Werner Johannes Krauss (''Krauß'' in German; 23 June 1884 – 20 October 1959) was a German stage and film actor. Krauss dominated the German stage of the early 20th century. However, his participation in the

antisemitic Antisemitism or Jew-hatred is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who harbours it is called an antisemite. Whether antisemitism is considered a form of racism depends on the school of thought. Antisemi ...

propaganda film ''

Jud Süß (, ) is a 1940 Nazi German historical drama/propaganda film produced by Terra Film at the behest of Joseph Goebbels. Considered one of the most antisemitic films of all time, the film was directed by Veit Harlan, who co-wrote the screenplay w ...

'' and his collaboration with the

Nazis Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...

made him a controversial figure.

Early life

Krauss was born at the parsonage of Gestungshausen bei

Sonnefeld Sonnefeld () is a Municipalities of Germany, municipality in the Districts of Germany, district of Coburg (district), Coburg in States of Germany, Bavaria in Germany. Geographical Location Sonnefeld lies on Bundesstraße 303 between Coburg and Kr ...

Upper Franconia Upper Franconia (, ) is a (administrative 'Regierungs''region 'bezirk'' of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia, the others being Middle Franconia and Lower Franconia, wh ...

, where his grandfather was a

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

pastor. He spent his childhood in Breslau and from 1901 attended the teacher's college at Kreuzburg. After it became known that he worked as an

extra Extra, Xtra, or The Extra may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film * The Extra (1962 film), ''The Extra'' (1962 film), a Mexican film * The Extra (2005 film), ''The Extra'' (2005 film), an Australian film Literature * Extra (newspaper), ...

at the Breslau Lobe-Theater, he was suspended from classes and decided to join a travelling theatre company.

Acting career

In 1903 he debuted at the

Guben Guben (Polish language, Polish and Sorbian languages, Sorbian: ''Gubin'') is a town on the Lusatian Neisse river in Lower Lusatia, in the States of Germany, state of Brandenburg, in eastern Germany. Located in the Spree-Neiße Districts of German ...

municipal theatre. Although never trained as an actor, he continued to play in

Magdeburg Magdeburg (; ) is the Capital city, capital of the Germany, German States of Germany, state Saxony-Anhalt. The city is on the Elbe river. Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor and founder of the Archbishopric of Mag ...

, in

Bromberg Bydgoszcz is a city in northern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Kuyavia. Straddling the confluence of the Vistula River and its left-bank tributary, the Brda, the strategic location of Bydgoszcz has made it an inland ...

at the

Theater Aachen Theater Aachen is a theatre in Aachen, Germany. It is the principal venue in that city for operas, musical theatre and plays. It is the home of the Sinfonieorchester Aachen. The original project was by Johann Peter Cremer, later altered by Ka ...

, in

Nuremberg Nuremberg (, ; ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the Franconia#Towns and cities, largest city in Franconia, the List of cities in Bavaria by population, second-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Bav ...

and in

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

. By the agency of

Alexander Moissi Alexander () is a male name of Greek origin. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are A ...

, in 1913 he met the theatre director

Max Reinhardt Max Reinhardt (; born Maximilian Goldmann; 9 September 1873 – 30 October 1943) was an Austrian-born Theatre director, theatre and film director, theater manager, intendant, and theatrical producer. With his radically innovative and avant-gard ...

, who took Krauss to his Deutsches Theater in

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

. However, Krauss initially only gained minor and secondary roles like

King Claudius King Claudius is a fictional character and the main antagonist of William Shakespeare's tragedy ''Hamlet''. He is the brother to King Hamlet, second husband to Gertrude and uncle and later stepfather to Prince Hamlet. He obtained the throne of ...

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

's ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

'' or

Mephistopheles Mephistopheles ( , ), also known as Mephostophilis or Mephisto, is a demon featured in German folklore, originating as the chief devil in the Faust legend. He has since become a stock character appearing in Mephistopheles in the arts and popular ...

Goethe Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German polymath who is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide-ranging influence on Western literature, literary, Polit ...

's ''

Faust Faust ( , ) is the protagonist of a classic German folklore, German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust (). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a deal with the Devil at a ...

'', wherefore after his military discharge as a

midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest Military rank#Subordinate/student officer, rank in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Royal Cana ...

of the

Imperial German Navy The Imperial German Navy or the ''Kaiserliche Marine'' (Imperial Navy) was the navy of the German Empire, which existed between 1871 and 1919. It grew out of the small Prussian Navy (from 1867 the North German Federal Navy), which was mainly for ...

in 1916 he also pursued a career as a film actor. Krauss' first film role was in

Richard Oswald Richard Oswald (5 November 1880 – 11 September 1963) was an Austrian film director, producer, screenwriter, and father of German-American film director Gerd Oswald. Early life and career Richard Oswald, born in Vienna as Richard W. Ornstein, ...

's 1916 ''

Tales of Hoffmann ''The Tales of Hoffmann'' (French: ) is an by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, who is the protagonist of the story. It was Offenbach's final work; he died in ...

