How did William Dieterle begin his career in the performing arts?

William Dieterle began his career in the performing arts as a teenager, eventually joining the stage company of the renowned director Max Reinhardt.1

Following his early work in theater, Dieterle transitioned to the screen during the 1920s, appearing in more than 60 films as an actor. During this period, he developed a professional interest in directing and helmed his first film, Der Mensch am Wege (Man by the Roadside), in 1923. His reputation as a capable director eventually led him to sign with Warner Brothers in 1930, marking the start of his career in Hollywood.1