Hubert von Meyerinck
Born August 23, 1896 (Age: 129)
•
Potsdam, Germany
Biography
Hubert von Meyerinck was born in Potsdam on August 23, 1896, the son of a major. After his parents divorced, he was raised by his mother. From an early age he showed a strong interest in acting and began taking lessons as a child, despite his parents’ wish that he pursue a career as a priest. After completing school, he was drafted into military service during World War I but was discharged shortly afterward for health reasons. In 1917, he made his stage debut at the Berliner Schauspielhaus as Lieutenant von Hagen in "Kolberg." Following an engagement at the Hamburger Kammerspiele from 1918 to 1920, he performed at numerous Berlin theatres and variety venues, including the revue "Es liegt was in der Luft" alongside Marlene Dietrich. He earned acclaim both for his cabaret performances at the famed Tingeltangel and for dramatic stage roles such as Mephisto in "Faust" and Mackie Messer in "Die Dreigroschenoper." At the beginning of the 1920s, von Meyerinck transitioned to film. After a significant early role in Georg Jacoby’s serial "Der Mann ohne Namen," he appeared in supporting roles in silent films including Artur Robison’s "Manon Lescaut" (1926) and Wilhelm Dieterle’s "Ich lebe für Dich" (1929). His distinctive appearance—bald head, monocle, thin moustache—quickly made him recognizable, and he became a popular character actor. He was often typecast as aristocrats, bourgeois figures, authoritarian officials, eccentrics, or crooks. With the arrival of sound film, his raspy voice further defined his screen persona. Among his notable early sound films were Max Ophüls’ "Die verliebte Firma" (1931/32), Franz Wenzler’s "Wenn die Liebe Mode macht" (1932), and Kurt Gerron’s "Der weiße Dämon" (1932). During the Nazi era, he remained one of Germany’s most prolific and popular supporting actors, appearing in more than 90 productions between 1933 and 1945. These ranged from comedies such as "Ein falscher Fuffziger" (1935) to Willi Forst’s adaptation of Maupassant’s "Bel Ami" (1939) and Helmut Käutner’s "Kitty und die Weltkonferenz" (1939). He also took smaller roles in propagandistic films including "Ein Volksfeind" (1937) and "Trenck, der Pandur" (1940). Although it was widely known that he was homosexual, he was not prosecuted by the regime. In the 1950s and 1960s, von Meyerinck successfully parodied his established authoritarian image in numerous comedies. In 1957 alone he appeared in 13 films, including the popular "Der tolle Blomberg" and "Das Wirtshaus im Spessart." He received the Prize of the German Film Critics in 1960 for "Ein Mann geht durch die Wand" and again in 1961 for "Das Spukschloß im Spessart." Another highlight was his role as an exuberant aristocrat in Billy Wilder’s Cold War satire "One, Two, Three." Between 1965 and 1969, he regularly appeared as Sir Arthur, head of Scotland Yard, in the Edgar Wallace film series. Despite appearing in around 250 films, von Meyerinck remained committed to the stage and joined the ensemble of Hamburg’s Thalia Theatre in 1966. In 1968, he received a lifetime achievement award at the German Film Prize and published his memoirs. He died in Hamburg on May 13, 1971.
Hubert von Meyerinck was born in Potsdam on August 23, 1896, the son of a major. After his parents divorced, he was raised by his mother. From an early age he showed a strong interest in acting and began taking lessons as a child, despite his parents’ wish that he pursue a career as a priest. After completing school, he was drafted into military service during World War I but was discharged shortly afterward for health reasons.
In 1917, he made his stage debut at the Berliner Schauspielhaus as Lieutenant von Hagen in "Kolberg." Following an engagement at the Hamburger Kammerspiele from 1918 to 1920, he performed at numerous Berlin theatres and variety venues, including the revue "Es liegt was in der Luft" alongside Marlene Dietrich. He earned acclaim both for his cabaret performances at the famed Tingeltangel and for dramatic stage roles such as Mephisto in "Faust" and Mackie Messer in "Die Dreigroschenoper."
