Biography

Helmut Griem was born on April 6, 1932 in Hamburg, Germany. He was an actor, known for Cabaret (1972), The Damned (1969) and Fabrik der Offiziere (1960). He was married to Helga Koehler. He died on November 19, 2004 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.

The son of a naval radio operator, Griem studied literature and philosophy. He began on stage in Luebeck, then performed in Cologne, Salzburg, at the Vienna Burgtheater and with the Munich Kammerspiele. His training was primarily classical. On screen, both in Germany and internationally, he tended to portray the stereotypical blond, blue-eyed Nazi, notably as SS officer Aschenbach in The Damned (1969) and as ruthless U-boat captain Willi Schlueter in the POW drama The McKenzie Break (1970).

Hit continental film acclaim in 1972 as the elegant, fabulously decadent patrician Maximilian who trysts with both Liza Minnelli's and Michael York's characters in Bob Fosse's Cabaret (1972).

Later in life he turned to stage directing.

Considred for Bukovsky in Lifeforce(1985).

Considred for Hansen in Royal Flash(1975).