Weiss, Helmut |
| ACTOR, DIRECTOR, SCREENWRITER (GERMANY) |
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BORN 25 Jan 1907, Göttingen, Niedersachsen - DIED 13 Jan 1969, Berlin BIRTH NAME Weiss, Helmut Ludwig Johann Georg GRAVE LOCATION Capri, Campania: Cimitero Acattolico, Via Marina Grande |
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Helmut Weiss was a grandson of the theologist Bernard Weiss (1827-1918). After he finished the Gymnasium he took acting lessons with Walther Kottenkamp in Dresden. From 1927 to 1932 he was engaged at the Staatstheater in Berlin. His acting career took off in 1935 with comical parts. In 1940 he appeared next to Hertha Feiler in "Lauter Liebe". In 1942 he was assistant to director Kurt Hoffmann. He cooperated frequently with Heinz Rühmann and he directed Rühmann and Feiler in "Quax Afrika". This was a film with racist motives and it wasn't shown until 1953. After the War he was the first director who was allowed to make a movie in West-Germany. This was "Sag’ die Wahrheit" (1945) and it was shot in Hamburg in the British Zone of Occupation. Because Rühmann was banned from working at that time he was replaced by Gustav Fröhlich. As a director he worked with Sonja Ziemann, Olga Tschechowa, Hans Söhnker, Curd Jürgens and many others. From 1954 he appeared again in small parts himself. In 1961 he directed "Drei Mann in einem Boot" featuring Heinz Ehrhardt and this was a great success. He died in 1969 in Berlin. Related persons • directed Feiler, Hertha • directed Fröhlich, Gustav • directed Rühmann, Heinz |
| Images |
 The grave of Helmut Weiss at the Cimitero Acattolico, Capri. Picture by Androom (17 Feb 2020) |
