Paul Henreid (Film director)

Paul Henreid was born in the Austro-Hungarian city of Trieste. His parents were Maria-Luise (Lendecke) and Karl Alphons Hernreid, and his father had converted from Judaism to Catholicism in 1904 due to anti-semitism. Unfortunately, Henreid's father died in April 1916, resulting in a loss of the family fortune by the time Henreid graduated from the exclusive Theresianische Akademie.

Paul Henreid trained for the theatre in Vienna, over his family's objections, and debuted there on the stage under the direction of Max Reinhardt. In 1934 Henreid tried to become a member of the NS-Reichsfilmkammer (National Sozialistic Reich Film Chamber). His request was personally rejected by Joseph Goebbels. In 1937 he played Prince Albert in the first British stage production of Victoria Regina. With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Henreid risked deportation or internment as an enemy alien, but Conrad Veidt spoke for him, and he was allowed to remain and work in British films. He then moved to the United States and had a successful run on Broadway in Flight to the West.

RKO put Henreid under contract in 1941, changing his name by dropping the nobiliary particle "von". He became a citizen of the United States and starred in Joan of Paris. His success earned him a contract with Warner Bros, and he was cast in Now, Voyager, playing the romantic lead opposite Bette Davis, and then Victor Laszlo, a heroic anti-German resistance leader on the run, in Casablanca (1942). Henreid continued his work in British films, signed a contract with MGM in 1947, and starred in a minor role in Deep in My Heart (1954). He moved on to Columbia Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for various projects.

In the early 1950s, Henreid began directing both film and television productions. He also appeared on Broadway in Don Juan in Hell (1973) and had a minor role in Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977). In 1984, Henreid wrote in his memoirs that he was one of a group of Hollywood stars who went to protest against the excesses of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, and he was semi-blacklisted from the major studios for five years until the blacklist was lifted.

Paul Henreid trained for the theatre in Vienna, over his family's objections, and debuted there on the stage under the direction of Max Reinhardt. In 1934 Henreid tried to become a member of the NS-Reichsfilmkammer (National Sozialistic Reich Film Chamber). His request was personally rejected by Joseph Goebbels. With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Henreid risked deportation or internment as an enemy alien, but Conrad Veidt spoke for him, and he was allowed to remain and work in British films.

In 1941, RKO put Henreid under contract and changed his name by dropping the nobiliary particle "von". He became a citizen of the United States and starred in Joan of Paris. His success then earned him a contract with Warner Bros, and he was cast in Now, Voyager, playing the romantic lead opposite Bette Davis, and then Victor Laszlo, a heroic anti-German resistance leader on the run, in Casablanca (1942). He followed this with a contract at MGM, and a minor role in Deep in My Heart (1954). He moved on to Columbia Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for various projects.

In the early 1950s, Henreid began directing both film and television productions, and appeared on Broadway in Don Juan in Hell (1973) and had a minor role in Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977). In 1984, Henreid wrote in his memoirs that he was one of a group of Hollywood stars who went to Washington to protest against the excesses of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, and he was semi-blacklisted from the major studios for five years until the blacklist was lifted.

Paul Henreid was an Austrian-American actor and director who was active in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. He is best remembered for his roles as Victor Laszlo in the classic film Casablanca (1942) and as Chris Baldois in Now, Voyager (1942).

1. Won the Venice Film Festival's Best Actor Award in 1937 for his role in the film Die Große Liebe.
2. Played a major role in Casablanca (1942) as Victor Laszlo, the leader of the anti-Nazi underground movement.
3. Appeared in Now, Voyager (1942) as Chris Baldois, a sympathetic character who helps Bette Davis's character out of her depression.
4. Directed the films Now, Voyager (1942), Conflict (1945) and Deception (1946).
5. Appeared in films such as The Conspirators (1944), Escape to Freedom (1955) and Date with Death (1959).
6. Was named an Officer of the French Légion d’honneur in 1945.
7. Was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
8. Appeared on television in shows such as Bonanza, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Invaders, and The Rebel.
9. Was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.