Harry Baur

Biography

Harry Baur (12 April 1880 – 8 April 1943) was a French actor. Initially a stage actor, Baur appeared in about 80 films between 1909 and 1942. He gave an acclaimed performance as the composer Ludwig van Beethoven in the biopic Beethoven's Great Love (Un grand amour de Beethoven, 1936), directed by Abel Gance, and as Jean Valjean in Raymond Bernard's version of Les Misérables (1934). He also acted in Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset's silent film, Beethoven (1909), and in La voyante (1923), Sarah Bernhardt's last film. In 1942, while in Berlin, to star in his last film Symphone eines Lebens, Baur's wife was arrested by the Gestapo and charged with espionage. His effort to secure her release led to his own arrest and torture. He was being falsely labelled as a Jew but confirmed freemason. He was released in April 1943, but died in Paris shortly after in mysterious circumstances. Academy Award-winning American actor Rod Steiger cited Baur as one of his favorite actors who had exerted a major influence on his craft and career.

Known For

Les Misérables

as Jean Valjean / Champmathieu

Life Dances On

as Alain Regnault

A Man's Neck

as Commissaire Jules Maigret

Who Killed Santa Claus?

as Gaspard Cornusse

The Red Head

as Mr. Lepic

David Golder

as David Golder

The Golem

as L'empereur Rodolphe II, roi de Bohème

Volpone

as Volpone

The Life and Loves of Beethoven

as Ludwig van Beethoven

Hatred

as le capitaine Mollenard