Gustav Fröhlich was born on March 21, 1902 in Hannover, Germany and he grew up by foster parents. His father was an engineer, and his family moved around western Germany a lot while he was growing up, living in cities like Wiesbaden and Wurzburg. In 1916/17 he volunteered for the press surveillance in the occupied Belgium city of Brussels. He first started his career as an editor, but also spent his spare time doing local theatre shows. He also wrote two dime novels (Heinz Brandt, der Fremdenlegionär). His debut in film was in the role of "Franz Liszt" in the picture "Paganini."

His most famous film role as "Freder" in the famous silent film Metropolis came about by chance. He was discovered by Thea Von Harbou, Fritz Lang`s wife, working on the set of Metropolis, and she immediatly cast him in the lead as Freder because of his striking good looks. In 1930 Gustav Fröhlich was engaged to Hollywood by Warner Bros. to do German versions of American movies: "Die heilige Flamme" and "Kismet." He also did the direction for "Rakoczy-Marsch," "Abenteuer eines jungen Herrn in Polen," "Wege im Zwielicht," "Der Bagnosträfling" and "Die Lüge."

His first marriage was to the Hungarian Opera star Gitta Alpar, but it only lasted from 1931-1935. He then lived together with the Czech actress Lida Baarova from 1936-1938. When he lost her to the Nazi Propaganda-Minister Joseph Goebbels, Fröhlich had a fierce verbal dispute with Goebbels - that he had slapped Goebbels went round as a rumour. In 1941 he got remarried to Maria Hajek. In the same year he had to serve for the Wehrmacht (Armed forces) Landschützen-Regiment, interrupted by some movie engagements.

From the Sixties to the Eighties he had only a few entrances in the movie business. His last public appearance was in 1986, when Giorgio Moroder presented his revised version of Metropolis. He died after an operation in Lugano, Switzerland on December 22, 1987.

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