Curt Bois (1901-1991) was a prolific German actor whose career spanned over eight decades, from silent to sound cinema.

He began as a child actor and established himself in the vibrant German film and theatre scene of the 1920s. With the rise of Nazism, he sought refuge in the United States, where he appeared in several Hollywood films. Here he is perhaps best known for his small but memorable role as the pickpocket who admonishes Rick in *Casablanca* (1942).

After the war, he returned to Germany, continuing to act in numerous film and television productions. In the later years of his career, he was particularly praised for his portrayal of the pensive elderly actor in Wim Wenders' *Il cielo sopra Berlino* (Wings of Desire, 1987), a role that highlighted his ability to infuse depth and melancholy.

Bois was a versatile character actor, capable of performing both comedic and dramatic roles, often portraying intellectual, eccentric, or slightly nervous characters, always with a remarkable stage presence.