Erich von Stroheim (September 22, 1885 – May 12, 1957) was a multifaceted Austrian-American actor, director, and writer known for his contributions to cinema during the silent film era. He was renowned for his meticulous attention to detail as a director and for portraying intense, often morally ambiguous characters on screen. Stroheim gained fame for directing and starring in films like "Greed" and "The Merry Widow." His style was marked by elaborate storytelling and a commitment to realism. Stroheim's career was impactful, though often marked by conflicts with studios due to his uncompromising vision, which led to some of his films being heavily edited against his wishes.
Known For
Sunset Boulevard
(1950)
Max von Mayerling
Greed
(1924)
Balloon Vendor (uncredited)
Grand Illusion
(1937)
Le capitaine von Rauffenstein
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
(1916)
Second Pharisee (uncredited)
Foolish Wives
(1922)
Count Wladislaw Sergius Karamzin
Five Graves to Cairo
(1943)
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
Full Filmography
Acting
Old Heidelberg
(1915)
Lutz
Ghosts
(1915)
School Clerk
His Picture in the Papers
(1916)
One of the Weazels (uncredited)
The Social Secretary
(1916)
The Buzzard
The Flying Torpedo
(1916)
Accomplice
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
(1916)
Second Pharisee (uncredited)
Panthea
(1917)
Lieutenant
The Unbeliever
(1918)
Herr Lieutenant Kurt von Schnieditz
The Heart of Humanity
(1918)
Eric von Eberhard
Hearts of the World
(1918)
A Hun
The Hun Within
(1918)
Von Bickel
Blind Husbands
(1919)
Lt. Erich von Steuben
Foolish Wives
(1922)
Count Wladislaw Sergius Karamzin
Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12
(1922)
Self
Souls for Sale
(1923)
Self - Celebrity Director
Greed
(1924)
Balloon Vendor (uncredited)
1925 Studio Tour
(1925)
Self
The Wedding March
(1928)
Nicki / Prince Nickolas
The Honeymoon
(1929)
Nikki
The Great Gabbo
(1929)
Gabbo
Three Faces East
(1930)
Valdar / Schiller Blecher
Friends and Lovers
(1931)
Victor Sangrito
The Lost Squadron
(1932)
Arthur von Furst
As You Desire Me
(1932)
Carl Salter
Crimson Romance
(1934)
Capt. Wolters
Fugitive Road
(1934)
Hpt. Oswald Von Traunsee
The Crime of Doctor Crespi
(1935)
Dr. Andre Crespi
Marthe Richard
(1937)
van Ludlow
Alibi
(1937)
Winckler
Under Secret Orders
(1937)
Col. W. Mathesius / Simonis
Grand Illusion
(1937)
Le capitaine von Rauffenstein
The Lafarge Case
(1938)
Denis
La Vie des artistes
(1938)
Self
Rail Pirates
(1938)
Tchou King
Boys' School
(1938)
Walter, le professeur d'anglais
Ultimatum
(1938)
General Simovic
Gibraltar
(1938)
Eric Marson
Behind the Facade
(1939)
Eric, l'Allemand naturalisé Français
The World Will Shake
(1939)
Emil Lasser / Monsieur Frank
Immediate Call
(1939)
Personal Column
(1939)
Pears, l'ex-couturier
Threats
(1940)
Le professeur Hoffman
I Was an Adventuress
(1940)
Andre Desormeaux
Thunder Over Paris
(1940)
Korlick
So Ends Our Night
(1941)
Brenner
Gambling Hell
(1942)
Werner von Krall
The North Star
(1943)
Dr. von Harden
Five Graves to Cairo
(1943)
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
Storm Over Lisbon
(1944)
Deresco
The Lady and the Monster
(1944)
Prof. Franz Mueller
Scotland Yard Investigator
(1945)
Carl Hoffmeyer
The Great Flamarion
(1945)
The Great Flamarion
Devil and the Angel
(1946)
Frank Davis
The Mask of Diijon
(1946)
Diijon
One Does Not Die That Way
(1946)
Eric von Berg
Stroheim in Vienna
(1948)
Self
La Danse de mort
(1948)
Edgar
Portrait of a Murderer
(1949)
Eric
The Red Signal
(1949)
Mathias Berthold
Sunset Boulevard
(1950)
Max von Mayerling
Alraune
(1952)
Jacob ten Brinken
Other Side of Paradise
(1953)
William O'Hara
Midnight... Quai de Bercy
(1953)
Le professeur Kieffer
Alarm in Morocco
(1953)
Conrad Nagel
La madone des sleepings
(1955)
Dr Siefgried Traurig
Napoleon
(1955)
Ludwig van Beethoven
Série noire
(1955)
Sacha Zavaroff
Armored Attack!
(1957)
Dr. Otto Von Harden
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
(1961)
Self (archive footage)
Erich von Stroheim - Der Mann mit dem bösen Blick
(1966)
(archive footage)
The Man You Loved to Hate
(1979)
Self (archive footage)
Edge of Outside
(2006)
Self (archive footage)
Quand Jean devint Renoir
(2017)
Captain von Rauffenstein (archive footage)
Crew
Directing
The Birth of a Nation
(1915)
Assistant Director
Old Heidelberg
(1915)
Assistant Director
His Picture in the Papers
(1916)
Assistant Director
The Social Secretary
(1916)
Assistant Director
Less Than the Dust
(1916)
Assistant Director
Panthea
(1917)
Assistant Director
Blind Husbands
(1919)
Director
The Devil's Passkey
(1920)
Director
Foolish Wives
(1922)
Director
Greed
(1924)
Director
The Merry Widow
(1926)
Director
The Wedding March
(1928)
Director
The Honeymoon
(1929)
Director
Queen Kelly
(1932)
Director
Hello, Sister!
(1933)
Director
Costume & Make-Up
Production
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
(1916)
Assistant Production Manager
Blind Husbands
(1919)
Producer
The Wedding March
(1928)
Producer
Editing
Writing
Blind Husbands
(1919)
Story and Screenplay
The Devil's Passkey
(1920)
Writer
Foolish Wives
(1922)
Writer and Scenario Writer
Greed
(1924)
Screenplay
The Merry Widow
(1926)
Writer
The Wedding March
(1928)
Writer
The Honeymoon
(1929)
Writer
Queen Kelly
(1932)
Story
Hello, Sister!
(1933)
Scenario Writer
The Devil-Doll
(1936)
Screenplay
Between Two Women
(1937)
Story
Gibraltar
(1938)
Scenario Writer
Papatya
(1956)
Original Story
Art