
Gustav von Wangenheim
**Gustav von Wangenheim (1889-1959)** was a German actor and director whose film career is inextricably linked to Expressionist silent cinema. He is universally recognized for the iconic role of Thomas Hutter in F.W. Murnau's masterpiece, *Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror* (1922).
During that period, von Wangenheim often portrayed naive, idealistic, or vulnerable characters, whose purity was threatened by circumstances or dark forces, a style that perfectly suited Expressionist drama. His acting was characterized by a certain fragility and melancholia. In later years, his output shifted towards works with a strong political commitment, culminating in *Kuhle Wampe or Who Owns the World?* (1932), for which he served as actor, screenwriter, and director, reflecting his communist convictions.