Biography

Heavy-set, prominently white-maned character actor, the son of a locksmith. Florath worked in admin before embarking on a theatrical career in 1908. From 1922 to 1945, he was a regular cast member of Max Reinhardt's Berliner Staatstheater. He was versatile in every genre of film (beginning in silent cinema) as hearty, down-to-earth working class or professional men, particularly pedagogues, priests and physicians.

After the failure of the Bavarian Soviet Republic and the murder of Kurt Eisner, Florath went to Berlin, where he served from 1920 until 1944 in the ensemble of the National Theatre and also directed.

During World War I he served voluntarily for the Royal Bavarian infantry Leibregiment where he also acted as a recruit instructor, and he was also put into action at the Western Front.

He took acting lessons with Alois Wohlmut and, as a sideline, wrote feuilleton contributions.

Florath lived in Schlechtbach, Gschwend, from 1938 until his death in 1957.