Biography

Heavyweight, bald-domed German character actor, the son of a writer and publicist.

He remained true to the theater till the 50's and has countless successes as a comedian who convinced even in the smallest roles..

Entering films in 1907, Tiedtke carved out a prolific career for himself as a scene-stealing character player. However, he was also not too selective about the some of the roles offered him, including parts in such Nazi propaganda films as the infamous "Jud Süss". His importance to the Reich was such, that he was deemed too valuable for military service in World War II.

Tiedtke often appeared in comical or droll roles and was on stage from as early as 1899. He subsequently became a regular member of the ensemble of the Prussian State Theatre, worked with Max Reinhardt at the Deutsches Theater (1905-13), before moving on to the Vienna Burgtheater (1915-18). During the Nazi era and until the end of World War II, he belonged to the ensemble cast of the Berliner Volksbühne.

His imposing figure was time and again used by different directors for cranky and droll queers, and Jakob Tiedtke was always able to breathe life into these characters.