Alfred Abel

Before becoming a distinguished German actor, Alfred Abel worked a wide variety of jobs, ranging from forester to bank clerk to designer. In 1913, he caught the eye of Asta Nielsen, who helped him break into show business. Abel went on to be one of the best actors in early German films such as Dr. Mabuse der Spieler (1922) and Metropolis (1927). Abel became a director in the early '30s and made three films before he died in 1937. - Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide