Max Schreck is a name forever etched in the annals of horror cinema, thanks to his unforgettable portrayal of Count Orlok in Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922). His gaunt face and eerie demeanor in the silent classic helped shape the visual language of cinematic horror and left an air of mystery about him that has lasted long after his death.

Early Life

Maximilian Schreck was born on September 6, 1879, in Berlin, Germany. He was the second child of Pauline and Gustav Schreck. Max exhibited an interest in the performing arts from a young age, but his father did not approve of his son’s interest in theatre, so he would take lessons in secret along with the encouragement of his mother. After his father’s death, Schreck attended drama school and later toured with various stage companies throughout Germany.

Career

Schreck transitioned to the burgeoning film industry in the 1920s, appearing in a few German productions. However, it was his role as the vampire Count Orlok in Nosferatu, directed by F.W. Murnau, that cemented his name in history. A film that, thankfully, has survived to this day despite a lawsuit by the Bram Stoker estate, which led to a court order to destroy all copies. As a result, very few people initially saw it. When it was eventually screened in the U.S. years later, it generally received negative reviews.

Even though he was only on screen for a short time, Schreck’s haunting performance was so convincing that rumors began to circulate that he might actually be a vampire. While vampires are now often portrayed romantically as objects of immortal desire, Schreck’s portrayal featured a bat-like face with pointed teeth. His elongated fingers, sunken cheeks, and the eerie movements of someone long since dead contributed to the chilling atmosphere of the film, which remains a cornerstone of the horror genre.

Schreck would continue to act, often in minor roles, and would work with F. W. Murnau again in the 1924 comedy Die Finanzen des Grossherzogs (Finances of the Grand Duke).

Personal Life

It is unclear exactly when they met, but it appears that Schreck met actress Fanny Normann around 1906 while working together in a stage production. The two married in 1910, and Fanny had a small role as a nurse in Nosferatu. They did not have any children.

Death

After a performance on the evening of February 19, 1936, Schreck began feeling unwell and visited a doctor. He passed away the next morning from a heart attack at the age of 56. He was buried in Wilmersdorfer Waldfriedhof Stahnsdorf in Brandenburg, Germany.

Max Schreck’s life and brief career are shrouded in mystery, much like the character he immortalized. Books have been written, and documentaries made, questioning whether he was truly the man we believe him to be. Was Max Schreck simply another actor portraying the persona of Max Schreck? Or is he still with us because he really is a vampire?

Max Schreck

Sept. 6th, 1879 – Feb. 20th, 1936