''. Committed to playing sinister characters, he became a worldwide sensation for his demonic portrayal of the titular character in

Robert Wiene Robert Wiene (; 27 April 1873 – 17 July 1938) was a German film director, screenwriter and Film producer, producer, active during the Silent film, silent era. He is widely-known for directing the landmark 1920 film ''The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari ...

's film ''

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari ''The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'' () is a 1920 German silent horror film directed by Robert Wiene and written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer. The quintessential work of early German Expressionist cinema, it tells the story of an insane hypno ...

'' (1920), considered a milestone of

German Expressionism Expressionism is a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Northern Europe around the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radi ...

. Krauss played the

title role The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piëce. The title o ...

Othello ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'', often shortened to ''Othello'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1603. Set in Venice and Cyprus, the play depicts the Moorish military commander Othello as he is manipulat ...

in a 1920 adaption, and played

Iago Iago () is a fictional character in Shakespeare's '' Othello'' (c. 1601–1604). Iago is the play's main antagonist and Othello's standard-bearer. He is the husband of Emilia who is in turn the attendant of Othello's wife Desdemona. Iago ha ...

in a 1922 film adaptation. In 1922, Krauss also played the noble Jewish hero in ''

Nathan the Wise ''Nathan the Wise'' (original German title: , ) is a play by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing from 1779. It is a fervent plea for religious tolerance. It was never performed during Lessing's lifetime and was first performed in 1783 at the Döbbelinsches ...

'', based on the play by

Lessing Lessing is a German surname of Slavic origin. The original Sorbian form, ''Lěsnik'', means either "forest dweller" or "woodman", ''lěs'' meaning "wood forest". People with the surname Lessing include a German family of writers, artists, musicians ...

. He was prominently featured in

Paul Leni Paul Leni (born Paul Josef Levi, 8 July 1885 – 2 September 1929) was a German filmmaker and a key figure in German Expressionism (cinema), German Expressionism, making ''Hintertreppe'' (1921) and ''Waxworks (film), Waxworks'' (1924) in German ...

's '' Waxworks'' (1924), F.W. Murnau's ''

Tartuffe ''Tartuffe, or The Impostor, or The Hypocrite'' (; , ), first performed in 1664, is a theatrical comedy (or more specifically, a farce) by Molière. The characters of Tartuffe, Elmire, and Orgon are considered among the greatest classical theat ...

,'' and '' The Student of Prague'' (1926). In 1924 Krauss continued his theatre career by joining the ensemble of the Prussian State Theatre in Berlin. He again appeared on stage of the Deutsches Theater from 1926, as in Strindberg's ''

A Dream Play ''A Dream Play'' (), sometimes staged in English as ''The Dream Play'', is a fantasy play in 14 scenes written in 1901 by the Swedish playwright August Strindberg. It was published in Swedish in 1902 and first performed in Stockholm on 17 April ...

'' filling five roles or as

Wilhelm Voigt Wilhelm Voigt (13 February 1849 – 3 January 1922) was a German con man and impostor. In his most famous exploit, Voigt masqueraded as a military officer of the elite Prussian Guards in 1906, rounding up a number of Imperial German Army soldi ...

in the 1931 premiere of

Carl Zuckmayer Carl Zuckmayer (27 December 1896 – 18 January 1977) was a German writer and playwright. His older brother was the pedagogue, composer, conductor, and pianist Eduard Zuckmayer. His first two dramas were failures. In 1929, he wrote the script ...

's '' The Captain of Köpenick''. He also performed at the Vienna

Burgtheater The Burgtheater (; literally: "Castle Theater" but alternatively translated as "(Imperial) Court Theater", originally known as '' K.K. Theater an der Burg'', then until 1918 as the ''K.K. Hofburgtheater'', is the national theater of Austria in ...

, and guest performances even brought him to

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

and on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, where Max Reinhardt staged

Karl Vollmöller Karl Gustav Vollmöller (or Vollmoeller; 7 May 1878 – 18 October 1948) was a German philologist, archaeologist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and aircraft designer. He is most famous for the elaborate religious spectacle-pantomime '' The Mir ...

's '' The Miracle'' in 1924. Krauss' consummate skills in characterization earned him the title of "the man with a thousand faces". His fellow actress

Elisabeth Bergner Elisabeth Bergner (22 August 1897 – 12 May 1986) was an Austrian-British actress. Primarily a stage actress, her career flourished in Berlin and Paris before she moved to London to work in films. Her signature role was Gemma Jones in '' Esca ...

called him "the greatest actor of all time" and a "demonic genius" in her memoirs.

Oskar Werner Oskar Werner (; born Oskar Josef Bschließmayer; 13 November 1922 – 23 October 1984) was an Austrian stage and cinema actor who reached international fame. His most prominent roles include two 1965 films, '' The Spy Who Came In from the Cold' ...

, born Oskar Josef Bschließmayer, chose his stage name in Krauss' honour.

