Actor in movies, mostly in silent films, and theatre. Born July 23, 1884, in Switzerland, of German descent. Began his acting career in Berlin in the years before World War 1. He came to Hollywood in 1927, signing a Paramount contract and winning the first Best Actor Oscar ever awarded for his work in The Way of All Flesh (1927) and The Last Command (1928). Because of his thick German accent, the advent of sound ended his American career. Jannings returned to his native Germany, where he became a supporter of the Nazi ideology, and spent the 1930s and early 1940s making films in their support. After Hitler's regime was destroyed, Jannings found himself unwanted in the international filmmaking community. Jannings died January 3, 1950, in Austria.
More information