Biography
Carl Balhaus (also spelled Ballhaus) was a German stage and film actor, later a director and screenwriter. Born on 4 November 1905 in Mülheim an der Ruhr, he studied philology and German studies in Berlin while taking acting lessons at the Deutsches Theater. He made his stage debut there and joined Erwin Piscator's Volksbühne ensemble in 1926, remaining until 1935 and working with directors including Max Reinhardt and Gustaf Gründgens.
Balhaus began his screen career with a small role in the 1926 silent film Ramper, der Tiermensch. He appeared in supporting parts in early sound films such as The Blue Angel (1930) as Ertzum/Pupil, Westfront 1918 (1930) and M (1931). Political activities led to restrictions after 1933; he worked mainly in theatre until the end of the war. Post-war, he directed and wrote for the East German DEFA studio, with credits including Der Fall Dr. Wagner (1954) and Damals in Paris (1956). He was the uncle of cinematographer Michael Ballhaus and died on 30 July 1968 in Eisenach.
