The life and career of a corpulent German character actor, known for his menacing and unpleasant roles, is a fascinating tale of transformation and success.
Born with a talent for comedy, Peters initially trained under the guidance of Lina Carstens from 1935 to 1937. However, after serving in World War II, he took a dramatic turn and reinvented himself as a serious actor, becoming a resident at the Munich Kammerspiele and the Deutsches Theater.
Peters' breakthrough came in 1948 when he was signed by the East German film company DEFA, where he delivered several exceptional performances in films such as The Affair Blum and Der Untertan, for which he won an East German National Prize. His portrayal of Dietrich Hessling, a power-hungry and obsequious character, was particularly noteworthy.
In 1955, Peters made the bold decision to move to the West, where he continued to play a wide range of roles, including Nazis, corrupt establishment figures, sinister spies, and reprehensible philistines. He reached the pinnacle of his career with Robert Siodmak's The Devil Strikes at Night, playing a minor Nazi functionary.
Peters' dark screen image made him a natural fit for the "Dr. Mabuse" films and the Edgar Wallace series of potboilers. In addition to his acting career, Peters also established a dubbing studio, Rondo Films, in 1958, where he provided German voice-overs for international stars like Donald Pleasence and Rod Steiger.
Throughout his career, Peters demonstrated his versatility and range, taking on a wide variety of roles and leaving a lasting impact on the film industry.
