Rudolf Klein-Rogge

Rudolf Klein-Rogge (November 24, 1888–April 30, 1955) was a German stage and film actor of the 1920s and 30s. He is best known for his roles as the mad scientist C. A. Rotwang in Fritz Lang's film Metropolis, and as the title character in Lang's Dr. Mabuse series. He was born as Friederich Rudolf Klein-Rogge in Cologne, Germany. His father was a high-ranking military officer. After graduating from high school, he studied art history and literatur... more

Rudolf Klein-Rogge (November 24, 1888–April 30, 1955) was a German stage and film actor of the 1920s and 30s. He is best known for his roles as the mad scientist C. A. Rotwang in Fritz Lang's film Metropolis, and as the title character in Lang's Dr. Mabuse series. He was born as Friederich Rudolf Klein-Rogge in Cologne, Germany. His father was a high-ranking military officer. After graduating from high school, he studied art history and literature at the universities of Berlin and Bonn whilst taking acting lessons. He made his stage debut in 1909, playing the role of Cassius in Julius Caesar at age 20, and from 1918 to 1924 he performed at the Berlin Lessing Theatre. While working in Aachen he met screenwriter and author Thea von Harbou, whom he married in 1914. When they divorced in 1921, she married Fritz Lang. He began film acting in 1919, starting with bit parts. His first lead film role was in Fritz Lang's Kämpfende Herzen (1920), and he collaborated with Lang in three of the... less