Trivia

Froehlich was banned from playing his trade for two years (1941-43) after allegedly slapping Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels in a fit of jealous rage. The ever-roving-eyed Goebbels had been making amorous overtures to Froehlich's then-partner, the actress Lida Baarova. In reality, whether the slap actually happened and only insults were traded is unclear. Nonetheless, the ban stuck.

He first performed with a touring company and then on the legitimate stage in Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Berlin. After making his reputation as an actor in Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927), Froehlich forsook the theatre for motion pictures. He was briefly in Hollywood in the early 30's, working on German versions of American films. Afterwards, he became one of the most popular and best-paid stars of German cinema in the 30's and 40's, as well as branching out into directing and screenwriting. He graduated to character roles after the war.

He was a trainee at a newspaper in 1919.

Began as editor of a provincial newspaper and author of dime novels.

After his marriage with Gilla Alpar he lived together with the actress Lida Baarova. A rumor says that Gustav Fröhlich, when he lost Lida Baarova to propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, he slapped him during a quarrel.

At the beginning of "Metropolis" Fröhlich was only scheduled for the part of one of the workmen but four weeks after the beginning he was promoted to the leading actor by Fritz Lang when Thea von Harbou called her husband's attention to Fröhlich.

The actor Gustav Heinrich Fröhlich grew up in the care of foster-parents.

Studied at the Homuth Realgymnasium Friedenau (Berlin).

During wartime he was able to continue his film career. Still he had to serve for the German Armed Forces.

During World War I he volunteered for a duty in the occupied Brussels as supervisioner of the press. His literary talent appeared in the publishing of two issues of a dime novel called "Heinz Brandt, der Fremdenlegionär".

Gustav Fröhlich was married with the actress Gitta Alpar von 1931 to 1935 and they had a daughter. Later he tried a reconciliation with Gitta Alpar but failed, a circumstance which gave him a tough time at the old-age.

Gustav Fröhlich remained a busy actor after the war but his roles changed from leading roles to support roles.

After some entrances at a vaudeville theater under the stage name Gustav Geef he took acting lessons in Heilbronn. In the next few years he appeared on different German stages.

Gustav Fröhlich left in Brissago in Switzerland since 1956 where he died in 1987, of complication from surgery.

Because of his carefree attendance he soon was subscribed to play smart gentlemen. Seldom he could play other characters.