Porten, Henny (1888–1960)
Porten, Henny (1888–1960)
German actress. Born Frieda Ulricke Porten, Jan 7, 1888, in Magdeburg, Germany; died Oct 15, 1960, in Berlin; dau. of Franz Porten (opera singer); sister of Rosa Porten; m. Kurt Stark (director, died at the front, 1916); m. Wilhelm von Kaufmann (physician), July 24, 1921.
Began working for film pioneer Oskar Messter and became Germany's 1st screen superstar; made debut in Apachentanz (1906); films include The Marriage of Luise Rohrbach and Rose Bernd (both with Emil Jannings), Fairy Hands, Kohlhiesel's Daughters, Anna Boleyn, Queen Luise, Mother and Child and Family Buchholz; formed her own production company (1924); worked in silents and talkies, though career stalled during Third Reich (her 2nd husband was, according to racial laws, a "complete Jew").