Norma Desmond's devoted butler and former silent film director who was her first husband. He abandoned his career to maintain her delusions, secretly writing all her fan mail. He warns Joe about Norma's instability and tries to protect her fragile mental state. At the climax, he playfully directs the police cameras to help Norma fulfill her fantasy of a grand finale.
A German flying ace and aristocratic captain, Rauffenstein first captures Maréchal and Boëldieu, later commanding the fortress prison at Wintersborn. He shares an aristocratic bond with Boëldieu, tries to save him during the escape, and is devastated after fatally shooting him.
Eccentric scientist who owns a desert laboratory and experiments on preserving human brains. He believes knowledge can be transferred between brains and becomes romantically obsessed with his ward, Janice. He removes the crash victim's brain to test his theory, which accidentally transfers Donovan's consciousness to Cory. Mueller attempts to stop the experiment but is fatally shot during a struggle when the brain is destroyed.
Brenner is a German agent known to Josef Steiner. He offers Josef a passport in exchange for the names of the people who helped him escape the concentration camp, but Josef refuses. Later, Brenner is part of the Gestapo group that detains Josef and dies with him during Josef’s final escape.
Dr. von Harden is a German doctor working under the occupation at the field hospital in North Star. He recognizes Dr. Kurin’s reputation as a scientist and does not consider the elderly physician a threat, allowing him room to help where he can, even as the hospital takes blood from local children for wounded soldiers.
An Austrian lieutenant and an alleged mountaineer, he befriends the American doctor and his wife in order to seduce her. He pressures her to leave with him, lies about her promise, and dies after being abandoned on the summit and frightened by a vulture.
Nicki is the prince and commander of a cavalry regiment from a financially troubled noble family. He falls in love with Mitzi after meeting her during a parade, but agrees to marry Cecelia for financial security and a noble title. After surviving Schani's attempted shooting, Nicki loses Mitzi and is later killed in the war.
Gabbo is a brilliant ventriloquist whose dependence on Otto becomes his main means of emotional expression. After Mary leaves him, he achieves national fame but remains obsessed with winning her back. He briefly develops more direct emotional honesty, yet her marriage to Frank triggers his breakdown, dismissal, and lonely final departure.
A con artist who adopts a fake aristocratic title to seduce wealthy women and extort money in Monte Carlo. He manipulates Helen Hughes, exploits vulnerable women like Maruschka and Marietta, and ultimately reveals himself as selfish and cowardly when trapped in a fire. His actions lead to his public disgrace and eventual murder by Marietta's father.
An infamous art collector who wants the Mona Lisa as the crown jewel of his collection, Carl arranges a theft with Henri and Jules. He discovers that the painting he obtained is a forgery, suspects Sam has the genuine work, and rejects Sam's offer to sell it. He orders Sam killed, kills Jules when he refuses, and later mortally wounds Emma before trying to destroy the painting.
A university professor who conducts forbidden artificial insemination experiments, creating Alraune. He raises her, warns others of her destructive nature, and ultimately shoots her to end what he views as a crime against nature, leading to his arrest and execution for murder.
Andre Desormeaux is a notorious jewel thief who works with Tanya Vronsky as bait and with Polo as his assistant. After Tanya leaves the gang, he tries to persuade her to return. He later leads a theft at her party and blackmails her for 200,000 francs before departing for America by ship.
Erich von Stroheim has 124 screen credits in a career dating back to 1915. Their work spans 2 cinematic universes — most prominently Prince Nicki Collection with 2 titles. Signature works include Sunset Boulevard, Grand Illusion, La Danse de mort. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.
Universe traveler — spans 2 universes
Related entry on Wikidata (Q78508), public domain (CC0).
