Actor. He was one of Germany's most popular young actors in the late 1930s. He had roles in seven films, often playing the lead romantic male role. His first film was "You and I" in 1938. During World War II, actors were required to apply for an "Aryan certificate." In 1941, the Nazi Gestapo accused his Jewish wife, actress Meta Wolff, of "rassenschande" or "racial defilement," giving her and their eight-year-old son one day to pack and leave Germany. He was not allowed to go with his wife and child. Sources state his wife and child were being sent to a concentration camp. The couple had married on May 3, 1930, and after the Nazi Party came to power, he was encouraged to divorce his wife but refused. On November 6, 1941, they gave their son sleeping pills, took some themselves, and opened the gas pipe in the apartment, and all three died as a result. With Nazi censorship of the newspapers, many of his devoted fans did not learn of his death and the surrounding circumstances until after the war.
Actor. He was one of Germany's most popular young actors in the late 1930s. He had roles in seven films, often playing the lead romantic male role. His first film was "You and I" in 1938. During World War II, actors were required to apply for an "Aryan certificate." In 1941, the Nazi Gestapo accused his Jewish wife, actress Meta Wolff, of "rassenschande" or "racial defilement," giving her and their eight-year-old son one day to pack and leave Germany. He was not allowed to go with his wife and child. Sources state his wife and child were being sent to a concentration camp. The couple had married on May 3, 1930, and after the Nazi Party came to power, he was encouraged to divorce his wife but refused. On November 6, 1941, they gave their son sleeping pills, took some themselves, and opened the gas pipe in the apartment, and all three died as a result. With Nazi censorship of the newspapers, many of his devoted fans did not learn of his death and the surrounding circumstances until after the war.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Gravesite Details
In 1999 his grave became a grave of honor of the City of Berlin.
Family Members
Children
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