Karl Hellmer(1896-1974)

Austrian character actor, who appeared in several prestige Ufa films of the 1930's. He was trained at Vienna's Staatsakademie für Musik und darstellende Kunst in 1918, making his debut on stage in 1921 in the mystical play "Der böse Geist Lumpacivagabundus", by Nestroy. In films from 1932, Hellmer was cast either in oppressed or inconsequential roles, often featured as porters, waiters or assorted lower order employees. He had a few meatier roles in the 1950's and 60's, in East German Defa productions, in television and as a voice actor in radio dramas for station RIAS in Berlin.