At the beginning of the 1920s, von Meyerinck transitioned to film. After a significant early role in Georg Jacoby’s serial "Der Mann ohne Namen," he appeared in supporting roles in silent films including Artur Robison’s "Manon Lescaut" (1926) and Wilhelm Dieterle’s "Ich lebe für Dich" (1929). His distinctive appearance—bald head, monocle, thin moustache—quickly made him recognizable, and he became a popular character actor. He was often typecast as aristocrats, bourgeois figures, authoritarian officials, eccentrics, or crooks. With the arrival of sound film, his raspy voice further defined his screen persona.
Among his notable early sound films were Max Ophüls’ "Die verliebte Firma" (1931/32), Franz Wenzler’s "Wenn die Liebe Mode macht" (1932), and Kurt Gerron’s "Der weiße Dämon" (1932). During the Nazi era, he remained one of Germany’s most prolific and popular supporting actors, appearing in more than 90 productions between 1933 and 1945. These ranged from comedies such as "Ein falscher Fuffziger" (1935) to Willi Forst’s adaptation of Maupassant’s "Bel Ami" (1939) and Helmut Käutner’s "Kitty und die Weltkonferenz" (1939). He also took smaller roles in propagandistic films including "Ein Volksfeind" (1937) and "Trenck, der Pandur" (1940). Although it was widely known that he was homosexual, he was not prosecuted by the regime.
In the 1950s and 1960s, von Meyerinck successfully parodied his established authoritarian image in numerous comedies. In 1957 alone he appeared in 13 films, including the popular "Der tolle Blomberg" and "Das Wirtshaus im Spessart." He received the Prize of the German Film Critics in 1960 for "Ein Mann geht durch die Wand" and again in 1961 for "Das Spukschloß im Spessart." Another highlight was his role as an exuberant aristocrat in Billy Wilder’s Cold War satire "One, Two, Three." Between 1965 and 1969, he regularly appeared as Sir Arthur, head of Scotland Yard, in the Edgar Wallace film series.
Despite appearing in around 250 films, von Meyerinck remained committed to the stage and joined the ensemble of Hamburg’s Thalia Theatre in 1966. In 1968, he received a lifetime achievement award at the German Film Prize and published his memoirs. He died in Hamburg on May 13, 1971.
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Filmography
No Image
Der Lauf des Bösen
1969
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as Kardinal
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Age: 73
Dr. med. Fabian - Lachen ist die beste Medizin
1969
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as General von Kottwitz
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Age: 72
Charleys Onkel
1969
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as Mr. Most
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Age: 72
Ein dreifach Hoch dem Sanitätsgefreiten Neumann
1969
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as Oberstabsarzt Dr. Treppwitz
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Age: 72
The Man with the Glass Eye
1969
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as Sir Arthur
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Age: 72
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Nachruf auf Egon Müller
1965
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as Tod
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Age: 69
Ich kauf mir lieber einen Tirolerhut
1965
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as Hubert Krempe
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Age: 69
Again the Ringer
1965
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as Judge Matthews
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Age: 68
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Das große Ohr
1965
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as Dupont
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Age: 68
They're Too Much
1965
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as Oberstaatsanwalt
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Age: 68
Frau Luna
1964
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as Kaiser
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Age: 68
Maibritt, the Girl from the Islands
1964
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as Direktor Dingelmeyer
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Age: 68
No Image
Die Rache des Jebal Deeks
1963
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as Sykes
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Age: 67
… denn die Musik und die Liebe in Tirol
1963
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as Oskar Ortshaus
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Age: 67
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Die Safeknacker-Suite
1963
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as Gustav
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Age: 67
Allotria in Zell am See
1963
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as Hauptmann Hans Hajo von Gestern
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Age: 67
No Image
Frauen sind keine Engel
1963
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as Charles
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Age: 66
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Stiftungsfest der Fleißigen Biene
1963
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as Hoteldirektor
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Age: 66
Und ewig knallen die Räuber
1962
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as Herr von Merlyn
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Age: 66
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Black-White-Red Four Poster
1962
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as Oberst Pusslitz
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Age: 66
Wenn die Musik spielt am Wörthersee
1962
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as Axel Bender, Evelyns Vater
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Age: 65
So toll wie anno dazumal
1962