Nazi Germany

Krauss was an unapologetic

antisemite Antisemitism or Jew-hatred is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who harbours it is called an antisemite. Whether antisemitism is considered a form of racism depends on the school of thought. Antisemi ...

who supported the

Nazi Party The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party ( or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported the ideology of Nazism. Its precursor ...

and its ideology. While the Nazis seized power in Berlin in January 1933, Krauss joined the Vienna Burgtheater ensemble to perform as

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

in ''100 Tage'' (''Campo di maggio''), a drama written by

Giovacchino Forzano Giovacchino Forzano (; 19 November 1884 – 28 October 1970) was an Italian playwright, librettist, stage and film director. A resourceful writer, he authored numerous popular plays and produced opera librettos for most of the major Italian comp ...

together with

Benito Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who, upon assuming office as Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister, became the dictator of Fascist Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 un ...

, whereafter he was received by the Italian dictator and also made the acquaintance of Nazi Propaganda Minister

Joseph Goebbels Paul Joseph Goebbels (; 29 October 1897 – 1 May 1945) was a German Nazism, Nazi politician and philologist who was the ''Gauleiter'' (district leader) of Berlin, chief Propaganda in Nazi Germany, propagandist for the Nazi Party, and ...

. In the course of the totalitarian ''

Gleichschaltung The Nazi term (), meaning "synchronization" or "coordination", was the process of Nazification by which Adolf Hitler—leader of the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, Germany—established a system of totalitarian control and coordination over all ...

'' process, Krauss was appointed Vice President of the ''

Reichskulturkammer The Reich Chamber of Culture (''Reichskulturkammer'', abbreviated as RKK) was a government agency in Nazi Germany. It was established by law on 22 September 1933 in the course of the '' Gleichschaltung'' process at the instigation of Reich Minist ...

'' theatre department and served in that capacity from 1933 to 1935. In 1934, Krauss was designated as a '' Staatsschauspieler'' ('State Actor', i.e. an actor of national importance). Upon the death of Reich President

Paul von Hindenburg Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg (2 October 1847 – 2 August 1934) was a German military and political leader who led the Imperial German Army during the First World War and later became President of Germany (1919� ...

in August, he signed the '' Aufruf der Kulturschaffenden'' to merge of the offices of President and Chancellor in the person of

Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his suicide in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the lea ...

. Goebbels and Hitler rated Krauss as a cultural ambassador of

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...

. Krauss and Max Reinhardt worked together for the last time at the 1937

Salzburg Festival The Salzburg Festival () is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer, for five weeks starting in late July, in Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart's operas are a focus of ...

, staging

's ''

'' (with Krauss as

) in the

Felsenreitschule The Felsenreitschule (literally "rock riding school") is a theatre in Salzburg, Austria and a venue of the Salzburg Festival. History A first Baroque architecture, Baroque theatre was erected in 1693–94 at the behest of the Archbishopric of Sa ...

theatre, shortly before Reinhardt emigrated to the United States. In 1940, Krauss simultaneously played the roles of six stereotypical Jewish characters – among them Rabbi Loew and Sekretar Levy – in

Veit Harlan Veit Harlan (22 September 1899 – 13 April 1964) was a German film director and actor. Harlan reached the high point of his career as a director in the Nazi era; most notably his antisemitic film '' Jud Süß'' (1940) makes him controversial. W ...

's antisemitic propaganda film ''

'', implementing Harlan's concept of a common Jewish root. When asked by

Wolfgang Liebeneiner Wolfgang Georg Louis Liebeneiner (6 October 1905 – 28 November 1987) was a German actor, film director and theatre director. Beginnings He was born in Lubawka, Liebau in Prussian Silesia. In 1928, he was taught by Otto Falckenberg, the directo ...

about the devastating effects of his performance, he replied: "that's no concern of mine – I'm an actor!" Krauss also played

Shylock Shylock () is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's play '' The Merchant of Venice'' ( 1600). A Venetian Jewish moneylender, Shylock is the play's principal villain. His defeat and forced conversion to Christianity form the climax ...

Lothar Müthel Lothar Müthel (né Lothar Max Lütcke; 18 February 1896 – 4 September 1964) was a German stage and film actor and director. Career Müthel was born in Berlin, where he attended the acting school of Max Reinhardt, ''Schauspielschule, Ber ...

's defamatory production of ''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...

'' staged at the Burgtheater in 1943. In 1944, Krauss was added to the " ''Gottbegnadeten'' list" of indispensable German artists, which exempted him from military service in the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...

forces, including service on the

home front Home front is an English language term with analogues in other languages. It is commonly used to describe the civilian populace of the nation at war as an active support system for their military. Civilians are traditionally uninvolved in com ...

Postwar

After the war, Krauss had to leave his home in Mondsee near

Salzburg Salzburg is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020 its population was 156,852. The city lies on the Salzach, Salzach River, near the border with Germany and at the foot of the Austrian Alps, Alps moun ...

and was expelled from

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

. He also was banned from performing on stage and in films in Germany. His films were proscribed and he was ordered to undergo a

denazification Denazification () was an Allied initiative to rid German and Austrian society, culture, press, economy, judiciary, and politics of the Nazi ideology following the Second World War. It was carried out by removing those who had been Nazi Par ...

program from 1947 to 1948, whereafter he could return to Austria to become a

naturalized citizen Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-national of a country acquires the nationality of that country after birth. The definition of naturalization by the International Organization for Migration of the ...

