He ran away from home, worked as a bank clerk, and after stage training in Vienna made his acting debut in Zurich. He remained unknown, traveling for seven years acting in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, until Fritz Lang cast him as the psychopathic child killer in "M.” After several more German films, as the Nazis came to power, he left for Paris, London and, in 1935, Hollywood. He began his pairing with Sydney Greenstreet as Joel Cairo in "The Maltese Falcon" (1941), continued in "Casablanca" (1942) and seven other films during the early 1940s. Vintage matte-finish 8 x 10 photo, signed in fountain pen. Noticeable vertical crease to right side through two letters of signature, otherwise fine condition. R&R COA.
