Happy Birthday, Conrad Veidt (1893-1943)

Although he is most remembered for his role as the Nazi Major Strasser in Casablanca (1942), Veidt was actually a staunch opponent of the regime and was forced to flee Germany in 1933 to escape assassination by the Nazis. He became a British subject in 1939.

with Claude Rains in Casablanca (1942)

with Olga Baclanova in The Man Who Laughs (1928)

Veidt had an extensive career in silent films, both in Germany and the US. His portrayal of the deformed Gwynplaine in The Man Who Laughs (1928) was especially noteworthy.

Conrad Veidt, Barbara Bedford, Ian Keith in A Man's Past (1927)

with Werner Krauss in Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari. (1920)

Casablanca was not Veidt's only pairing with Bogart, either. There was also the less famous, but still entertaining All Through the Night (1941). This was more of a suspense/comedy than true Film Noir, but, of course, Veidt plays the Nazi agent. :)

with Humphrey Bogart in All Through the Night (1941)



A Woman's Face (1941) with Joan Crawford and Melvyn Douglas

In describing his role in A Woman's Face (1941) Veidt said: "I'm Lucifer in a tuxedo!" Conrad Veidt's passing due to a heart attack at the age of 50 was a great loss to the industry.