Käthe Haack (born Käte Lisbeth Minna Sophie Isolde Haack;[1] 11 August 1897 – 5 May 1986) was a German stage and film actress. She appeared in more than 200 films and 30 television productions between 1915 and 1985.
Life and career
Käte Lisbeth Minna Sophie Isolde Haack was born in Berlin on 11 August 1897. After finishing school education, Haack had her first engagement as an actress in Göttingen. Since 1915, she regularly appeared in Berlin theatres like Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, Volksbühne and Deutsches Theater. Between 1934 and 1945, she worked at the Konzerthaus Berlin under direction of Gustaf Gründgens. She also appeared in the original production of The Captain of Köpenick. Haack remained in demand as a stage actress for the rest of her life, for example as Mrs. Higgins in My Fair Lady during the 1960s.
Haack started her film career as early as 1915 with the Max Mack's silent film Der Katzensteg.[1] She was initially cast as Lola-Lola in the film The Blue Angel (1930) and her contract was signed, but she was ultimately replaced by Marlene Dietrich.[2] She mostly played love interests during the silent era, later she successfully transitioned to character roles as a mother, wife, grandmother or wealthy lady. Among her best-known film roles is Baronin Münchhausen in Münchhausen (1943), an expensive film adaption about Baron Munchausen starring Hans Albers. She also appeared in Emil and the Detectives (1931), No Greater Love (1952) and The Last Pedestrian (1960). Haack played her last role in the television series Ein Heim für Tiere in 1985, 70 years after her film career had started.
She was married to actor Heinrich Schroth from 1922 until his death in 1945. They had one child together, actress Hannelore Schroth, who was born in 1922.[1]
Gravesite of Haack, her daughter Hannelore Schroth, and grandson Christopher Kantapper Köster in Berlin-Westend
Käthe Haack died in West Berlin in May 1986 at the age of 88. The burial took place at the state-owned Friedhof Heerstraße in today's district of Berlin-Westend.[3] The daughter Hannelore Schroth was already buried at her side the following year, as was later her son from her third marriage, Christoph Kantapper Köster (1953-2012). By decision of the Berlin Senate, the final resting place of Käthe Haack (grave location: 16-J-27) has been dedicated as an honorary grave of the State of Berlin since 2018. The dedication is valid for the usual period of twenty years, but can be extended afterwards.[4]
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