Born in Vienna, Austria, May 20th, 1901 and began his acting career there while in his twenties, making is screen debut in Fritz Lang's "M" in 1931. Came to the United states in 1940. He worked frequently as a character actor in film and television (and occasionally on stage in NY) until the early 1960's. Was signed to appear in Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein but died of a heart attack before filming began.