Herman Bing
Herman Bing was a German-American character actor. He acted in more than 120 films and many of his parts were uncredited.
Biography
Bing was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Bing began his career at the circus, at age 16, and vaudeville showing comedic talent.
In 1921 he made his film debut in "Ciska Barna, die Zigeunerin".
He was production chief of several films in Germany before he went to America, in 1923, with director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau as Murnau's interpreter and assistant director. He also worked under John Ford and Frank Borzage, before establishing himself as a successful character actor well known for his wild-eyed facial expressions and thick German accent. He also provided the voice for the Ringmaster in Walt Disney's Dumbo.
Death
The start of World War II in Europe caused all things German to be unpopular with audiences. His German accent was no longer in demand in the years following World War II. He became increasingly depressed in the mid-1940s. He was unable to secure work in Hollywood, and committed suicide by gunshot in 1947.
Selected filmography
Ciska Barna, Die Zigeunerin 4 Devils Married in Hollywood as German DirectorA Song of Kentucky as Jake KleinschmidtThe Three Sisters as Von KoschShow Girl in Hollywood as Mr. Bing – Otis' AssistantMen Behind Bars as LawyerWomen Love Once The Great Lover as LosseckThe Guardsman as A CreditorMurders in the Rue Morgue as Franz OdenheimerWestward Passage as Otto Hoopengarner – the DutchmanFlesh as Pepi – HeadwaiterHypnotized as Capt. Otto Von StormbergThe Plumber and the Lady as Otto MauserThe Nuisance as WillyDinner at Eight as WaiterMy Lips Betray as WeiningerFootlight Parade as FralickThe Bowery as Max HermanFits in a Fiddle as Heinrich MickelmeierCollege Coach as Prof. GlantzTrimmed in Furs as Engles the Lodge OwnerMandalay as Prof. KleinschmidtMelody in Spring as WirtI'll Tell the World as AdolphManhattan Love Song as GustaveHide-Out as JakeEmbarrassing Moments as BartenderWhen Strangers Meet as Mr. Oscar SchultzThe Merry Widow as ZizipoffCrimson Romance as HimmelbaumLove Time as IstvanThe Mighty Barnum as Farmer SchultzThe Night Is Young as NepomukThe Great Hotel Murder as HansThe Florentine Dagger as BakerThe Misses Stooge as Sazarac the MagicianIn Caliente as FloristStage Frights Calm Yourself as Mr. Sam BrombergDon't Bet on Blondes as Prof. Friedrich Wilhelm GruberEvery Night at Eight as Joe SchmidtCall of the Wild as SamRedheads on Parade as Lionel KunkelHis Family Tree as Mr. 'Stony' StonehillThree Kids and a Queen as Walter Merkin$1,000 a Minute as VanderbrockenFighting Youth as LuigiRose Marie as Mr. DaniellsSlide, Nellie, Slide as The Hot Dog KingTango as Mr. Kluckmeyer – Tango HosieryLaughing Irish Eyes as WeisbecherThe Great Ziegfeld as CostumerThe King Steps Out as PretzelbergerThe Three Wise Guys as BaumgartenHuman Cargo as Fritz SchultzBlackmailer as Dr. Rosenkrantz – CoronerAdventure in Manhattan as OttoCome Closer, Folks as HermanThat Girl from Paris as 'Hammy' HammacherChampagne Waltz as Max SnellinekMaytime as August ArchipenkoOh, What a Knight! Beg, Borrow or Steal as Von Giersdorff – aka Count HermanEvery Day's a Holiday as Fritz KrausmeyerParadise for Three as Mr. PolterBluebeard's Eighth Wife as Monsieur PepinardFour's a Crowd as BarberVacation from Love as Oscar WittlesbachThe Great Waltz as DommayerSweethearts as Oscar EngelBitter Sweet as Market KeeperDumbo as The Ringmaster The Devil with Hitler as LouisThe Captain from Köpenick as City Hall guardian KilianWhere Do We Go from Here? as Hessian Col. / Von HeiselRendezvous 24 as Herr SchmidtNight and Day as Ladisaus Smedick – 2nd 'Peaches'