. In 1950, he again performed as ''

King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...

'' at the Ruhr Festival in

Recklinghausen Recklinghausen (; ) is the northernmost city in the Ruhr-Area and the capital of the Recklinghausen district. It borders the rural Münsterland and is characterized by large fields and farms in the north and industry in the south. Recklinghaus ...

. However, in December his performance with the Burgtheater ensemble at the

Kurfürstendamm The Kurfürstendamm (; colloquially , ; ) is one of the most famous avenues in Berlin. The street takes its name from the former (prince-electors) of Brandenburg. The broad, long boulevard can be considered the of Berlin and is lined with s ...

Theatre in Berlin met with protest. In 1951 Krauss again received

German citizenship German nationality law details the conditions by which an individual is a national of Germany. The primary law governing these requirements is the Nationality Act, which came into force on 1 January 1914. Germany is a member state of the Euro ...

. Ultimately, he was rehabilitated to the extent of being invited to German

film festivals A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually annually and in a single city or region. Some film festivals show films outdoors or online. Films may be of recent date and depe ...

. In 1954, he received the

Iffland-Ring The Iffland-Ring is a diamond-studded finger ring, ring with a picture of August Wilhelm Iffland, a prominent German actor, dramatist and theatre director of the late 18th and early 19th century, who played in works of contemporary writers Goeth ...

, though not determined by the previous holder

Albert Bassermann Albert Bassermann (7 September 1867 – 15 May 1952) was a German stage and screen actor. He was considered to be one of the greatest German-speaking actors of his generation and received the famous Iffland-Ring. He was married to Elsa Schiff w ...

but by a committee of German-speaking actors. In the same year, Krauss was awarded the Order of the Federal Republic of Germany; in 1955, he received the High Decoration of the Republic of Austria. In 1958, Krauss published his autobiography titled ''Das Schauspiel meines Lebens'' (''The Play of my Life''). Krauss died in relative obscurity in

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

at the age of 75. He was cremated and buried in an ''

Ehrengrab An ''Ehrengrab'' ( English: 'grave of honor') is a distinction granted by certain German, Swiss and Austrian cities to some of their citizens for extraordinary services or achievements in their lifetimes. If there are no descendants or institut ...

'' in the Vienna

Zentralfriedhof The Vienna Central Cemetery () is one of the largest cemeteries in the world by number of interred, and is the most well-known among Vienna's nearly 50 cemeteries. The cemetery's name is descriptive of its significance as Vienna's biggest cemet ...

Filmography

* ''

Die geheimnisvolle Villa ''Die geheimnisvolle Villa'' (lit. 'The Secret-Filled Villa') is a 1914 silent German detective film directed by Joe May and starring Ernst Reicher. It is the first in the series starring the fictional gentleman detective Stuart Webbs, modelle ...

'' (1914) * ''

'' (1916) as Conte Dapertutto * ''Zirkusblut'' (1916) as Thomas the tramp * ''Die vertauschte Braut'' (1916, Short) * ''Die Rache der Toten'' (1916, Short) as Mayor Paul Horvath * '' The Uncanny House'' (1916, 3 parts) as Albert von Sievers / Franz Mollheim / Professor Cardallhan * ''Die Bettlerin von St. Marien'' (1916) as Buckeljörg * ''Unheilbar'' (1917) * ''Der Erbe von 'Het Steen (1917) * '' A Night of Horror'' (1917): as the artist's husband * ''Das Bacchanal des Todes'' (1917) as Jan Lars * ''Die Kaukasierin'' (1917) * ''Die Fremde'' (1917) as Pan Hoang Amitaba * ''Die Pagode'' (1917) as Dr. Remus * ''Gesühnte Schuld'' (1917, Short) as Professor Marquardt * ''Die Tochter der Gräfin Stachowska'' (1917) as Adam Kolinski * '' The Sea Battle'' (1917) * ''Die schöne Prinzessin von China'' (1917, Short) as Kaiser * ''Wenn Frauen lieben und hassen'' (1917, Short) * ''Der Friedensreiter'' (1917) as Reiter * ''Die schleichende Gefahr'' (1918) as Musiker * ''

Let There Be Light "Let there be light" is an English translation of the Hebrew (''yehi 'or'') found in Genesis 1:3 of the Torah, the first part of the Hebrew Bible. In Old Testament translations of the phrase, translations include the Greek phrase (''genēt ...

