Gustaf Gründgens (December 22, 1899 - October 7, 1963) was one of Germany's most famous actors of the 20th century. His single most famous role was that of Mephistopheles in Goethe's Faust, which is by many still considered having been the best interpretation of the role ever given.

Born in Düsseldorf, Gründgens was also involved in one of the most famous literary cases in 20th century Germany, as the subject of a novel entitled Mephisto by Klaus Mann (son of Thomas.) The novel, a thinly veiled account of Gründgens' life, portrayed its main character as having shady connections with the Nazi regime. A lawsuit ensued, as well as a controversy about libel and the freedom of fiction. Their relation was a complicated one, since Gründgens was at one point married to Erika Mann, Klaus' sister, and the three had together worked in the theater. Also, both had sexual relationships with men (Mann was gay, Gründgens bisexual.) This topic was avoided in the novel. From 1936 till 1946, Gründgens was married to famous German actress Marianne Hoppe.

1899 births | 1963 deaths | natives of Düsseldorf | Bisexual actors | German actors

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