CASPAR, HORST

(1913-1952)

   Actor. After studies with Lucie Höflich in Berlin, Caspar made his debut in 1933 and ultimately became a member of Heinrich George's company at the Schiller Theater in Berlin. There he established himself in heroic parts such as Don Carlos, Tasso, and Hamlet. Caspar had a film career of sorts during the Third Reich, playing both a leading role in a 1940 version of Die Räuber (The Robbers) and Friedrich Schiller in a 1940 film titled Friedrich Schiller: Triumph of Genius; in a wig and costume characteristic of the late 18th century, Caspar looked a lot like Schiller. His appearance as a "German heroic type" enamored him of many in the Nazi hierarchy. After World War II, Caspar became a member of Gustaf Gründgens's company in Düsseldorf, playing more mature roles such as Faust—not always an enviable task if Gründgens was playing Mephisto.