Biography

Bavarian stage and screen actor of Austrian parentage (his father was a noted surgeon). Served as a lieutenant in a cavalry unit with the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I. Emigrated to the U.S. in 1930, became an American citizen. He completed his acting studies under Michael Chekhov and had success on the New York stage in the Theatre Guild Production of "The Pursuit of Happiness". From 1943 until the 60's, Selwart acted in American, Italian and French films, almost always playing Nazi officers. He died in November 2002 at the extraordinary age of 106.

In 1995, now legally blind, Selwart was interviewed by William F. Powers for his book, Alive and Well: The Emergence of the Active Nonagenarian (Rutledge Books, 1996). In the interview, Selwart reflected: "If I died today, I could say only that I had lived a very beautiful and charmed life. Even when it looked at times like something bad had happened, it soon turned back again to something positive. The loss of my eyesight, although difficult, did not make me bitter. I figured that at my age I have to expect something and remembered all those poor people who suffer from cancer and are in terrible pain. I say to myself that I may have trouble seeing, but I don't suffer any physical, mental, or emotional pain.".

Buried in family tomb at Wartenberg, Bavaria

After studying medicine like his father (a well known surgeon), he decided instead to become an actor, following a lifelong interest in theater. Selwart thereafter studied acting and appeared in many plays throughout Europe.

He derived his nickname "Tonio" from his first name and from his family background - his parents were Austrian, and he had an Italian grandmother. He was familiar with the novella Tonio Kröger, which dealt with a half-German, half-Italian young artist in pre-World War I Germany and was written by Thomas Mann (a friend of his) and had a tape recording of the story being read by Mann himself.