Paul Joseph Verhoeven (23 June 1901 – 22 March 1975) was a German actor, as well as film and theatre director.

Early life

Verhoeven was born in the town of Unna. He had 13 siblings. The family lived in modest circumstances.

Career

He directed and acted in over 50 films. He wrote over 20 film scripts, the first of which was Das kleine Hofkonzert in 1935, an operetta with music by Edmund Nick based on a comedy by Verhoeven and Toni Impekoven. From 1945 to 1948 he was artistic director at the Residenz Theatre/Staatsschauspiel in Munich.

Personal life and death

Verhoeven was married to the actress Doris Kiesow, with whom he had three children: Lis Verhoeven, who became an actress and was the first wife of Mario Adorf; Michael Verhoeven, who became a film director and married Senta Berger; and Monika Verhoeven. From his relationship with the actress Edith Schultze-Westrum, he had a son, Thomas Schultze-Westrum, who became a zoologist and maker of animal documentaries. Paul Verhoeven died on stage of a heart attack in 1975 while delivering the eulogy for the recently deceased actress Therese Giehse at the Munich Kammerspiele. He was buried in the Munich Waldfriedhof next to his wife.

Selected filmography

Actor

Director

Film Television

Screenwriter

Documentary film