Trivia

Before Karl Farkas could launch his artistic career he served during World War I and was wounded.

Karl Farkas was desirous to become an actor at a young age but his parents were insistent that he will become a lawyer. His brother wanted to become a painter but the parents were insistent as well that he should take over the shoe store family business. Karl Farkas brother gave way to despair that he committed suicide. The parents were so shocked that they granted Karl Farkas' wish to become an actor.

Because of his Jewis ancestry he was not able to work in the National Socialist Germany and from 1938 also no longer in Austria. He emigrated via Paris to the USA where he continued his artistic career in a smaller scope by performing in front of other persons living in exile.

The actor and cabaret artist Karl Farkas was born in 1893 in Vienna. To his relatives belong the uncle Felix Salten who became famous as a screenwriter and author (among others "Bambi" and "Josephine Mutzenbacher").

After the war he studied music and fine arts at the academy in Vienna and afterwards he gained a foothold at the theater. It followed engagements at different theaters in Austria and in 1921 he was engaged at the cabaret Simpl where he appeared together with Fritz Grünbaum. With it he established his popularity as a cabaret artist.

From 1957 onward, he appeared on a regular basis in broadcasting and later on the Austrian TV channel, ORF.

When Karl Farkas emigrated he dissolved his marriage with the actress Anny Han who he already got married in 1924. So he avoided that she was compromised because of her marriage with a Jew. Karl Farkas returned to Austria after the war and got married with Anny Han again.

Besides his activity as an actor and screenwriter Karl Farkas also wrote some lyrics. The most popular lyric is certainly "Wenn die Elisabeth nicht so schöne Beine hätt'...".

From 1926 he appeared at the legendary Burgtheater.

After World War II he continued his former career seamlessly and he became very popular as a cabaret artist again (among others at the cabaret Simpl again). Especially his performances together with Ernst Waldbrunn and Maxi Böhm were very successful.