Fred Ott

Frederick Paul Ott (1860 – October 24, 1936) was a talented machinist who played a pivotal role in Thomas Edison’s laboratories from the 1870s until Edison's passing in 1931. He is best remembered for his appearances in two of the earliest surviving films: the iconic Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze, commonly referred to as Fred Ott's Sneeze, and the lesser-known Fred Ott Holding a Bird, both dating back to 1894.

The Sneeze film, shot in a medium close-up, captures Ott appearing to take a pinch of snuff before sneezing. This brief yet humorous clip has become a landmark in the history of cinema and was created in response to a request from Harper's Weekly, which sought illustrations for an article on the Kinetoscope.

Ott’s journey with Edison began in 1874 when he joined the team at just 14 years old, quickly establishing himself as one of Edison's most trusted employees and close confidants. Together with his brother, John F. Ott, he contributed to numerous inventions that shaped the technological landscape. Following the deaths of both Edison and John Ott in 1931, Fred Ott chose to retire, marking the end of an era. He passed away at his residence in West Orange, New Jersey, on October 24, 1936, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with the dawn of motion picture history.