---
name: "Paul Henreid"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/paul-henreid"
fi1m_id: "paul-henreid"
imdb_id: "nm0002134"
tmdb_id: 4112
wikidata_id: "Q93467"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "10 January 1908"
died: "29 March 1992"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-25T03:09:18.044002+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Paul Henreid

## Identity

Paul Henreid

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/paul-henreid
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** paul-henreid
- **IMDb ID:** nm0002134
- **TMDB ID:** 4112
- **Wikidata ID:** Q93467
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Henreid, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q93467, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002134/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4112

Actor. Born 10 January 1908 in Trieste, Austria-Hungary. Died 29 March 1992.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 10 January 1908, Trieste, Austria-Hungary
- **Died:** 29 March 1992
- **Active:** 1939–1977
- **Also known as:** Paul von Hernried, Paul Georg Julius Hernreid
- **Frequently works with:** [Claude Rains](https://film.one/person/claude-rains.md), [Hal B. Wallis](https://film.one/person/hal-b-wallis.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 82 (1), 1940s 88 (2), 1970s 38 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 71 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Romance 3, Horror 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $49m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Henreid, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q93467, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002134/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4112

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Casablanca*](https://film.one/film/casablanca.md) (93)
- **Tubi:** [*Now, Voyager*](https://film.one/film/now-voyager.md) (82)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Exorcist II: The Heretic*](https://film.one/film/exorcist-ii-the-heretic.md) (38)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Paul Henreid

> Paul Henreid gives the romantic rival a dignity that makes taking sides uncomfortable. We value his restraint, especially in *Casablanca*, though the familiar elegance can leave us wishing for a less composed man.

Paul Henreid does not make Victor Laszlo's decency look negotiable. In Michael Curtiz's *Casablanca* (1943), that matters more than it might in a less persuasive romance. Bogart and Bergman make their longing hurt, and Henreid supplies a reason not to treat their wishes as the only ones that count. We were moved by his steadiness, because he makes Laszlo's claim on our sympathy feel as serious as theirs. It is a quietly effective performance in a film we recommend without allowances for its age.

Laszlo is a supporting hero, a difficult assignment when the romantic leads already have our attention. Henreid's quiet dignity keeps the character from becoming merely an obstacle to be cleared away. We need to believe there is something worth choosing in him, and he gives us that without demanding that we find him the more exciting man. His composure can make him seem remote, but making Laszlo more ingratiating would hardly improve matters. Henreid lets us take a little time to appreciate him.

Before that Hollywood image settled, the British films included *Goodbye, Mr. Chips* (1939) and *Night Train to Munich* (1940). *Now, Voyager* (1942), opposite Bette Davis, established the romantic leading man, with the gesture of lighting two cigarettes and handing one to her doing much of the work. The appeal is specific: Henreid makes a small courtesy feel intimate without abandoning his good manners. Beside Laszlo, that performance helps explain why the sophisticated European gentleman became such a persistent assignment for him.

Typecasting as the suave European narrowed the later film work; Henreid also turned to television directing, notably on Hitchcock series. The recurring polish is our reservation about his acting: when a part asks only for elegance, there is less to discover after the entrance. We would choose *Now, Voyager* for a closer look at how much he could communicate through a simple gesture. Start with *Casablanca*, though, and do not be too quick to wish Laszlo out of the way.

## Biography

Paul Henreid was an Austrian-American actor and director. Born Paul Georg Julius von Hernreid in Trieste, then part of Austria-Hungary, on 10 January 1908, he trained for the theatre in Vienna and made his stage debut in 1933 under Max Reinhardt.