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as Mandler
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Age: 65
Das ist die Liebe der Matrosen
1962
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as Freiherr von Mumpitz
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Age: 65
Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies
1962
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as Gustav Säuerling
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Age: 65
Der verkaufte Großvater
1962
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as Friedrich Wilhelm Dünkelberg
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Age: 65
The Turkish Cucumbers
1962
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as Rubin y Soliman
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Age: 65
Freddy and the Millionaire
1961
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as Walloschek
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Age: 65
One, Two, Three
1961
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as Count von Droste Schattenburg
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Age: 65
Robert und Bertram
1961
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as Kriminalkommissar Wolff
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Age: 65
Ein Stern fällt vom Himmel
1961
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as Rechtsanwalt
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Age: 65
Davon träumen alle Mädchen
1961
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as Schulrat
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Age: 65
Junge Leute brauchen Liebe
1961
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as Monsieur Terrier
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Age: 64
The Secret Ways
1961
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as Sheffler
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Age: 64
Die Abenteuer des Grafen Bobby
1961
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as Mr. Cower
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Age: 64
Mein Mann, das Wirtschaftswunder
1961
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as
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Age: 64
Schlussakkord
1960
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as
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Age: 64
Sabine und die hundert Männer
1960
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as Herzog
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Age: 64
The Haunted Castle
1960
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as Von Teckel
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Age: 64
Der Herr mit der schwarzen Melone
1960
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as
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Age: 63
Salem Aleikum
1959
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as Polizeichef Pierre Duval
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Age: 63
Der Czardas-König
1959
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as Szegedy
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Age: 63
The Man Who Walked Through the Wall
1959
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as Pickler - Der Bürochef
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Age: 63
No Image
Der lustige Krieg des Hauptmann Pedro
1959
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as Moritz von Persipan, Kriegsminister
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Age: 63
Melodie und Rhythmus
1959
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as Orlando
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Age: 63
La Paloma
1959
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as Direktor Bauer
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Age: 62
Bobby Dodd intervenes
1959
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as Versicherungsagent
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Age: 62
No Image
Der Kaiser von Amerika
1959
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as Premierminister Proteus
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Age: 62
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Skandal um Dodo
1959
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as Graf Udo von Pleitenstein
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Age: 62
No Image
Liebe, Mädchen und Soldaten
1958
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as Major von Siebenstern
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Age: 62
The World's Craziest Army
1958
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as Fürst Paul XIII. von Krakelsburg-Kummerstein
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Age: 62
Der Stern von Santa Clara
1958
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as Manager Freddy
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Age: 62
Rosemary
1958
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as Kleye
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Age: 61
...und abends in die Scala
1958
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as Alfons Spadolini
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Age: 61
The Spessart Inn
1958
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as Von Teckel
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Age: 61
No Image
Die Seeteufel von Angostura
1958
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as
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Age: 61
Manöverball
1956
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as Hauptmann Brothusen
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Age: 60
No Image
Zu Befehl, Frau Feldwebel
1956
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as Kriegsgerichtsrat Kronberg
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Age: 60
Santa Lucia
1956
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as Tutu
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Age: 59
Küß mich noch einmal!
