Although often supposed to be a pseudonym, Max Schreck ("schreck" is the german expression for "terror"!) was the actor's real name. Max Schreck was born 1879 in Berlin and died during 1936 in Munich. He began his working life in an apprenticeship, but his attentions were soon drawn to the theatre and he embarked on stage training at the Staatstheater in Berlin. He made his stage debut in Messeritz and Speyer before touring the country for two years appearing at theatres in Zittau, Erfurt, Bremen, Lucerne, Gera, Frankfurt and finally joining Max Reinhart's celebrated troupe of performers back in Berlin. From 1919 to 1922, Max Schreck divided his time between working at the Kammerspiele in Munich and making his film debut in "Der Richter Von Zalamea" adapted from a six act play by Calderon and directed by Ludwig Berger for Decla Bioscop. In 1922 he was employed by Prana Film for their first and only production "Nosferatu - Eine Symphonie Des Grauens". His frightening interpretation of the skinny, bald and bat-eared vampire remains as one of the imortal highlights of the vampire movie genre.