'' (1918) as Waldemar Gorsky * ''Der Bettler von Savern'' (1918) * ''Das verwunschene Schloß'' (1918) as Bauer Grödner * ''Der Prozeß Hauers'' (1918) * '' Diary of a Lost Woman'' (1918) as Meinert * ''Madame d'Ora'' (1918) as Gelehrter Edmund Hall * '' Colomba'' (1918) as Gonzales * ''

The Story of Dida Ibsen ''The Story of Dida Ibsen'' (German: ''Dida Ibsens Geschichte'') is a 1918 German silent drama film directed by Richard Oswald and starring Anita Berber, Conrad Veidt and Werner Krauss. It is an adaptation of Margarete Böhme's 1907 novel of t ...

'' (1918) as Philipp Galen * ''Fräulein Pfiffikus'' (1918) * ''Seiner Hoheit Brautfahrt'' (1918) * ''Seelen in Ketten'' (1918) as the prince * ''E, der scharlachrote Buchstabe'' (1918) * ''Das Gift der Medici'' (1918) * ''Der Friedensreiter'' (1918) * ''

Opium Opium (also known as poppy tears, or Lachryma papaveris) is the dried latex obtained from the seed Capsule (fruit), capsules of the opium poppy ''Papaver somniferum''. Approximately 12 percent of opium is made up of the analgesic alkaloid mor ...

'' (1919) as Nung-Tschang * ''

Prostitution Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, no ...

'' (1919) as Mann * ''Mazeppa, der Held der Ukraine'' (1919) as

Mazeppa Mazepa or Mazeppa is the surname of Ivan Mazepa, a Ukrainian hetman made famous worldwide by a poem by Lord Byron. It may refer to: Artistic works Poems * Mazeppa (poem), "Mazeppa" (poem) (1819), a dramatic poem by Lord Byron * "Mazeppa", a poem b ...

* ''Die Insel der Glücklichen'' (1919) as Senator Dr. Wenningx * '' Rose Bernd'' (1919) as Bernd * ''Das ewige Rätsel'' (1919) as Faun * '' The Dance of Death'' (1919) as The Cripple * ''Phantome des Lebens'' (1919) * ''Die Heimat'' (1919) * '' The Woman with Orchids'' (1919) * ''

The Girl and the Men ''The Girl and the Men'' (German: ''Das Mädchen und die Männer'') is a 1919 German silent film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Paul Hartmann, Werner Krauss and Reinhold Schünzel.Bock & Bergfelder p.433 Cast In alphabetical order * Hanne B ...

'' (1919) * ''Opfer'' (1920) * ''

'' (1920) as Dr. Caligari * ''Spiritismus'' (1920) * ''

Eternal River ''Eternal River'' (German: ''Ewiger Strom'') is a 1920 German silent drama film directed by Johannes Guter and starring Werner Krauss, Marija Leiko and Heinrich Peer.Giesen p.36 The film's sets were designed by the art director Robert Neppach ...

'' (1920) as a ferryman * '' Johannes Goth'' (1920) as Verleger Assmann * '' The Woman Without a Soul'' (1920) as Stephan Wulkowitz * '' Death the Victor'' (1920) as Dr. Olaf Karsten * ''Die Frau im Himmel'' (1920) as Aufseher * ''Der Staatsanwalt'' (1920) as Ziegelpeter * ''

The Brothers Karamazov ''The Brothers Karamazov'' ( rus, Братья Карамазовы, Brat'ya Karamazovy, ˈbratʲjə kərɐˈmazəvɨ), also translated as ''The Karamazov Brothers'', is the last novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky spent nearly ...

'' (1920) as Serdjakoff * '' The Kwannon of Okadera'' (1920) as Harlander * ''Die Beichte einer Toten'' (1920) * ''Das lachende Grauen'' (1920) * ''

The Medium ''The Medium'' is a short (one-hour-long) two-act dramatic opera with words and music by Gian Carlo Menotti. Commissioned by the Alice M. Ditson Fund at Columbia University, its first performance was there on 8 May 1946, with Claramae Turner a ...

'' (1921) * ''

The House in Dragon Street ''The House in Dragon Street'' (German: ''Das Haus in der Dragonerstrasse '') is a 1921 German silent crime film directed by Richard Oswald and starring Edmund Löwe, Werner Krauss and Lilly Flohr. The film premiered in Berlin on 24 June 1921 ...

'' (1921) as Walter * ''

Christian Wahnschaffe ''Christian Wahnschaffe'' is a 1920 German silent drama film directed by Urban Gad and starring Conrad Veidt, Lillebil Ibsen, Hermann Vallentin and Fritz Kortner. It was released in two parts ''World Ablaze'' (''Weltbrand'') in November 1920 and ...

'' (1921, part 2) as Niels Heinrich * ''

Danton Georges Jacques Danton (; ; 26 October 1759 – 5 April 1794) was a leading figure of the French Revolution. A modest and unknown lawyer on the eve of the Revolution, Danton became a famous orator of the Cordeliers Club and was raised to gover ...

'' (1921, dir.

Dimitri Buchowetzki Dimitri Buchowetzki (1885–1932), born Dmitry Savelyevych Bukhovecky, was a Russian film director, screenwriter, and actor in Germany, Sweden, United States, United Kingdom, and France. Life and career Initially Buchowetzki studied law. Later h ...

