Maria Bard (7 July 1900 – 8 April 1944) was a German stage actress, who made a handful of films in the silent era for Rimax, her first husband Wilhelm Graaff's company. By 1930, her marriage with Graaff was over, and she appeared with Werner Krauss in the stage production Der Kaiser von Amerika or The King of America and the two became involved. Unfortunately, Krauss' wife discovered their affair and committed suicide; a year later, in 1931, Maria Bard married Werner Krauss. Her third husband was actor Hannes Stelzer. Bard committed suicide on 8 April 1944, apparently for political reasons. On December 27, 1944, toward the end of World War II, Stelzer who was in the Luftwaffe at this point, died when his plane was shot down over the Eastern front.
Hannes Stelzer (m. 1940–1944), Werner Krauss (m. 1931–1940), Wilhelm Graaff (m. 1920–1930)
Movies
Berlin-Alexanderplatz, Above All Else in the World
Star Sign
Cancer
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Fact
1
Maria Bard only appeared seldom in front of the camera, she normally paid attention to the theater.
2
Before her career as an actress she worked as a piano teacher and pianist.
3
Her third husband was actor Hannes Stelzer. On December 27, 1944, toward the end of World War II, Stelzer who was in the Luftwaffe at this point, died when his plane was shot down over the Eastern front.
4
Already at the age of 20 she got married with Wilhelm Graaff who financed her acting education. Wilhem Graaff founded the film company Rimax in 1923 which not only produced promotional films but also feature movies with Maria Bard.
5
Made her affair with the (married) leading actor Werner Krauss so obvious while performing a love scene in the play "Der Kaiser von Amerika" (1930), that Krauss's wife, who was among the audience, returned to her home and committed suicide.
6
Committed suicide in 1944, for undisclosed 'private and political reasons'.
7
Leading lady of the 1930's, a former pianist and music instructor. She was mentored in the late 1920's by Max Reinhardt and was briefly successful on the stage. Only occasionally in films, she had integral roles in Berlin-Alexanderplatz - Die Geschichte Franz Biberkopfs (1931) as a friend of the main character, and in Ucicky's Mensch ohne Namen (1932).
8
Stage actress.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
G.P.U.
1942
Vorsitzerin der Frauenliga
Kleine Mädchen - große Sorgen
1941
Fräulein Magnus
Über alles in der Welt
1941
Madeleine LaRoche
Die gute Sieben
1940
Lisette Flor-Schmidt, Besitzerin eines Hutsalons
Love in Stunt Flying
1937
Dorothy Hopkins
Premiere
1937
Lydia Loo
Mensch ohne Namen
1932
Grete Schulze
Berlin-Alexanderplatz - Die Geschichte Franz Biberkopfs