German actor
Bildt and his wife he attempted suicide by poison, following the occupation of their town (Zeesen) by the Soviet Red Army in April 1945. While his wife died, Bildt survived after several days in a coma and was able to resume his career.
Versatile German character actor, at first slated for a career in the Prussian civil service. He first acted on stage in 1905 and appeared in films by 1910. He was an ensemble member of the Berlin Schillertheater from 1905 to 1913. On screen, he was initially prolific in comedies, latterly enacting anything from university professors and judges, to chemists, bankers and eccentric bohemians. He was regarded as one of the outstanding actors of his generation by the writer Berthold Brecht.
Paul Bildt interrupted his education as a police officer to take acting lessons with Friedrich Moest.
When the Nazis came to power he was in danger because of his Jewish wife but he was protected by Gustaf Grndgens and continued working at the Preuischen Staatstheater. He was forced to play in several propaganda movies.
His height as an actor he had in the 30s. He appeared in many talkies and became a steady institution who was able to convince in countless support roles.
During the First World War he served for a while in the army but this was ended by an illness.
After his recovery Grndgens employed him in Dsseldorf and from 1954 until his death in 1957 he worked for the Kammerspiele in Munich.
From 1905 to 1913 he was engaged at the Schillertheater in Berlin and in 1910 he was in his first movie.
In 1908 hem married the Jewish actress Charlotte Friedlnder. They had a daughter, Eva.
When the war ended he was at Gustav Grndgens house in Zeesen with his daughter. When the Russians approached he and Eva took an overdose of veronal on 26 Apr 1945. Eva died but Paul survived after several days in a coma.
In 1905 he debuted in Hannover at the summer tour of the German director Linsemann.
In 1945 his wife died of cancer.
The actor Paul Bildt belonged to the pioneers of the German film history.
His second wife was Katharina Pape who died in 1972 is buried next to him at the Landeseigener Friedhof Dahlem in Berlin. Charlotte Friedlnder was buried in Zeesen.