) as

Robespierre Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre (; ; 6 May 1758 – 28 July 1794) was a French lawyer and statesman, widely recognised as one of the most influential and controversial figures of the French Revolution. Robespierre fer ...

* '' Shattered'' (1921, dir.

Lupu Pick Lupu Pick (2 January 1886 – 7 March 1931) was a Romanian-German actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter of the silent era. He appeared in 50 films between 1910 and 1928. Born in Romania, Pick's father was a Jewish Austrian,Hans ...

) as the track checker * ''

The Story of Christine von Herre ''The Story of Christine von Herre'' () is a 1921 Cinema of Germany, German silent film, silent drama film directed by Ludwig Berger (director), Ludwig Berger and starring Agnes Straub, Werner Krauss, and Paul Hartmann (actor), Paul Hartmann. It ...

'' (1921) as Count Von Herre * ''

The Dance of Love and Happiness ''The Dance of Love and Happiness'' () is a 1921 German silent film directed by Willy Zeyn and starring Werner Krauss, Olga Limburg and Hugo Flink.Bock & Bergfelder p. 261 It premiered at the Marmorhaus in Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Ca ...

'' (1921) as Director Mac Sullivan * '' Lady Hamilton'' (1921) as

Lord William Hamilton Lord William Hamilton (c. 1706 – 11 July 1734) was a member of Parliament for Lanarkshire. Early life Lord William was the second oldest child of James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton, and his second wife Elizabeth (née Gerard). When the ...

* '' Circus of Life'' (1921) as Philipp Hogger * ''Sturmflut des Lebens'' (1921) * ''Fledermäuse'' (1921) * ''Die Beute der Erinnyen'' (1922) as Wells * ''

Fridericus Rex ''Fridericus Rex'' (German: ''Fridericus Rex - 1. Teil: Sturm und Drang'') is a 1922 German silent historical film directed by Arzén von Cserépy and starring Otto Gebühr, Albert Steinrück and Gertrud de Lalsky. It portrays the life of t ...

'' (1922-1923, part 1, 3) as Count Kaunitz * ''

'' (1922, dir. Dimitri Buchowetzki) as

* ''

The Burning Soil ''The Burning Soil'' () is a 1922 German silent film directed by F.W. Murnau. It was made the same year as Murnau's ''Nosferatu'' and released in Germany around the same time. The film follows the struggle over a plot of petroleum-rich land. I ...

'' (1922) as Old Rog * '' Luise Millerin'' (1922) as Secretary Wurm * '' The Earl of Essex'' (1922) * ''

'' (1922) as

Nathan Nathan or Natan may refer to: People and biblical figures *Nathan (given name), including a list of people and characters with this name * Nathan (surname) *Nathan (prophet), a person in the Hebrew Bible *Nathan (son of David), a biblical figu ...

* ''Marquise von Pompadour'' (1922) * ''Josef und seine Brüder'' (1922) * ''Die Nacht der Medici'' (1922) * '' The Treasure'' (1923, dir.

G. W. Pabst Georg Wilhelm Pabst (25 August 1885 – 29 May 1967) was an Austrian film director and screenwriter. He started as an actor and theater director, before becoming one of the most influential German-language filmmakers during the Weimar Republic. ...

) as Svetelenz * '' Old Heidelberg'' (1923) as Dr. Jüttner * ''

The Misanthrope ''The Misanthrope, or the Cantankerous Lover'' (; ) is a 17th-century comedy of manners in verse written by Molière. It was first performed on 4 June 1666 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal (rue Saint-Honoré), Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris by ...

'' (1923) * ''

Adam and Eve Adam and Eve, according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions, were the first man and woman. They are central to the belief that humanity is in essence a single family, with everyone descended from a single pair of original ancestors. ...

'' (1923) * '' Between Evening and Morning'' (1923) * ''

Fräulein Raffke ''Fräulein Raffke'' is a 1923 German silent film directed by Richard Eichberg and starring Werner Krauss, Lydia Potechina and Lee Parry.Bock & Bergfelder p.8 A "Raffke" was Weimar era slang for a money accumulator. The film's sets were designe ...

'' (1923) as Emil Raffke * ''

'' (1923) as

* ''

The Ancient Law ''The Ancient Law'' () is a 1923 German silent drama film directed by E. A. Dupont and starring Henny Porten, Ruth Weyher and Hermann Vallentin. The son of an Orthodox Rabbi faces hostility from his father when he decides to become an actor. ...

'' (1923) as Professor Nathan * '' The Doll Maker of Kiang-Ning'' (1923) * '' I.N.R.I.'' (1923) as Pontius Pilatus * ''

The Unknown Tomorrow ''The Unknown Tomorrow'' (German: ''Das unbekannte Morgen'') is a 1923 German silent drama film directed by Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; ; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)Decameron Nights ''Decameron Nights'' (also known as ''Tres Historias De Amor'') is a 1953 British-American anthology Technicolor film directed by Hugo Fregonese and starring Joan Fontaine and Louis Jourdan. It was written by George Oppenheimer based on three ...

