Quiz

An oft-told legend is that Schreck's otherworldly performance as Nosferatu was due to the fact that he was in reality a vampire. Actor Willem Dafoe portrayed him as such, playing the vampire Count Orlok in L'ombra del vampiro (2000).

"Schreck" is German for "terror".

In the film Batman - Il ritorno (1992), Christopher Walken played a villain named Max Shreck.

In "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau he impersonated the terrifying Count Orlak, a vampire who ambuscades his victims. Because of legal disputes with the descendants of Bram Stoker the director Murnau did not use the name Dracula but changed it to Count Orlok.

In the middle of his creative period Max Schreck died at the age of 56 in 1936.

Because of his special feature he was already engaged for unusual characters during his time at the theater. He often impersonated older figures than he was. He punctuated this with his skill for makeup in order to realise the maximum effect.

Nosferatu (1922), is regarded as a jewel of the German silent movie film and because of the intensely play of Max Schreck there occurred many rumors about him which last till today.

The new arising sound film was no problem for Max Schreck and in the following years he impersonated numerous roles in popular productions like "Boykott" (1930) and "Peter Voss, der Millionendieb" (1932).

The actor Max Schreck belongs to the most fascinating German actors who became a cult figure home and abroad with one specific role.

While he played numerous bigger parts at the theater his roles in the movies remained small at the beginning of his film career.

Before he launched his acting career he attended an apprenticeship. But after the early death of his father he turned to the acting and he completed an education at the Staatstheater in Berlin. Soon he went on tour with like minded actors before he was engaged by the theater icon Max Reinhardt.

Only from the 20s the film business became a fix part of his career.

Max Schreck was married with the actress Fanny Ott since 1910. He met her already shortly after his acting education. She called her according to her marriage Fanny Schreck and appeared in some movies as well.