He appeared in British films including *Goodbye, Mr. Chips* (1939) and *Night Train to Munich* (1940) before moving to the United States. His best-known film roles were Jeremiah 'Jerry' Durrance in *Now, Voyager* (1942) and Victor Laszlo in *Casablanca* (1942). He later directed episodes of *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* and *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour*, as well as the films *Dead Ringer* (1964) and *Operation Crossbow* (1965). Henreid died in Santa Monica, California, on 29 March 1992.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, britannica.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Exorcist II: The Heretic* (1977), Fi1m 38, as The Cardinal — [page](https://film.one/film/exorcist-ii-the-heretic.md)
- *Casablanca* (1943), Fi1m 93, as Victor Laszlo — [page](https://film.one/film/casablanca.md)
- *Now, Voyager* (1942), Fi1m 82, as Jeremiah 'Jerry' Duvaux Durrance — [page](https://film.one/film/now-voyager.md)
- *Goodbye, Mr. Chips* (1939), Fi1m 82, as Max Staefel — [page](https://film.one/film/goodbye-mr-chips.md)

## Complete filmography (79)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *On the Road to Hollywood* (1982), Actor
- *Exorcist II: The Heretic* (1977), as The Cardinal — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/exorcist-ii-the-heretic.md)
- *Death Among Friends* (1975), as Otto Schiller
- *The Failing of Raymond* (1971), as Dr. Abel
- *The Madwoman of Chaillot* (1969), as The General
- *Bracken's World* (1969), series, Director
- *Judd, for the Defense* (1967), series, Actor
- *Hawk* (1966), series, Director
- *The Loner* (1965), series, Director
- *The Big Valley* (1965), series, Director
- *Operation Crossbow* (1965), as General Ziemann
- *Ballad in Blue* (1965), Director, Story
- *Dead Ringer* (1964), Director
- *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, Director
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, Director
- *Sam Benedict* (1962), series, Director
- *The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse* (1962), as Etienne Laurier
- *The Case of the Dangerous Robin* (1960), series, Director
- *The Aquanauts* (1960), series, as Richard Nincel
- *Thriller* (1960), series, Director
- *Hong Kong* (1960), series, Director
- *Never So Few* (1959), as Nikko Regas
- *Bourbon Street Beat* (1959), series, Director
- *The Third Man* (1959), series, Director
- *Johnny Ringo* (1959), series, Director
- *The DuPont Show with June Allyson* (1959), series, Director
- *The Troubleshooters* (1959), series, Director
- *Johnny Staccato* (1959), series, Director
- *Holiday for Lovers* (1959), as Eduardo Barroso
- *Girls on the Loose* (1958), Director
- *Live Fast, Die Young* (1958), Director
- *Alcoa Theatre* (1957), series, Director
- *The Californians* (1957), series, Director
- *Maverick* (1957), series, Director
- *Sugarfoot* (1957), series, Director
- *Ten Thousand Bedrooms* (1957), as Anton
- *One Coat of White* (1957), as Roland Lautisse
- *A Woman's Devotion* (1956), as Henrique Monteros · Director
- *Meet Me in Las Vegas* (1956), as Pierre
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, Director
- *Cheyenne* (1955), series, Director
- *Pirates of Tripoli* (1955), as Edri al-Gadrian
- *Deep in My Heart* (1954), as Florenz Ziegfeld
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Capt. Sebastian Von Reis
- *The Lineup* (1954), series, Director
- *Dieses Lied bleibt bei dir* (1954), as Konrad Hegner
- *Siren of Bagdad* (1953), as Kazah the Great
- *Mantrap* (1953), as Hugo Bishop
- *Dans la vie tout s'arrange* (1952), as Paul Rencourt
- *Stolen Face* (1952), as Dr. Philip Ritter
- *Thief of Damascus* (1952), as Abu Amdar
- *For Men Only* (1952), as Dr Stephen Brice · Director, Producer
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Prof. Rhys Lorenz · Director
- *Pardon My French* (1951), as Paul Rencourt
- *Last of the Buccaneers* (1950), as Jean Lafitte
- *So Young, So Bad* (1950), as Dr. John H. Jason
- *Rope of Sand* (1949), as Commandant Paul G. Vogel
- *Hollow Triumph* (1948), as John Muller / Dr. Bartok · Producer
- *Song of Love* (1947), as Robert Schumann
- *Deception* (1946), as Karel Novak
- *Okay for Sound* (1946), Actor
- *Of Human Bondage* (1946), as Philip Carey
- *Devotion* (1946), as Rev. Arthur Nicholls
- *The Spanish Main* (1945), as Capt. Laurent Van Horn
- *The Conspirators* (1944), as Vincent Van Der Lyn
- *Between Two Worlds* (1944), as Henry Bergner
- *In Our Time* (1944), as Count Stefan Orwid
- *Casablanca* (1943), as Victor Laszlo — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/casablanca.md)
- *Now, Voyager* (1942), as Jeremiah 'Jerry' Duvaux Durrance — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/now-voyager.md)
- *Joan of Paris* (1942), as Paul Lavallier
- *Night Train to Munich* (1940), as Karl Marsen
- *An Englishman's Home* (1940), as Victor Brandt
- *Goodbye, Mr. Chips* (1939), as Max Staefel — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/goodbye-mr-chips.md)
- *Victoria the Great* (1937), as (uncredited)
- *Only a Comedian* (1935), as Velthen
- *Eva, the Factory Girl* (1935), as Fritz
- *High School* (1934), as Franz von Ketterer
- *Baroud* (1933), Actor
- *Dawn* (1933), Actor