1956
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as Direktor Landinger
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Age: 59
No Image
Help - She Loves Me
1956
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as Direktor der "Elysée-Bar
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Age: 59
Die gestohlene Hose
1956
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as Signore Ricoli
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Age: 59
Dany, bitte schreiben Sie
1956
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as Geschäftsführer Schnattke
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Age: 59
IA in Oberbayern
1956
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as Fritz
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Age: 59
Die Wirtin zur Goldenen Krone
1955
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as Weckenberg
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Age: 59
Das Forsthaus in Tirol
1955
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as von Langer, Staatsanwalt
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Age: 59
Love, Dance, and 1000 Songs
1955
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as Direktor Weber
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Age: 59
Ball im Savoy
1955
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as Max
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Age: 58
No Image
Die spanische Fliege
1955
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as
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Age: 58
No Image
Farewell Performance
1955
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as Philipp, Duc de Gramont
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Age: 58
Musik, Musik und nur Musik
1955
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as Bieberich
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Age: 58
An der schönen blauen Donau
1955
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as Baron Philipp
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Age: 58
Die verschwundene Miniatur
1954
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as Räuber
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Age: 58
No Image
Hochstaplerin der Liebe
1954
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as Meister Philippe
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Age: 58
Ten on Every Finger
1954
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as Director des Lido
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Age: 58
No Image
Keine Angst vor Schwiegermüttern
1954
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as
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Age: 58
Maxie
1954
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as Felix, Diener
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Age: 58
Columbus Discovers Kraehwinkel
1954
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as Polizeipräsident a. D. von Regwitz
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Age: 57
No Image
Das Nachtgespenst
1953
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as Hoteldirektor
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Age: 57
Not Afraid of Big Animals
1953
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as Kunstreiter
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Age: 56
They Call It Love
1953
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as Balancourt
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Age: 56
No Image
Knall und Fall als Detektive
1953
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as Stapler
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Age: 56
Heute nacht passiert’s
1953
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as Textilkaufmann Schulz
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Age: 56
Von Liebe reden wir später
1953
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as Herr Wilmar, Inhaber Kosmetik-Salon
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Age: 56
Fanfaren der Ehe
1953
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as Hornisse
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Age: 56
No Image
Eine seltene Geliebte
1950
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as Poule, Verlege
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Age: 54
Gute Nacht, Mary
1950
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as Frank Betterton
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Age: 54
Wer bist Du, den ich liebe?
1950
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as Zauberer
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Age: 54
No Image
Die Sterne lügen nicht
1950
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as Baron v. Malachowsky alias Emil Branske
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Age: 54
No Image
Das Mädchen aus der Südsee
1950
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as
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Age: 54
No Image
Der Mann, der sich selber sucht
1950
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as Direktor Cattoni
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Age: 53
Liebe auf Eis
1950
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as Hoteldirektor
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Age: 53
No Image
Maharadscha wider Willen
1950
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as Knirps - Generalsekretärs des Wunderfriseurs
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Age: 53
My Niece Suzanne
1950
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as Oscar
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Age: 53
Kein Engel ist so rein
1950
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as Mohrbutter
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Age: 53
No Image
Unknown Sender
1950
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as Schmoll, Lehrer
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Age: 53
No Image
Das Mädchen Juanita
1945
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as Verwandter des Konsul Henselings
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Age: 48
Der Mann, dem man den Namen stahl
1945
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as Max Vieregg
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Age: 48
Ein Zug fährt ab
1942
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as Frisör Schön
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Age: 46
No Image
Der große Schatten
1942
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as Schauspieler Voß
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Age: 46
Weiße Wäsche
1942
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as
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Age: 46
Two in a Big City
1942
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as Spießer Karl Eberhard Knopp
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Age: 45
Was geschah in dieser Nacht?
1941
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as Werner Gebhardt
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Age: 45
No Image
Frau Luna
1941
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as Rat Haschke
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Age: 44
No Image
Venus on Trial
1941
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as Dr.Knarre, Sachverständiger
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Age: 44
Wenn die Liebe Mode macht
1932
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as Mr. Farell
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Age: 36
Kampf
1932
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as Schneckendorf
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Age: 36
The White Demon
1932
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as Marquis d'Esquillon
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Age: 36
The Black Hussar
1932
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as Darmont's Cook
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Age: 36
For Once I'd Like to Have No Troubles
1932
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as Görner
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Age: 35
The Company's in Love
1932
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as Fritz Willner - Filmautor
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Age: 35
The Schlemihl
1931
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as Baron Stechling
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Age: 35
My Wife, the Adventuress
1931
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as
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Age: 35
The Theft of the Mona Lisa
1931
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as Museumsführer
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Age: 35
The Holy Flames
1931
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as Pastor
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Age: 34
The Flute Concert of Sans-souci
1930
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as Attché
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Age: 34
No Image
Terra Melophon Magazin Nr. 1
1930
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as Count
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Age: 34
Love's Carnival
1930
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as Benno von Klewitz - Leutnant
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Age: 34
Ludwig II, King of Bavaria
1930
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as
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Age: 33
No Image
Gelbe Bestien
1921
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as
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Age: 24
No Image
Der Millionendieb
1921
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as
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Age: 24