Oscar Karmann (5 December 1912 - 7 December 1990) was a Brunanter stage, film and television actor. He was famous for playing the role of monsters and villains, thus earning him the nickname "King of Horror". With a career spanning over half a century, Karmann played in almost fifty movies and TV shows.
Career[]
Karmann was born in Brunantstad to a family hailing from Plzen, Austria-Hungary. He began acting in the late 1930's on stage plays and in 1949 appeared in his first movie role in the minor film The Count.
By the 1950s he became a largely mainstream actor and was notable for leading and supporting roles in It Came From Planet 68 (1956), Monster Hospital, both the film (1963) and the TV series (1964-66), The Lovebird (1969), and Thaumaturge (1989).
Karmann died in 1990 from heart attack, just two days after his birthday.
Controversy[]
Gabriel Blanchard: Devil in Disguise, 1969
There was controvery attached to Karmann since it appears he collaborated with Nazis in during WWII. Many held a strong sentiment against him, even though his dealings with the Nazis were minimal.
Pop artist Gabriel Blanchard would later do a portrait of him entitled "Devil in Disguise". Karmann was not amused at this "mockery", but the painting was displayed at the Modern Art Gallery of Grijzestad quite successfully and was later sold for Th. 100,000.
Personal life[]
Karmann was never married though he was linked to various prominent women in his time. He had two daughters with a sales clerk from Angora, both of which live in France.
Selected filmography[]
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | The Count | Boudewijn | Film debut |
| 1952 | The Dark Alley | Edwin | One of the few leading hero roles of Karmann |
| 1954 | Flaming Arrows | Johannes | |
| The Open Gate | Dark King | ||
| 1956 | It Came From Planet 68 | Lead Alien | Karmann's first work with Herbert S. Hosen |
| 1957 | Fatal Hour | Elbert van Galen | |
| 1959 | Tragic Day | Mr. Sweers | |
| Betrayed | Cornelis van Nes | ||
| The Smoker | Shlomo | ||
| 1960 | The Zombies From Planet 68 | Lead Zombie | |
| 1963 | Monster Hospital | Dr. Frank N. Stein | Karmann's first comedy film |
| 1964-66 | Monster Hospital | Dr. Frank N. Stein | TV series |
| 1965 | Septimus: The Invincible Swordsman | Sextus Julius Sabinus | Karmann's first film with Paul Riesner |
| 1969 | The Lovebird | Colonel Totenbringer | |
| 1970 | The Last Temptress | President Nero | |
| The Ingrate | Cecil Harron | ||
| 1972 | Full Moon Massacre | Jacobus Morto | |
| 1981 | V for Vengeance | Dr. Pervers | |
| 1989 | Thaumaturge | Skelan, Duke of Torild-Honess | Karmann's last film |