Walbrook, Anton

ACTOR (AUSTRIA)
BORN 19 Nov 1896, Wien - DIED 9 Aug 1967, Feldafing, Bayern: Garatshausen
BIRTH NAME Wohlbrück, Adolf Wilhelm Anton
CAUSE OF DEATH heart attack
GRAVE LOCATION London: St. John-at-Hampstead, Churchyard Extension, Church Row, Hampstead (J 1 (ashes))

Anton Walbrook was born Adolf Wohlbrück. He came from a family of actors although his father was a circus clown. He was educated at Max Reinhardt's theatre school and afterwards the Deutsches Theater contracted him for five years.

In 1934 he made himself a name for his part in the movie "Maskerade". A contract with UFA followed and he appeared next to Renate Müller in "Viktor und Viktoria" and in "Die Englische Heirat". He was half-Jewish, gay and opposed to national socialism. During the Olympic Games of 1936 he emigrated to France. He moved on to Hollywood before he settled in England. His first performance in England was in "Design For Living" by Noel Coward at the Haymarket Theatre.

He played parts in several English movies and in 1947 he obtained British citizenship. After the war he returned to the German stage. In 1951 Gustaf Gründgens engaged him in Düsseldorf. During the same year he also appeared in the movie "Der Reigen". In March 1967 he broke down on the stage in Munich and in August of that year he died of a heart attack.

Related persons
• cooperated with Gründgens, Gustaf
• cooperated with Müller, Renate

Images

The grave of Anton Wolbrook at the Churchyard extension of St. John-at-Hampstead, London.
Picture by Androom (30 May 2014)

 

Sources
• Greenwood, Peter, Who's buried where in England, Constable, London, 1982


Waldau, Gustav

Published: 21 Sep 2014
Last update: 01 Apr 2022