Trivia

Prolific Austrian character actor, on stage from 1927. From 1935 to 1988, he was an ensemble member of the Theater in der Josefstadt in Vienna. Frey usually appeared in films as authoritarian figures: officers, aristocrats or senior political functionaries.

His film engagements dropped off from the 60's but he was active as an actor till his death, both on the stage and in front of the camera.

The actor Erik Frey had already successfully worked at the theater for many years when he appeared in his first movie called "Burgtheater" (1936).

Erik Frey was able to go on from his earlier career immediately after the war.

The actor Nicholas Paryla reported of Erik Frey , - even wearing a SA uniform - had his father , Karl Paryla , helped shortly after the Anschluss , to leave the country and had thus saved his life : " This man has this uniform used to rescue people . Without this man my father would not have been saved . ".

In 1927 he made his acting debut and he appeared at the Volkstheater in Vienna as well as in Berlin, Hamburg, Prague and Bremen.

Erik Frey was the son of a dentist.

In 1938 he handed Rudolf Beer, the manager of the Volkstheater, over to the Nazis. Beer was abused and committed suicide soon afterwards.

In 1934 he became a member of the Austrian NSDAP.

He helped the father of the actor Nikolaus Paryla to escape from the country.

He studied Germanistik before he took acting lessons with Albert Heine.

In 1935 he became a member of the ensemble of the Theater in der Josefstadt in Vienna. He held this position until his death.