Oskar Homolka (1898–1978) was an Austrian film and theater actor known for his commanding presence and distinctive voice, often cast as communist spies or Soviet officials.
Born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, he served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I before training at the Imperial Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. He launched his stage career in Austria, portraying Mortimer in the premiere of Bertolt Brecht’s The Life of Edward II of England (1924) at the Munich Kammerspiele. The following year, he moved to Berlin, refining his craft under director Max Reinhardt.
By 30, Homolka had appeared in over 400 plays, establishing himself as a formidable actor. He transitioned to film in the 1920s, starring in German productions like Die Abenteuer eines Zehnmarkscheines (1926) and Dreyfus (1930.) With the Nazi regime’s rise, he moved to Britain, starring in Alfred Hitchcock’s Sabotage (1936,) later relocating to the United States.
His Hollywood career featured roles in Comrade X (1940,) Ball of Fire (1941,) and I Remember Mama (1948,) earning an Academy Award nomination. He continued acting in films like The White Tower (1950) and The Seven Year Itch (1955) and took television roles into the 1970s.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Oskar Homolka
To really enjoy the better things in life, one must first have experienced the things they are better than.
—Oskar Homolka
Topics: Enjoyment, Difficulties, Adversity, Perspective
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