Actor. Born in Vienna of Jewish parentage, he studied at the Royal Dramatic Academy in that city, and began as a stage actor before moving to Germany, where he continued his stage career whilst appearing in eighteen films, both silent and with sound. Following Hitler's rise to power in 1933, he went to England, where he made three films, notably "Rhodes of Africa" as President Kruger, opposite Walter Huston in the title role, and Hitchcock's "Sabotage" (based on a novel by Joseph Conrad), as Mr. Verloc. Three years later, he moved to the United States, where he starred in six plays on Broadway as well as making thirty films, notably: "I Remember Mama" for which he was nominated for an Oscar, re-creating his Broadway success in the role of the Uncle; "The Seven Year Itch" with Marilyn Monroe; "War and Peace"; and Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms." In 1962, he moved to England, where he intended to retire. In fact, he continued to appear in British films until 1974, including two based upon Len Deighton's novels ("Funeral in Berlin" and "Billion Dollar Brain") in both of which he played Colonel Stok, opposite Michael Caine. Of his four wives, the third was the actress Grete Mosheim, and the fourth was Joan Tetzel, whom he married in 1949 and with whom he is buried.
Actor. Born in Vienna of Jewish parentage, he studied at the Royal Dramatic Academy in that city, and began as a stage actor before moving to Germany, where he continued his stage career whilst appearing in eighteen films, both silent and with sound. Following Hitler's rise to power in 1933, he went to England, where he made three films, notably "Rhodes of Africa" as President Kruger, opposite Walter Huston in the title role, and Hitchcock's "Sabotage" (based on a novel by Joseph Conrad), as Mr. Verloc. Three years later, he moved to the United States, where he starred in six plays on Broadway as well as making thirty films, notably: "I Remember Mama" for which he was nominated for an Oscar, re-creating his Broadway success in the role of the Uncle; "The Seven Year Itch" with Marilyn Monroe; "War and Peace"; and Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms." In 1962, he moved to England, where he intended to retire. In fact, he continued to appear in British films until 1974, including two based upon Len Deighton's novels ("Funeral in Berlin" and "Billion Dollar Brain") in both of which he played Colonel Stok, opposite Michael Caine. Of his four wives, the third was the actress Grete Mosheim, and the fourth was Joan Tetzel, whom he married in 1949 and with whom he is buried.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
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