before 1900). On 30 January 1917, Ida married Polish-born August Kruger (1890-1965) in Kansas City, Kansas; August was a molder who later worked in the motion picture industry as a carpenter and utility man. They had two children: Yolanda Fedora (Kruger) Yale (1918-2011) and Clarence August Kruger (1921-1950), both of whom followed their parents into the motion picture business. Ida later lived in Victorville, California, for 29 years prior to her passing. She is buried at Desert Lawn Memorial Park in Palmdale, California.
Her ad in the February 1927 Standard Casting Directory gives two phone numbers: ME(tropolitan) 8005 and GL(adstone) 4612. The former phone number produces a match in the "Kelts' Geographical Directory, Los Angeles, September, 1927, Vol. 1" for the Richelieu Hotel, 142 South Grand; below that listing is a separate one for Ida May, phone no. MU 3940, at the same address. The 1928 Los Angeles City Directory lists Ida M. Kruger, an actor, residing at 142 S. Grand Av., as does her husband, molder August Kruger.
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