15 Facts About Emil Jannings

Emil Jannings was the first recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actor for starring roles in The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh.

Emil Jannings later starred in a number of Nazi propaganda films, which made him unemployable as an actor after the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Emil Jannings held German citizenship; while he was still young the family moved to Leipzig in the German Empire and further to Gorlitz after the early death of his father.

Permanently employed since 1915, Emil Jannings met with playwright Karl Vollmoller, fellow actor Ernst Lubitsch, and photographer Frieda Riess.

Emil Jannings made his breakthrough in 1918 with his role as Judge Adam in Kleist's Broken Jug at the Schauspielhaus.

Emil Jannings was a theater actor who went into films, though he remained dissatisfied with the limited expressive possibilities in the silent era.

Emil Jannings worked with Murnau on two other films; playing the title character in Tartuffe, and as Mephistopheles in Faust.

Emil Jannings's increasing popularity enabled Jannings to sign an agreement with Paramount Pictures and eventually follow his acting colleagues Lubitsch and Negri to Hollywood.

In 1929, Emil Jannings won the first Best Actor Oscar for his work in both films.

Emil Jannings's dialogue was initially dubbed by another actor in the part-talkie The Patriot directed by Ernst Lubitsch, although Jannings' own voice was restored after he objected.

In 1960, Emil Jannings was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1630 Vine Street for his contribution to motion pictures.

Emil Jannings performed in his role in The Broken Jug directed by Gustav Ucicky.

Emil Jannings reportedly carried his Oscar statuette with him as proof of his former association with Hollywood.

Emil Jannings retired to Strobl near Salzburg, Austria, and became an Austrian citizen in 1947.

Emil Jannings died in 1950, aged 65, from liver cancer.