He was born in Munich where his father was a tailor and he had an interest in physics and was a self-taught pianist. He earned a living through concert performances, piano lessons, small acting roles, and as an inventor. As a young man he appeared in a 1922 silent film directed by Adolf Wenter and starring Victor Colani entitled The Prince Regatta. He also supplied music for the Herzog film Woyzeck (1979).[1]
