German actors who were born in 1903
Here are 11 famous actors from Germany were born in 1903:
Theo Lingen
Theo Lingen (June 10, 1903 Hanover-November 10, 1978 Vienna) also known as Lingen, Theo or Franz Theodor Schmitz was a German actor, film director, screenwriter and musician. He had one child, Ursula Lingen.
Lingen began his career as a pianist and comedian, and made his first film appearance in 1927. He appeared in over 230 films over the course of his career, including notable roles in "The Congress Dances" (1931), "The Merry Widow" (1952), and "The Haunted Castle" (1960). In addition to his film work, Lingen also directed several films and wrote screenplays. He was a popular figure in German-speaking countries, and his comedic talents made him a beloved personality. In addition to his entertainment work, Lingen was also a member of the resistance during World War II, and worked to smuggle Jewish individuals out of Germany. After the war, he continued his entertainment career until his death in 1978 at the age of 75.
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Werner Klingler
Werner Klingler (October 23, 1903 Stuttgart-June 23, 1972 Berlin) also known as Warner Klinger or Wally Klinger was a German actor, film director, television director and screenwriter.
Klingler started his career in the film industry as an actor and made his debut on screen in 1924. In the 1930s, he began directing films and gained success with his 1937 film, "Der Mustergatte" which became a box office hit. During World War II, he served as a war correspondent and made documentaries for the German Army. After the war, he continued his work in the entertainment industry and directed numerous successful films, including "Schwarzwaldmelodie" and "Orient Express". In addition to his work in the film industry, Klingler also directed television shows and was one of the pioneers in bringing television to West Germany. He is considered as one of the most prolific and innovative directors of his time.
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Hans Söhnker
Hans Söhnker (October 11, 1903 Kiel-April 20, 1981 Berlin) also known as Hans Soehnker, Hans Sohnker or Hans Sonker was a German actor.
He started his acting career on stage and later transitioned to film. Söhnker appeared in over 150 films throughout his career and was known for his roles in popular German films such as "Die Feuerzangenbowle" (1944) and "Die Zürcher Verlobung" (1957). He was also a successful voice actor and dubbed the German voices of many famous Hollywood actors, including Gary Cooper and Clark Gable, into German-language versions of their films. Söhnker received numerous awards for his contributions to German cinema, including the Order of Merit of Berlin and the Bambi award.
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Hans Hessling
Hans Hessling (March 23, 1903 Hamburg-February 24, 1995 Ahrensburg) a.k.a. Hans Oskar Richard Hessling or Hans Heßling was a German actor.
He began his acting career in 1938 and went on to appear in over 80 films, most notably in Nazi propaganda films such as "Jud Süß" (1940) and "Kolberg" (1945). After the end of World War II, he continued his acting career and appeared in several successful German films including "The Confession of Ina Kahr" (1954) and "Buddenbrooks" (1959). In addition to his film work, Hessling also worked as a stage actor and director. In later years, he focused on his work as a voice actor, dubbing foreign films into German. Despite his controversial past in Nazi propaganda films, Hessling remained a respected figure in the German film industry until his death in 1995.
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Hermann Erhardt
Hermann Erhardt (January 9, 1903 Landshut-November 30, 1958 Vienna) also known as Herman Erhardt, Herm. Erhardt or Hermann Maier was a German actor.
Erhardt began his acting career in the late 1920s, appearing in silent films such as "Schatten der Weltstadt" and "Die Dame und ihr Chauffeur." He made a successful transition to sound films in the 1930s, often playing charming and debonair characters.
Erhardt continued to act during World War II, and was known for his portrayals of anti-Nazi characters in films such as "Münchhausen" and "Mensch ohne Namen." However, he also appeared in propaganda films such as "Jud Süß" and "Kolberg," which would later lead to controversy and criticism of Erhardt's career.
After the war, Erhardt continued to act in films such as "Mordprozess Dr. Jordan" and "Die Schenke zur ewigen Liebe." He also worked as a stage actor, and was a member of the Vienna Burgtheater ensemble.
Erhardt died in Vienna in 1958, at the age of 55, due to a heart attack. Despite controversy surrounding some of his earlier work, he is remembered as a talented actor and a significant figure in German film history.
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Hans Hinrich
Hans Hinrich (November 27, 1903 Berlin-October 30, 1974 Berlin) also known as Giovanni Hinrich, John Hinrich or Giovanni Heinrich was a German actor and film director.
He began his acting career in the Berlin theater scene, appearing in various plays throughout the 1920s and early 1930s. Hinrich made his film debut in 1933 and quickly became a popular leading man in German cinema during the Nazi era. He appeared in over 50 films, including "Jugend" (Youth) and "Die Degenhardts" (The Degenhardts).
