Known For
Acting
Born
Aug 23, 1896
Died
May 13, 1971
Place of Birth
Potsdam, Germany
Credits
267 titles
Hubert von Meyerinck
Biography
Hubert von Meyerinck was born in Potsdam on August 23, 1896, the son of a major. After his parents divorced, he was raised by his mother. From an early age he showed a strong interest in acting and began taking lessons as a child, despite his parents’ wish that he pursue a career as a priest. After completing school, he was drafted into military service during World War I but was discharged shortly afterward for health reasons. In 1917, he made his stage debut at the Berliner Schauspielhaus as Lieutenant von Hagen in "Kolberg." Following an engagement at the Hamburger Kammerspiele from 1918 to 1920, he performed at numerous Berlin theatres and variety venues, including the revue "Es liegt was in der Luft" alongside Marlene Dietrich. He earned acclaim both for his cabaret performances at the famed Tingeltangel and for dramatic stage roles such as Mephisto in "Faust" and Mackie Messer in "Die Dreigroschenoper." At the beginning of the 1920s, von Meyerinck transitioned to film. After a significant early role in Georg Jacoby’s serial "Der Mann ohne Namen," he appeared in supporting roles in silent films including Artur Robison’s "Manon Lescaut" (1926) and Wilhelm Dieterle’s "Ich lebe für Dich" (1929). His distinctive appearance—bald head, monocle, thin moustache—quickly made him recognizable, and he became a popular character actor. He was often typecast as aristocrats, bourgeois figures, authoritarian officials, eccentrics, or crooks. With the arrival of sound film, his raspy voice further defined his screen persona. Among his notable early sound films were Max Ophüls’ "Die verliebte Firma" (1931/32), Franz Wenzler’s "Wenn die Liebe Mode macht" (1932), and Kurt Gerron’s "Der weiße Dämon" (1932). During the Nazi era, he remained one of Germany’s most prolific and popular supporting actors, appearing in more than 90 productions between 1933 and 1945. These ranged from comedies such as "Ein falscher Fuffziger" (1935) to Willi Forst’s adaptation of Maupassant’s "Bel Ami" (1939) and Helmut Käutner’s "Kitty und die Weltkonferenz" (1939). He also took smaller roles in propagandistic films including "Ein Volksfeind" (1937) and "Trenck, der Pandur" (1940). Although it was widely known that he was homosexual, he was not prosecuted by the regime. In the 1950s and 1960s, von Meyerinck successfully parodied his established authoritarian image in numerous comedies. In 1957 alone he appeared in 13 films, including the popular "Der tolle Blomberg" and "Das Wirtshaus im Spessart." He received the Prize of the German Film Critics in 1960 for "Ein Mann geht durch die Wand" and again in 1961 for "Das Spukschloß im Spessart." Another highlight was his role as an exuberant aristocrat in Billy Wilder’s Cold War satire "One, Two, Three." Between 1965 and 1969, he regularly appeared as Sir Arthur, head of Scotland Yard, in the Edgar Wallace film series. Despite appearing in around 250 films, von Meyerinck remained committed to the stage and joined the ensemble of Hamburg’s Thalia Theatre in 1966. In 1968, he received a lifetime achievement award at the German Film Prize and published his memoirs. He died in Hamburg on May 13, 1971.
Known For
Filmography
Hei-Wi-Tip-Top
Dr. Dingelmeier
Nachbarn sind zum Ärgern da
Notar
When the Mad Aunts Arrive
Herr Storz
Keine Angst Liebling, ich pass schon auf
Portier vom Hotel Central
Der Lauf des Bösen
Kardinal
Dr. med. Fabian - Lachen ist die beste Medizin
General von Kottwitz
Charleys Onkel
Mr. Most
Ein dreifach Hoch dem Sanitätsgefreiten Neumann
Oberstabsarzt Dr. Treppwitz
The Man with the Glass Eye
Sir Arthur
The Gorilla Gang
Sir Arthur
Otto ist auf Frauen scharf
Dr. Zwyfalt
Die letzten Tage der Menschheit
Wilhelm II.
The Zombie Walks
Sir Arthur
Wenn Ludwig ins Manöver zieht
von Below
The Cuckoo Years
Ernst Francken
Frühling in Baden-Baden
Hubert von Kalkofen
Glorious Times in the Spessart
General Teckel
Dem Täter auf der Spur
Gregory Ignatieff
Frank V. - Die Oper einer Privatbank
Frank V.
Brille und Bombe - Bei uns liegen Sie richtig!
Der Hoteldirektor
Axel an der Himmelstür
Direktor Scott / Richter
The Hunchback of Soho
General Edward Perkins
Das sündige Dorf
Attorney
Leben wie die Fürsten
Anton
Nachruf auf Egon Müller
Tod
Ich kauf mir lieber einen Tirolerhut
Hubert Krempe
Again the Ringer
Judge Matthews
Das große Ohr
Dupont
They're Too Much
Oberstaatsanwalt
Frau Luna
Kaiser
Maibritt, the Girl from the Islands
Direktor Dingelmeyer
Die Rache des Jebal Deeks
Sykes
… denn die Musik und die Liebe in Tirol
Oskar Ortshaus
Die Safeknacker-Suite
Gustav
Allotria in Zell am See
Hauptmann Hans Hajo von Gestern
Frauen sind keine Engel
Charles
Stiftungsfest der Fleißigen Biene
Hoteldirektor
Das Kriminalmuseum
Rittmeister von Rellstab
Und ewig knallen die Räuber
Herr von Merlyn
Black-White-Red Four Poster
Oberst Pusslitz
Wenn die Musik spielt am Wörthersee
Axel Bender, Evelyns Vater
So toll wie anno dazumal
Mandler
Das ist die Liebe der Matrosen
Freiherr von Mumpitz
Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies
Gustav Säuerling
Der verkaufte Großvater
Friedrich Wilhelm Dünkelberg
The Turkish Cucumbers
Rubin y Soliman
Freddy and the Millionaire
Walloschek
One, Two, Three
Count von Droste Schattenburg
Robert und Bertram
Kriminalkommissar Wolff
Ein Stern fällt vom Himmel
Rechtsanwalt