Biography

Elsa Wagner (January 24, 1881 – August 17, 1975) was a German actress who appeared in numerous theatrical productions and feature films during the 20th century, including 1920's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Born as Elisabeth Karoline Auguste Wagner on 24 January 1881 in Reval, in what is now Tallinn, Estonia, Elsa Wagner pursued training with Maria Spettini in Saint Petersburg, Russia prior to making her acting debut in Berlin, Germany in 1901. In addition to her performances on tour with multiple theater productions, including Faust and Peer Gynt, she went on to secure roles in more than 140 feature films, including Robert Wiene's Das Cabinet Des Dr. Caligari (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) and Karl Heinz Martin's Von Morgens bis Mitternachts (From Morn to Midnight) in 1920, F. W. Murnau's 1922 Das Brennende Acker (The Burning Earth), Gerhard Lamprecht's Die Buddenbrooks and Wiene's I.N.R.I. in 1923, and E. R. Dupont's 1929 Atlantik.