Paul Askonas was an American actor who is best known for The Hands of Orlac, Trilby, and Hoffmanns Erzählungen. He was born on November 13, 1872, in Teplitz, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary, and passed away on November 26, 1935, in Vienna, Austria.
Personal and Family Life
Paul Askonas started his acting career at the Stadttheater St. Pölten in 1896. Over the years, he worked at various theaters, including the prestigious Deutsches Theater in Berlin starting in 1904. He became a key member of the Deutsches Volkstheater in Vienna from 1907 to 1920, building a strong reputation in the theater community.
Career
His real film career began in 1920, where he played various roles in notable silent films. He is remembered as the first actor to portray Dracula on screen. However, as sound films became popular, his film career declined, leading to his last participation in the short film “Eine Dirne ist ermordet worden” in 1930. After this, he returned to focusing on theater performances.
Death and Legacy
Paul Askonas died on November 26, 1935, in Vienna, Austria. His contributions to early cinema, especially his iconic role as Dracula, have left a lasting mark in film history. He is celebrated as a pioneer in acting during the silent film era and his legacy lives on through the films he starred in.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Orlacs Hände | 1924-09-24 | Diener |
| Hoffmanns Erzählungen | 1923-04-06 | Dr. Mirakel |
| Labyrinth des Grauens | 1921-11-10 | Thomas Racton |
| Sodom und Gomorrha | 1922-10-13 | |
| Drakula halála | 1921-02-22 | Drakula |
| Trilby | 1912-01-12 | Svengali |
| Eine Dirne ist ermordet worden | 1930-05-02 | |
| Moderne Ehen | 1924-12-10 | |
| Rasputin | 1923-01-01 | |
| Kurýři císařovi | 1924-01-01 | |
| Die Jugend am Scheideweg | 1929-10-01 | |
| Ludwig II | 1922-03-24 | Luitpold |
| Die weiße Sonate | 1928-01-01 |