Alfred Abel

About this actor

Alfred Abel (12 March 1879 – 12 December 1937) was a German film actor, director, and producer. He appeared in over 140 silent and sound films between 1913 and 1938. Abel is also known as the “Lewis Stone of German films.” His most famous performance is his role as Joh Fredersen in Fritz Lang's 1927 film Metropolis. Born in Leipzig in the German Empire on 12 March 1879, Alfred Peter Abel was the son of Louis Abel, a peddler, and Anna Maria Selma. Abel had several careers before becoming an actor. In his early adulthood, Abel first studied to be a forester and later studied gardening in Saxon Mittweida. He then changed his area of study to business in hopes of becoming a businessman. A short study of art drafting then followed at the Leipzig Academy. During this time, Abel attended private acting classes. Abel received his first acting job in the city of Lucerne, Switzerland. He continued acting in numerous theaters in the Lucerne canton, until he finally moved on to perform at the...