Born: September 22, 1885 – Died: May 12, 1957
Erich von Stroheim, born Erich Oswald Stroheim in 1885 in Vienna, Austria, hailed from a Jewish family with roots in Prague and Gleiwitz, Germany (now Gliwice, Poland). His journey from working in his father's hat factory to emigrating to America in 1909 eventually led him to Hollywood in 1914, where he started as a bit player in D.W. Griffith's company. During World War I, he portrayed memorable monocled German officers. Although he later ventured into writing and directing, his meticulous attention to detail sometimes led to budget overruns. Despite facing challenges, he left an indelible mark on both the silent and talkie eras of cinema, making his name synonymous with the phrase "The Man You Love to Hate."
Early Life and Career
Erich von Stroheim's upbringing and early life were marked by his family's Jewish heritage and his birth in Vienna, Austria, in 1885. He initially worked in his father's hat factory, but the allure of America beckoned, and in 1909, he embarked on a journey across the Atlantic. It was in the United States that his remarkable journey in the entertainment industry began.
Von Stroheim's entry into Hollywood in 1914 marked the start of his career in the film world. He landed his first professional role as a bit player in D.W. Griffith's company. It was during World War I that he gained recognition for his portrayal of sadistic monocled German officers, which became his early claim to fame.
However, it was his meticulous attention to detail as a director and his ambitious projects that both defined and challenged his career. His first major directorial effort, "Foolish Wives," became known for its extravagant budget, reportedly reaching $1 million, a significant sum in those times. Despite its success, the final edit was taken over by others, resulting in the removal of a third of his footage.
Erich von Stroheim's iconic role came in the film "Greed," which he directed. This epic, originally 42 reels with a 7-hour runtime, was eventually cut down to 10 reels but left a profound impact on audiences. His work was so extensive that "The wedding March" had to be released as two separate films in Europe due to its length.
In his personal life, von Stroheim was married to Valerie Germonprez from 1920 until his death in 1957. They had one child together. Apart from his acting and directing talents, he was also known for his attention to detail in film production, including his trademark use of ambulances in his films.
While not without controversies and clashes in Hollywood, Erich von Stroheim is remembered as an iconic figure in the entertainment industry. His dedication to his craft and his unique approach to filmmaking have left an indelible mark on Hollywood history, earning him a place among the legends of cinema. His reputation as "The Man You Love to Hate" speaks to the enduring impact of his performances and contributions to the world of film.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | La madone des sleepings | Dr. Siegfried Traurig |
| 1955 | Napoleon | Ludwig van Beethoven |
| 1955 | The Infiltrator | Sacha Zavaroff |
| 1954 | The Berlin Blaze | August Von Schulz |
| 1952–1954 | Orient Express (TV Series) | Man | Karmesin | Jovanovitch ... |
| 1953 | Alerte au sud | Conrad Nagel |
| 1953 | L'envers du paradis | William O'Hara |
| 1953 | Minuit... Quai de Bercy | Le professeur Kieffer |
| 1952 | Alraune | Jacob ten Brinken (as Erich v. Stroheim) |
| 1950 | Sunset Blvd. | Max Von Mayerling |
| 1949 | Portrait of a Killer | Eric (as Eric von Stroheim) |
