HAASE, hilfze, FRIEDRICII ( 1826— ). A dis tinguished German actor. He was born in Berlin, the son of the first valet de chambre of Frederick William IV., under whose patronage he received a thorough education and was prepared for the stage by Ludwig Tieck. In 1846 he made his debut at Weimar, acted there until 1848, then in Potsdam and Berlin, and rose to prominence during his connection with the theatre in Prague in 1849-51. His subsequent performances at Karlsruhe, Munich. and in 1855-53 at Frankfort, steadily increased his reputation, while starring tours made his name familiar in various countries of Europe, and an engagement at Saint Peters burg during the six winters from 1800 to 1866 firmly established his position in the front rank of German actors. In 1869 he visited America ; then was for one year a member of the Court Theatre in Berlin, and in 1870 succeeded Laube as director of the Stadttheater in Leipzig, and managed it cleverly to great pecuniary advan tage for six years. Henceforth he made his home
in Berlin, and undertook only starring engage ments, the most important of which was his tour through the United States, as far as Cali fornia, in 1882-83. His distinguished appear ance made him an apt impersonator of the aristo cratic types in high comedy which belong to the most brilliant parts of his repertory, presented with original conception, exquisite refinement, and ingenious elaboration of character. Chief among these were Count Thorane, in Outzkow's Konigsleutnant, Klingsberg the elder in Die beiden Klingsbcrg, Chevalier Rocheferrier in Rine Partie Piquet, and similar roles. Consult Simon, Friedrich. (lease: Rine dramaturgisehe Studie (Berlin, 18981.