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Willy Maertens


1893 - 1967

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The actor Willy Maertens (in fact Wilhelm Hermann August Maertens) began his acting career in Berlin before World War I. It followed engagements at different German theaters before his career was interrupted by the event of the war and his military draft. 

He continued his stage career successfully after the war and via many stage stations he came to the Thalia Theater in Hamburg where he remained as an actor from 1927. 
In 1939 he also realised his first play for that theater.

At the end of World War II the theater was destroyed and re-erected. Willy Maertens took over the direction of the theater till 1964. 

He made his film debut during World War II with "Anschlag auf Baku" (42) but his real film career started after the war.

After the early postwar movies "In jenen Tagen" (47) and "Der Apfel ist ab" (48) he became a demanded support actor in numerous productions besides few leading roles.
To these movies belong "Nur eine Nacht" (50), "Engel im Abendkleid" (51), "Toxi" (52), "Keine Angst vor grossen Tieren" (53), "Drei vom Varieté" (54), "Der Hauptmann von Köpenick" (56), "Skandal um Dr. Vlimmen" (56), "Biedermann und die Brandstifter" (58), "Der Mann, der nicht nein sagen konnte" (58), "Natürlich die Autofahrer" (59) and "Die schöne Lügnerin" (59).

Willy Maertens was able to carry on his profession till last and he took part in movies like "Nacht fiel über Gotenhafen" (60), "Das Wunder des Malachias" (61), "Der Lügner" (61), "Ein Volksfeind" (65), "Der Trauschein" (67) and "Feldwebel Schmid" (68) in his last decade.

Besides acting Willy Maertens was also active as an acting coach, among them for Karl-Heinz Kreienbaum and Manfred Steffen and he spoke numerous roles for radio plays.

Willy Maertens was married with the actress Charlotte Kramm.
 

Other movies with Willy Maertens:
Arche Nora (48) Absender unbekannt (50) Der Schatten des Herrn Monitor (50) Schön muss man sein (51) Die Stimme des Anderen (52) Unter den tausend Laternen (52) Oh, du lieber Fridolin (52) Ich warte auf dich (52) Der Hund im Hirn (53) Jedem das Seine (54) Im sechsten Stock (54) Bei Dir war es immer so schön (54) Konsul Strotthoff (54) Geständnis unter vier Augen (54) Musik, Musik und nur Musik (55) Wie werde ich Filmstar? (55) Die Ehe des Dr. med. Danwitz (56) Mädchen mit schwachem Gedächtnis (56) Die Tochter des Brunennmachers (56) Wenn wir alle Engel wären (56) Nachts im grünen Kakadu (57) Die Gangster von Valence (57) Das haut einen Seemann doch nicht um (58) Frau im besten Mannesalter (59) Der Raub der Sabinerinnen (59) Nach all der Zeit (60) Unseliger Sommer (61) Das Schloss (62) Der Trauschein (63) Serie "Hafenpolizei: Der Blindgänger" (63) Koll (64) Serie "Hafenpolizei: Der Betriebsausflug" (64) Jennifer...? (65) Familientreffen (65) Onkel Phils Nachlass (65) Standgericht (66) Frank V. – Die Oper einer Privatbank (67) Serie "Zimmer 13: Die Herren kennen sich" (68) Der eiserne Henry (68) 

 
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