'' (1924) as Soldan * '' Waxworks'' (1924, dir.

) as

Jack the Ripper Jack the Ripper was an unidentified serial killer who was active in and around the impoverished Whitechapel district of London, England, in 1888. In both criminal case files and the contemporaneous journalistic accounts, the killer was also ...

Spring-Heeled Jack Spring-heeled Jack was an entity in English folklore of the Victorian era. The first claimed sighting of Spring-heeled Jack was in 1837. Later sightings were reported all over the United Kingdom and were especially prevalent in suburban Lond ...

* ''Une femme dans la nuit'' (1924) * ''

Wood Love ''Wood Love'' (German title: ''Ein Sommernachtstraum'') is a 1925 German silent comedy film directed by Hans Neumann and starring Werner Krauss, Valeska Gert and Alexander Granach. It was an adaptation of William Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer ...

'' (1925) as Bottom * '' Reveille: The Great Awakening'' (1925) * ''

Joyless Street ''Joyless Street'' (), also titled ''The Street of Sorrow'' or ''The Joyless Street'', is a 1925 German silent film directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst starring Greta Garbo, Asta Nielsen and Werner Krauss. It is based on a novel by Hugo Bettauer an ...

'' (1925, dir.

) as Geiringer the butcher * ''

Jealousy Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of Emotional insecurity, insecurity, fear, and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, he ...

'' (1925) as Mann/Georges Ménard * ''

The Morals of the Alley ''The Morals of the Alley'' () is a 1925 German silent film directed by Jaap Speyer and starring Werner Krauss, Ernst Hofmann, and Mary Odette. The film's sets were designed by the art director Franz Schroedter Franz Schroedter (9 May 1897 – ...

'' (1925) as a wholesaler * ''

The Dealer from Amsterdam ''The Dealer from Amsterdam'' (German: ''Der Trödler von Amsterdam'') is a 1925 German silent film directed by Victor Janson and starring Werner Krauss, Hilde Hildebrand and Harry Hardt. It was made by the German subsidiary of the Fox Film Com ...

'' (1925) as Arent Bergh * ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' (1925) * ''

'' (1925, dir.

Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau (born Friedrich Wilhelm Plumpe; December 28, 1888March 11, 1931) was a German film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is regarded as one of cinema's most influential filmmakers for his work in the silent era. An e ...

) as Orgon * '' The Woman from Berlin'' (1925) as Anton Zöllner * '' The House of Lies'' (1926) as Hjalmar Ekdal * ''

Secrets of a Soul ''Secrets of a Soul'' () is a 1926 silent German drama film directed by G. W. Pabst. Plot Martin Fellman, a learned professor, experiences nightmares that make him believe he is going insane. He fears that he is on the verge of murdering his ...

'' (1926, dir.

) as Martin Fellman * ''

Nana Nana, Na Na or NANA may refer to: People * Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name * Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname * Nana (chief) (died 1896), Mimbreño Ap ...

'' (1926, dir.

Jean Renoir Jean Renoir (; 15 September 1894 – 12 February 1979) was a French film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and author. His '' La Grande Illusion'' (1937) and '' The Rules of the Game'' (1939) are often cited by critics as among the greate ...

) as Count Muffat * ''

The Woman's Crusade ''The Woman's Crusade'' (German: ''Kreuzzug des Weibes'') is a 1926 German silent drama film directed by Martin Berger and starring Conrad Veidt, Maly Delschaft, and Harry Liedtke. The film's sets were designed by the art director Robert A. ...

'' (1926) as The Idiot * ''Maria, die Geschichte eines Herzens'' / ''Das graue Haus'' (1926) as Vater * '' The Student of Prague'' (1926, dir.

Henrik Galeen Henrik Galeen (7 January 1881 – 30 July 1949) was an Austrian-born actor, screenwriter and film director considered an influential figure in the development of German Expressionist cinema during the silent era. He wrote the screenplay for ''Nosf ...

) as Scapinelli * ''

Superfluous People ''Superfluous People'' (German:''Überflüssige Menschen'') is a 1926 German silent film directed by Aleksandr Razumny and starring Eugen Klöpfer, Camilla von Hollay and Heinrich George.Murray It was made by Prometheus-Film which was affilia ...

'' (1926) as Constable Suka * ''

One Does Not Play with Love ''One Does Not Play with Love'' () is a 1926 silent German drama film directed by G. W. Pabst. The film is an adaptation of the 1834 play by Alfred de Musset, ''On ne badine pas avec l'amour''. The film is considered to be a lost film. It feat ...

'' (1926) as Prince Colalto * '' Excluded from the Public'' (1927) as Ibrahim Hulam * ''

The Vice of Humanity ''The Vice of Humanity'' (German: ''Laster der Menschheit'') is a 1927 German silent drama film directed by Rudolf Meinert and starring Asta Nielsen, Werner Krauss and Alfred Abel. It premiered at the Marmorhaus in Berlin. Plot Opera singer Ta ...