## Gallery

- ![Paul Henreid](https://film.one/media/person/58977/gallery-7646a3a495a1.jpg) Paul Henreid — Lee Jennings Elkins, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Portrait_of_Paul_Henreid.jpg/1280px-Portrait_of_Paul_Henreid.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Colonial Theater advertisement for the American drama film Casablanca (1942) - 27 Jan. 1943 Morning Call, Allentown PA](https://film.one/media/person/58977/gallery-feab46d23245.jpg) Colonial Theater advertisement for the American drama film Casablanca (1942) - 27 Jan. 1943 Morning Call, Allentown PA — Warner Bros., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/1943_-_Colonial_Theater_Ad_-_27_Jan_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg/1280px-1943_-_Colonial_Theater_Ad_-_27_Jan_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Colonial Theater advertisement for the American drama film Casablanca (1942) - 28 Jan. 1943 Morning Call, Allentown PA](https://film.one/media/person/58977/gallery-e6de16b94ac1.jpg) Colonial Theater advertisement for the American drama film Casablanca (1942) - 28 Jan. 1943 Morning Call, Allentown PA — Warner Bros., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/1943_-_Colonial_Theater_Ad_-_28_Jan_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg/1280px-1943_-_Colonial_Theater_Ad_-_28_Jan_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Baseline Drive-In theater advertisement for the double-feature films, Girls on the Loose (1958) and Live Fast, Die Young (1958). From the 11 June 1958 San Berna](https://film.one/media/person/58977/gallery-5089a6e10526.jpg) Baseline Drive-In theater advertisement for the double-feature films, Girls on the Loose (1958) and Live Fast, Die Young (1958). From the 11 June 1958 San Berna — Universal Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Baseline_Drive-in_Ad_-_11_June_1958%2C_Highland%2C_CA.jpg/1280px-Baseline_Drive-in_Ad_-_11_June_1958%2C_Highland%2C_CA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Paul Henreid](https://film.one/media/person/58977/gallery-db6bd1aecac3.jpg) Paul Henreid — Image via TMDB
- ![Paul Henreid](https://film.one/media/person/58977/gallery-38215d29f834.jpg) Paul Henreid — Image via TMDB
- ![Paul Henreid](https://film.one/media/person/58977/gallery-de91176f438c.jpg) Paul Henreid — Image via TMDB
- ![Catherine Doucet & Paul Henreid in Hollow Triumph (aka The Scar, UK title) - cropped screenshot (1948)](https://film.one/media/person/58977/gallery-0907459a880d.jpg) Catherine Doucet & Paul Henreid in Hollow Triumph (aka The Scar, UK title) - cropped screenshot (1948) — film screenshot (Eagle-Lion), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Catherine_Doucet-Paul_Henreid_in_Hollow_Triumph.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Members of the Hollywood Committee for the First Amendment disembarking plane in Los Angeles, California. The members are Marsha Hunt, Shepperd Strudwick, Paul  (1947)](https://film.one/media/person/58977/gallery-b4670bc6b709.jpg) Members of the Hollywood Committee for the First Amendment disembarking plane in Los Angeles, California. The members are Marsha Hunt, Shepperd Strudwick, Paul  (1947) — Los Angeles Daily News, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Committee_for_the_First_Amendment_1947.jpg/1280px-Committee_for_the_First_Amendment_1947.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/paul-henreid