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John Gottowt (15 June 1881–29 August 1942) was a German actor, stage director and film director for theatres and silent movies.

He was born as Isidor Gesang in Lemberg, Austria-Hungary. After his education in Vienna, he joined the Deutsches Theater in Berlin in 1905, working for Max Reinhardt as an actor and director. Gottowt was mainly active in different theatres in Berlin as a character actor and director.

His first silent film appearance was in Paul Wegener’s Der Student von Prag ("The Student of Prague") (1913). In 1920 he appeared in Robert Wiene's Genuine and took the main role in the early science fiction film Algol ("Algol: Tragedy of Power"). In 1921 he played Professor Bulwer (Abraham van Helsing) in the classic silent film Nosferatu directed by F.W. Murnau.

Gottowt made also several films with his brother-in-law Henrik Galeen but, as a Jew, was banned in 1933 from working as a professional actor. After a few years in Denmark he moved to Cracow in Poland. He was murdered in 1942 by the SS in Wieliczka.

List of films

(Title, Year, Character, Director)

1. Der Student von Prag, 1913, Scapinelli, Stellan Rye
2. Das Schwarze Los, Pierrots letzte Abendteuer, 1913, Brighella, John Gottowt
3. Büßende Magdalena, 1915, , Emil Albes
4. Satan Opium]], 1915, Siegfried Dessauer
5. Prinzessin von Neutralien, 1917, Milliardär Joe Vandergolt, Rudolf Biebrach
6. Peer Gynt. 1. Peer Gynts Jugend, 1918, der Dovre-Alte, Victor Barnowsky
7. Peer Gynt 2. Wanderjahre und Tod, 1918, , Victor Barnowsky
8. Morphium, 1919, , Bruno Ziener
9. Der rote Henker, 1919, Narr, Rudolf Biebrach
10. Der Verbotene Weg, 1920, Lupu Pick, Henrik Galeen
11. Genuine, 1920, Friseur Guyard, Robert Wiene
12. Die Nacht der Königin Isabeau, 1920, Buckliger Narr, Robert Wiene
13. Der Bucklige und die Tänzerin, 1920, James Wilton, F.W. Murnau
14. Niemand weiß es, 1920, , Lupu Pick
15. Algol, 1920, Algolmännchen, Hans Werckmeister
16. Die tote Stunde, 1920, , Friedrich Feher
17. Die Lou vom Montmartre, 1921, , Leo Lasko
18. Pariserinnen, 1921, , Leo Lasko
19. Brennendes Land, 1921, , Heinz Herald
20. Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens, 1922, Professor Bulwer (van Helsing), F. W. Murnau
21. Der schwarze Stern, 1922, , James Bauer
22. Elixiere des Teufels, 1922, , Adolf Abter
23. Der falsche Dimitry, 1922, Iwans Narr, Hans Steinhoff
24. Der Geldteufel, 1923, , Heinz Goldberg
25. Wachsfigurenkabinett, 1923, Schaubudenbesitzer, Leo Birinski, Paul Leni
26. Menschenopfer, 1923, , Carl Wilhelm
27. Dürfen wir schweigen?, 1926, Faktotum, Richard Oswald
28. Die Flucht in die Nacht, 1926, , Amleto Palermi
29. Prinz Louis Ferdinand, 1927, , Hans Behrendt
30. Unheimliche Geschichten, 1932, Beamter des Mechanischen Museums, Richard Oswald

References

• Pioniere in Celluloid, Juden in den frühen Filmwelt, Stratenwerth, Simon (Hg), Henschel Verlag, Berlin, 2004, www.henschel-verlag.de
• KARTA 42 – 2004, Fundacja Ośrodka KARTA, 02-536 Warszawa, www.karta.org.pl
• Dotknięcie anioła (The Kiss of an Angel), Henryk Schönker, 2005, Ośrodek KARTA, 02-536 Warszawa, www.karta.org.pl
• Ich war acht und wollte leben, Heinrich Schönker, 2008, Patmos Verlag
• Archives of British Film Institute, London
• filmportal.de