'' (1927) as Willibald Cooks * ''

The Trousers ''The Trousers'' (German: ''Die Hose'') is a 1927 German silent comedy film directed by Hans Behrendt and starring Werner Krauss, Jenny Jugo and Rudolf Forster. It was based on a play by Carl Sternheim. Art direction was by Heinrich Richter and ...

'' (1927) as Theobald Maske * ''Da hält die Welt den Atem an'' / ''Maquillage'' (1927) as Morris Broock * '' Radio Magic'' (1927) as Theophil Schimmelpfenning * ''Die Hölle der Jungfrauen'' (1928) as Mystkowski * ''

Looping the Loop ''Looping the Loop'' (German: ''Die Todesschleife'') is a 1928 German silent thriller film directed by Arthur Robison and starring Werner Krauss, Jenny Jugo and Warwick Ward.Bock & Bergfelder p.228 The film was produced by UFA. It was shot at ...

'' (1928) as Botto the clown * '' The Merry Farmer'' (1929) as Bauer Mathäus Reuther * ''

Thou Shalt Not Kill Thou shalt not kill ( LXX, KJV; ), You shall not murder ( NIV, ) or Do not murder ( CSB), is a moral imperative included as one of the Ten Commandments in the Torah. The imperative not to kill is in the context of ''unlawful'' killing resulti ...

'' (1929) as Prof. Marquardt * ''

Napoleon at Saint Helena ''Napoleon at Saint Helena'' () is a 1929 German silent historical film directed by Lupu Pick and starring Werner Krauss, Hanna Ralph, and Albert Bassermann. It was shot at the EFA Studios in Berlin with location shooting in Marseille and St. ...

'' (1929) as

* ''

Yorck ''Yorck'' is a 1931 German war film directed by Gustav Ucicky and starring Werner Krauss, Grete Mosheim and Rudolf Forster.Noack p.59 It portrays the life of the Prussian General Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg, particularly his refusal to ser ...

'' (1931) as General Yorck von Wartenberg * '' Man Without a Name'' (1932) as Heinrich Martin * ' (1935) as Napoleon * ''

Court Theatre A court is an institution, often a government entity, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and administer justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law. Courts general ...

'' (1936, dir.

Willi Forst Willi Forst, born Wilhelm Anton Frohs (7 April 1903 – 11 August 1980) was an Austrian actor, screenwriter, film director, film producer and singer. As a debonair actor he was a darling of the German language, German-speaking film audiences, as ...

) as Friedrich Mitterer * ''

Robert Koch Heinrich Hermann Robert Koch ( ; ; 11 December 1843 – 27 May 1910) was a German physician and microbiologist. As the discoverer of the specific causative agents of deadly infectious diseases including tuberculosis, cholera and anthrax, he i ...

'' (1939, dir.

Hans Steinhoff Hans Steinhoff (10 March 1882 – 20 April 1945) was a German film director, best known for the propaganda films he produced in Nazi Germany. Life and career Steinhoff started his career as a stage actor in the 1900s and later worked as a sta ...

) as

Rudolf Virchow Rudolf Ludwig Carl Virchow ( ; ; 13 October 18215 September 1902) was a German physician, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist, writer, editor, and politician. He is known as "the father of modern pathology" and as the founder o ...

* ''Der letzte Appell'' (1939) * ''

'' (1940, dir.

) as Rabbi Loew / Secretary Levy / Isaak / Old Jewish Man * ''

Annelie Annelie is a female given name. Notable people with the name include: * Annelie Botes (1957–2024), South African writer * Annelie Ehrhardt (born 1950), German athlete who competed in hurdling * Annelie Enochson (born 1953), Swedish Christian Dem ...

'' (1941) as Katasteramtsrat Reinhold Dörensen * '' Between Heaven and Earth'' (1942) as Justus Rottwinkel * ''

Die Entlassung ''The Dismissal'' () is a 1942 German film directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner about the dismissal of Otto von Bismarck. It was one of only five films to receive the honorary distinction "Film of the Nation" by the Reich Propaganda Ministry Censor ...

'' (1942) as Privy Councillor von Holstein * ''

Paracelsus Paracelsus (; ; 1493 – 24 September 1541), born Theophrastus von Hohenheim (full name Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim), was a Swiss physician, alchemist, lay theologian, and philosopher of the German Renaissance. H ...

'' (1943, dir.

) as

* '' Bonus on Death'' (1943) as Dr. Schmidt * '' The Falling Star'' (1950) as Lenura / Lenoir * '' Son Without a Home'' (1955) as Wilhelm Hartmann * ''Das verräterische Herz'' (1958, TV Short) as the old man (final film role)

References

External links

* *
Various pictures of Werner Krauss
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Krauss, Werner 1884 births 1959 deaths 20th-century German male actors Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany German male silent film actors German male stage actors Iffland-Ring Academic staff of Leipzig University People from Coburg (district) Imperial German Navy personnel of World War I Male actors from Bavaria