Martin Kosleck (born Nicolaie Yoshkin, March 24, 1904 â€" January 15,
1994) was a German film actor. Like many other German actors, he fled
when the Nazis came to power. Inspired by his deep hatred of Adolf
Hitler and the Nazis, Kosleck made a career in Hollywood playing
villainous Nazis in films. While in the United States, he appeared in
more than 80 films and television shows in a 46-year span. His icy
demeanor and piercing stare on screen made him a popular choice to
play Nazi villains. He portrayed Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler's
propaganda minister, five times, and also appeared as an SS trooper
and a concentration camp officer.Kosleck was born in Barkotzen in
Pomerania, Germany, the son of a forester. His family was
"German-Russian". He became interested in acting at an early age. He
spent six years in the Max Reinhardt Dramatic School, particularly
excelling in Shakespearian roles, and working in revues and musicals
in Berlin.At the age of 23, he appeared in his first film, a silent
movie directed by Johannes Brandt called Der Fahnenträger von Sedan.
Two years later, he appeared in Lupo Pick's Napoleon auf St. Helena.
Kosleck appeared in two more films in Germany in 1930, the
science-fiction thriller Alraune (his first sound film) and Die
Singende Stadt.In the early 1930s, Hitler and the Nazi Party were
growing in power. Kosleck spoke out against both and decided to leave
Germany in 1931 for Britain. The following year, he arrived in New
York City and then traveled west to Hollywood. In 1933, when Hitler
and the Nazi Party came to power, because of his opposition to the
Nazis, Kosleck was placed on the Gestapo list of "undesirables".
1994) was a German film actor. Like many other German actors, he fled
when the Nazis came to power. Inspired by his deep hatred of Adolf
Hitler and the Nazis, Kosleck made a career in Hollywood playing
villainous Nazis in films. While in the United States, he appeared in
more than 80 films and television shows in a 46-year span. His icy
demeanor and piercing stare on screen made him a popular choice to
play Nazi villains. He portrayed Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler's
propaganda minister, five times, and also appeared as an SS trooper
and a concentration camp officer.Kosleck was born in Barkotzen in
Pomerania, Germany, the son of a forester. His family was
"German-Russian". He became interested in acting at an early age. He
spent six years in the Max Reinhardt Dramatic School, particularly
excelling in Shakespearian roles, and working in revues and musicals
in Berlin.At the age of 23, he appeared in his first film, a silent
movie directed by Johannes Brandt called Der Fahnenträger von Sedan.
Two years later, he appeared in Lupo Pick's Napoleon auf St. Helena.
Kosleck appeared in two more films in Germany in 1930, the
science-fiction thriller Alraune (his first sound film) and Die
Singende Stadt.In the early 1930s, Hitler and the Nazi Party were
growing in power. Kosleck spoke out against both and decided to leave
Germany in 1931 for Britain. The following year, he arrived in New
York City and then traveled west to Hollywood. In 1933, when Hitler
and the Nazi Party came to power, because of his opposition to the
Nazis, Kosleck was placed on the Gestapo list of "undesirables".
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