Harry Baur
Actor
- Born
- April 12, 1880 · Montrouge, Seine [now Hauts-de-Seine], Île-de-France, France
- Died
- April 8, 1943 (age 62)
Harry Baur (12 April 1880 – 8 April 1943) was a French actor.
Initially a stage actor, Baur appeared in about 80 films between 1909 and 1942. He gave an acclaimed performance as the composer Ludwig van Beethoven in the biopic Beethoven's Great Love (Un grand amour de Beethoven, 1936), directed by Abel Gance, and as Jean Valjean in Raymond Bernard's version of Les Misérables (1934). He also acted in Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset's silent film, Beethoven (1909), and in La voyante (1923), Sarah Bernhardt's last film.
Read moreShow less
In 1942, while in Berlin, to star in his last film Symphone eines Lebens, Baur's wife was arrested by the Gestapo and charged with espionage. His effort to secure her release led to his own arrest and torture. He was being falsely labelled as a Jew but confirmed freemason. He was released in April 1943, but died in Paris shortly after in mysterious circumstances.
Academy Award-winning American actor Rod Steiger cited Baur as one of his favorite actors who had exerted a major influence on his craft and career.
Known for
Les Misérables
February 9, 1934
Life Dances On
September 9, 1937
A Man's Head
February 18, 1933
Who Killed Santa Claus?
October 16, 1941
The Red Head
November 4, 1932
David Golder
March 6, 1931
The Golem
February 6, 1936
The Life and Loves of Beethoven
January 15, 1937
Volpone
May 10, 1941
Hatred
January 26, 1938
Golgotha
April 12, 1935
L'Assommoir
December 21, 1908
Acting47
- 1957Stars Never Die as Self (archive footage)
- 1943Symphonie eines Lebens as Stefan Melchior, Dorfkantor
- 1941Sins of Youth as Monsieur Lacalade
- 1941Who Killed Santa Claus? as Gaspard Cornusse
- 1941Volpone as Volpone
- 1940African Diary as Docteur Bourdet
- 1940President Haudecoeur as President Haudecoeur
- 1938The Patriot as Tsar Paul 1st
- 1938The Postmaster's Daughter as Virine, le maitre de poste
- 1938