Karl Martell was an American actor known for his roles in Der Spieler, La Habanera, and D III 88. He was born on November 17, 1906, in Tilsit, East Prussia, Germany, and passed away on December 28, 1966, in Hamburg, Germany.
Personal and Family Life
Karl Martell made his first appearance in films when he was just 14 years old with the movie “Das grosse Geheimnis” in 1920. He often played supporting roles in German cinema during the 1930s and 1940s, especially known for his portrayal of authoritative characters. Martell worked alongside renowned actress Zarah Leander in four films.
Career
After World War II, Martell’s activity in the film industry significantly decreased. From 1950, he shifted his focus to producing documentaries in Hamburg. By 1962, he had retired from the film business and became largely forgotten in the industry.
Death and Legacy
Karl Martell died alone in Hamburg on December 28, 1966, with little recognition for his earlier contributions to film. His passing went largely unnoticed, marking a sad end for a once-prominent actor of his time.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Premiere | 1937-02-25 | Fred Nissen |
| La Habanera | 1937-12-18 | Dr. Sven Nagel |
| Die Geliebte | 1939-07-27 | Rittmeister von Diewitz |
| Alarm | 1941-01-31 | Kriminalkommissar Petersen |
| Gauner im Frack | 1937-08-25 | Fred Parker – Connys Bruder |
| Gefährliches Spiel | 1937-04-02 | Dr. Helmut Boromäus |
| Die goldene Pest | 1921-11-18 | Patrick Murphy |
| D III 88 | 1939-10-25 | Lt. Ludwig Becker |
| Die blonde Frau des Maharadscha | 1962-05-03 | Dari |
| Der blaue Nachtfalter | 1959-08-26 | Direktor |
| Die Gefangene des Maharadscha | 1954-02-05 | Dari |
| Sterne über Colombo | 1953-11-17 | Dari |
| Herzen im Sturm | 1951-04-05 | Knut Bremer |
| Zwischen Herz und Gewissen | 1951-03-16 | Günther Stettner |
| Das alte Lied | 1945-03-29 | Barion Alf von Rexin |
| Lache Bajazzo | 1943-05-28 | Leutnant Graf Lanzoni |
| Damals | 1943-04-23 | Frank Douglas, Versicherungsagent |
| Mit den Augen einer Frau | 1942-10-30 | Rolf von Schenk |
| Ohm Krüger | 1941-01-02 | Englischer Offizier |
| Spähtrupp Hallgarten | 1941-03-14 | Hauptmann Pfennig |
| Dein Leben gehört mir | 1939-10-31 | |
| Silvesternacht am Alexanderplatz | 1939-03-03 | Fred Delken |
| Frauen für Golden Hill | 1938-12-30 | Stanley |
| Der Spieler | 1938-08-31 | Baron Vincent |