| 1949 | Le signal rouge | Le docteur Mathias Berthold |
| 1948 | La danse de mort | Edgar |
| 1946 | Devil and the Angel | Frank Davis |
| 1946 | On ne meurt pas comme ça | Eric von Berg |
| 1946 | The Mask of Diijon | Diijon (as Erich Von Stroheim) |
| 1945 | Scotland Yard Investigator | Carl Hoffmeyer |
| 1945 | The Great Flamarion | The Great Flamarion (as Erich Von Stroheim) |
| 1944 | Storm Over Lisbon | Deresco |
| 1944 | The Lady and the Monster | Prof. Franz Mueller |
| 1943 | The North Star | Dr. von Harden |
| 1943 | Five Graves to Cairo | Field Marshal Erwin Rommel |
| 1942 | Gambling Hell | Werner von Krall (as Eric von Stroheim) |
| 1941 | So Ends Our Night | Brenner |
| 1940 | I Was an Adventuress | Andre Desormeaux (as Erich Von Stroheim) |
| 1940 | Tempête | Korlick |
| 1940 | Menaces... | Le professeur Hoffman (as Eric Von Stroheim) |
| 1939 | Un jour de bonheur (Short) | (Self) |
| 1939 | Personal Column | Pears (as Eric Von Stroheim) |
| 1939 | Rappel immédiat | Captain Stanley Wells |
| 1939 | The World Will Shake | Emil Lasser | Monsieur Frank (as Erich Von Stroheim) |
| 1939 | Derrière la façade | Eric (as Eric von Stroheim) |
| 1938 | It Happened in Gibraltar | Marson |
| 1938 | Ultimatum | General Simovic |
| 1938 | Les disparus de St. Agil | Walter - prof d'anglais |
| 1938 | The Lafarge Case | Denis |
| 1938 | Les pirates du rail | Tchou King |
| 1937 | The Alibi | Le professeur Winckler |
| 1937 | Under Secret Orders | Col. W. Mathesius | Simonis |
| 1937 | The Grand Illusion | Le captaine von Rauffenstein (as Eric von Stroheim) |
| 1937 | Marthe Richard | Le baron Erich von Ludow |
| 1935 | The Crime of Doctor Crespi | Dr. Andre Crespi |
| 1934 | Crimson Romance | Capt. Wolters |
| 1934 | Fugitive Road | Hauptmann Oswald Von Traunsee |
| 1932 | As You Desire Me | Carl Salter |
| 1932 | The Lost Squadron | Arthur Von Furst |
| 1931 | Friends and Lovers | Victor Sangrito |
| 1930 | Three Faces East | Valdar | Schiller | Blecher |
| 1929 | The Honeymoon | Nikki |
| 1929 | The Great Gabbo | The Great Gabbo (as Eric Von Stroheim) |
| 1928 | The Wedding March | Nicki | Prince Nickolas von Wildeliebe-Rauffenburg |
| 1924 | Greed | Balloon Vendor (uncredited) |
| 1923 | Souls for Sale | Erich von Stroheim |
| 1922 | Foolish Wives | Count Sergius Karamzin - Capt. 3rd Hussars Imper. Russian Army (as Erich Von Stroheim) |
| 1919 | Blind Husbands | The Other Man - Lt. Erich von Steuben |
| 1918 | The Heart of Humanity | Eric von Eberhard |
| 1918 | The Hun Within | Von Bickel |
| 1918 | Hearts of the World | A German Officer |
| 1918 | The Unbeliever | Lt. Kurt von Schnieditz |
| 1917 | Who Goes There? | Unknown |
| 1917 | Sylvia of the Secret Service | Peter |
| 1917 | Reaching for the Moon | Prince Badinoff's Aide (uncredited) |
| 1917 | Draft 258 | Unknown |
| 1917 | For France | Undetermined Role |
| 1917 | In Again, Out Again | Officer (uncredited) |
| 1917 | Panthea | Lieutenant of Police (as Count E. Von Stroheim) |
| 1916 | The Social Secretary | The Buzzard |
| 1916 | Intolerance | Second Pharisee (uncredited) |
| 1916 | Macbeth | (uncredited) |
| 1916 | The Flying Torpedo | Accomplice |
| 1916 | His Picture in the Papers | One of the Weazels (uncredited) |
| 1915 | Old Heidelberg | Lutz |
| 1915 | Farewell to Thee (Short) | Jackson - Louise's Partner |
| 1915 | Ghosts | The School Clerk (uncredited) |
| 1915 | The Failure | Minor Role (uncredited) |
| 1915 | Captain Macklin (Short) | Officer on Horseback (uncredited) |
| 1915 | The Country Boy | Diner in Restaurant (uncredited) |
General:
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