John Gottowt

John Gottowt (15 June 1881–29 August 1942) was a German actor, stage director and film director for theatres and silent movies.

He was born as Isidor Gesang in Lemberg, Austria-Hungary. After his education in Vienna, he joined the Deutsches Theater in Berlin in 1905, working for Max Reinhardt as an actor and director. Gottowt was mainly active in different theatres in Berlin as a character actor and director.

His first silent film appearance was in Paul Wegener’s "Der Student von Prag" ("The Student of Prague") (1913). In 1920 he appeared in Robert Wiene's "Genuine" and took the main role in the early science fiction film "Algol" ("Algol: Tragedy of Power"). In 1921 he played Professor Bulwer (van Helsing) in the classic silent film "Nosferatu" directed by F.W. Murnau.

Gottowt made also several films with his brother-in-law Henrik Galeen but as a Jew was banned in 1933 from working as a professional actor. After a few years in Denmark he moved to Cracow in Poland. He was murdered in 1942 by the SS in Wieliczka.

List of films

(Title, Year, Character, Director)
# Der Student von Prag, 1913, Scapinelli, Stellan Rye
# Das Schwarze Los, Pierrots letzte Abendteuer, 1913, Brighella, John Gottowt
# Büßende Magdalena, 1915, , Emil Albes
# Satan Opium, 1915, , Siegfried Dessauer
# Prinzessin von Neutralien, 1917, Milliardär Joe Vandergolt, Rudolf Biebrach
# Peer Gynt. 1. Peer Gynts Jugend, 1918, der Dovre-Alte, Victor Barnowsky
# Peer Gynt 2. Wanderjahre und Tod, 1918, , Victor Barnowsky
# Morphium, 1919, , Bruno Ziener
# Der rote Henker, 1919, Narr, Rudolf Biebrach
# Der Verbotene Weg, 1920, Lupu Pick, Henrik Galeen
# Genuine, 1920, Friseur Guyard, Robert Wiene
# Die Nacht der Königin Isabeau, 1920, Buckliger Narr, Robert Wiene
# Der Bucklige und die Tänzerin, 1920, James Wilton, Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau
# Niemand weiß es, 1920, , Lupu Pick
# Algol, 1920, Algolmännchen, Hans Werckmeister
# Die tote Stunde, 1920, , Friedrich Feher
# Die Lou vom Montmartre, 1921, , Leo Lasko
# Pariserinnen, 1921, , Leo Lasko
# Brennendes Land, 1921, , Heinz Herald
# Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens, 1922, Professor Bulwer (van Helsing), F. W. Murnau
# Der schwarze Stern, 1922, , James Bauer
# Elixiere des Teufels, 1922, , Adolf Abter
# Der falsche Dimitry, 1922, Iwans Narr, Hans Steinhoff
# Der Geldteufel, 1923, , Heinz Goldberg
# Wachsfigurenkabinett, 1923, Schaubudenbesitzer, Leo Birinski, Paul Leni
# Menschenopfer, 1923, , Carl Wilhelm
# Dürfen wir schweigen?, 1926, Faktotum, Richard Oswald
# Die Flucht in die Nacht, 1926, , Amleto Palermi
# Prinz Louis Ferdinand, 1927, , Hans Behrendt
# Unheimliche Geschichten, 1932, Beamter des Mechanischen Museums, Richard Oswald

References

* Pioniere in Celluloid, Juden in den frühen Filmwelt, Stratenwerth, Simon (Hg), Henschel Verlag, Berlin, 2004, www.henschel-verlag.de
* KARTA 42 – 2004, Fundacja Ośrodka KARTA, 02-536 Warszawa, www.karta.org.pl
* Dotknięcie anioła (The Kiss of an Angel), Henryk Schönker, 2005, Ośrodek KARTA, 02-536 Warszawa, www.karta.org.pl
* Archives of British Film Institute, London
* [http://www.filmportal.de/df/4a/Uebersicht,,,,,,,,B39CC627A762430BB09B150967B76D2B,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.html filmportal.de]