Following World War II, Hinrich's career was impacted by his association with the Nazi party. He was briefly imprisoned by the Allies in 1945 but ultimately released due to a lack of evidence of any wrongdoing. In the 1950s and 1960s, Hinrich turned to directing and worked on a number of successful German films including "Abenteuer im Schloss" (Adventure at the Castle) and "Kauf Dir einen bunten Luftballon" (Buy Yourself a Colorful Balloon).
Hinrich was married to stage actress Maria Andergast from 1934 until her death in 1961. He later married actress and singer Ingeborg Schöner in 1963. Hinrich died in 1974 in Berlin and is buried in the city's Zehlendorf Cemetery.
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Karl-Heinz Peters
Karl-Heinz Peters (August 28, 1903 Ennepetal-September 5, 1990 Munich) also known as Carl-Heinz Peters, Carlheinz Peters, K.H. Peters, Karl Heinz Peters or Karlheinz Peters was a German actor. His child is called Felicitas Peters.
Karl-Heinz Peters began his acting career in the early 1920s, performing in various theaters across Germany. In the 1930s, he transitioned to film, appearing in numerous German productions. He is perhaps best known for his role as Major von Kiepert in the 1957 World War II film "The Bridge" ("Die Brücke" in German).
Despite being a successful actor in his time, Peters' career was interrupted by World War II. He served in the German military and was wounded in action several times. After the war, he returned to acting, taking on various roles in films and on television.
In addition to his work in acting, Peters was also a talented writer. He wrote plays, screenplays, and even a novel.
Karl-Heinz Peters remained active in the entertainment industry until his death in Munich in 1990 at the age of 87.
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Harry Giese
Harry Giese (March 2, 1903 Magdeburg-January 20, 1991 Berlin) was a German actor and voice actor.
He began his career in the German film industry in the late 1920s and appeared in over 200 films throughout his career. Giese is best known for his roles in films such as "Münchhausen", "Die Drei von der Tankstelle", and "Zu neuen Ufern".
In addition to his work on screen, Giese was also a prolific voice actor. He provided the German voice dubbing for famous actors such as Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, and Spencer Tracy.
Giese remained active in the entertainment industry until his death in 1991 at the age of 87. He was remembered by his colleagues as a skilled and versatile actor and voice artist, with a career that spanned several decades of German film and television history.
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Robert Thoeren
Robert Thoeren (April 21, 1903 Brno-July 13, 1957 Munich) also known as Franz Werner, Thoeren, R. Thoeren or Robert Thorsch was a German screenwriter and actor. His child is called Konstantin Thoeren.
Robert Thoeren was born in Brno, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and grew up in Vienna. He began his career in the entertainment industry in the 1920s as an actor, appearing in several German and Austrian films. However, he is best known for his work as a screenwriter, having penned scripts for numerous films throughout the 1930s and 1940s.
Thoeren's most famous work as a screenwriter was the 1930 German film "Der Blaue Engel" (The Blue Angel), which starred Marlene Dietrich and was directed by Josef von Sternberg. The film catapulted Dietrich to international stardom and is considered a classic of German cinema.
However, Thoeren's career was cut short by World War II. He was of Jewish descent, and his work was banned by the Nazi regime. Thoeren fled to France in 1933 and then to the United States in 1939, where he continued to work as a screenwriter.
In 1946, Thoeren returned to Germany and resumed his career in the film industry. However, he struggled to regain his footing and never achieved the same level of success as he had before the war. Thoeren passed away in Munich in 1957 at the age of 54. Despite his contributions to German cinema, he remains relatively unknown outside of film circles.
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Jürgen von Alten
Jürgen von Alten (January 12, 1903 Hanover-February 28, 1994 Bremen) also known as Jürgen v. Alten or Jurgen von Alten was a German film director, actor and screenwriter.
He was born into an aristocratic family and pursued a career in acting before transitioning to directing and screenwriting. He began his career in the film industry in the 1920s, working as an assistant director on various films. In 1932, he made his directorial debut with the German film Die elf Schill'schen Offiziere.
After the rise of the Nazi party in Germany, von Alten's career was briefly put on hold due to his Jewish ancestry. However, he was able to continue working in the film industry after World War II, directing and screenwriting for both German and American productions. He directed a number of successful films, including The Count of Luxemburg (1957) and The Main Attraction (1962).
In addition to his work in film, von Alten was also involved in theater and television productions. He was a member of the German Film Academy and received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Filmband in Gold for his contributions to German cinema. He died in 1994 at the age of 91.
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Werner Stock
Werner Stock (October 20, 1903 Sangerhausen-April 30, 1972 Berlin) also known as Werner Bruno Wilhelm Hermann Stock was a German actor.
He started his career in the 1920s in silent films and later appeared in numerous German films during the Nazi era. Despite being a member of the Nazi party, he was able to continue his acting career after World War II. In the 1960s, he appeared in several international productions, including the Italian film "Hercules and the Captive Women." In addition to his work in film, Stock was also active in theater and television, and he received several awards for his performances throughout his career. He passed away in Berlin in 1972 at the age of 68.
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