Childhood & Early Life
Hans Albers was born on September 22, 1891 in Hamburg, German Empire. His father was a butcher by profession
Since a young age, Albers demonstrated keen interest in acting. He, however, hid the same from his family and took acting classes during his early teens.
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Career
In 1911, he began his career in films but with the start of World War I, he had to suspend his film career.
In 1915, he was drafted into the German Army to serve in World War I. However, his stint as army personnel was short lived, following an injury and a severe wound which prematurely ended his military career.
After being relieved from his military duties and recovering from the major wound, he yet again pursued his ultimate passion for acting. After the end of the war, he relocated to Berlin.
It was at Berlin that he found work as a comedy actor in the Weimar-Era Berlin theatres. Following a stint of roles, his breakthrough performance came with the play ‘Verbreher’, in which he played the role of a waiter.
His superlative acting ability saw him gain rapid strides. He soon received film offers and was seen acting in several notable silent films such as ‘Demetrius in A’ and ‘Rasputin’.
With over hundred silent films to his credit, he established himself as a fine actor of his time. In 1929, he created history by starring in the first ever German talkie, ‘Die Nacht gehort uns’ or ‘The Night Belongs to Us’
The talkie film opened new avenues for this talented actor and he was flooded with film offers. He acted in several other notable classic flicks of that time, such as ‘Der blaue Engel’ or ‘The Blue Angel’.
Year 1930 was a significant year in his career as he played a crucial role in the film, ‘Der Greifer’, which went on to earn him immense recognition. It catapulted his star status and earned him similar roles throughout the decade.
His best performance came when he was paired with a fellow German legendary actor Heinz Ruhmann. Together the duo starred in various films such as ‘Bomben auf Monte Carlo’ and ‘Der Mann, der Sherlock Holmes war’. Interestingly, the songs of his films became popular chartbusters and are hummed by people till date.
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The 1930s witnessed the rise of the Nazi party as well. Though he was a Nazi party member, he did not publicly state his stand and instead remained at distance from government proceedings. However, it was during the Nazi rule that he became the most popular actor of his time.
Year 1943 witnessed him star in Ufa's big-budget anniversary picture ‘M�nchhausen’ and the classic German film ‘Gro�e Freiheit Nr. 7’. Interestingly, despite being a Nazi follower, he did not endorse the same in his films.
Post the end of World War II, his career graph took a steep decline as German actors were considered undesirable by the occupation government which went on to endorse its own actors. However unlike other actors of his time, he wasn’t banned.
For the latter half of his career, he essentially found work as a character actor. Though the coming-of-age roles worked wonders for his film career, as he did full justice to them, they could not replicate the star status that he enjoyed as a lead actor during the 1930s and 40s.
The 1950s was marred by his addiction to alcohol. Though he starred in several movies of the decade, none impacted his career in a big way. His artistic prowess and creative ingenuity also seemed to have lost its charm. However, this did not deter him from acting, which he continued almost till the end of his life.
Personal Life & Legacy
During the early years of his career in Berlin, he met and fell in love with a Jewish actress, Hansi Burg. Despite being a tumultuous affair, the two stayed loyal to each other until the very end.
Following Nazi’s emergence to power in 1933, he along with his girlfriend Hansi Burg moved to Starnberger See in Bavaria. Though the Nazi government initially accepted the relationship, too much of pressure finally led Burg to relocate to Switzerland and later to Great Britain in 1939.
After the end of World War II, she finally returned to Germany to be with him for the rest of his life. The two remained a couple until his death in 1960
He breathed his last on July 24, 1960 in a sanatorium near the Starnberg See due to internal bleeding.
