Born on 5 October 1872 in Lemberg, Galicia. Brothr of Hrman W. From age six until age sixteen he sang in the chorus of the Lemberg temple and then joined Gimpel, where Goldfaden had then staged "Doctor Yozelman", and W. was given the three small roles of "Birgermeister", "Pfalts" and "Kenig".

After acting for four years in this theatre, W. received a concession in a German shantan, with which he toured for two years across Galicia. In 1896 W. received a concession in Yiddish theatre and toured across the province with a troupe of twenty-eight people (including Jacob and Lisa Silbert, Frida Zibl, Joseph Weinstock and his wife). 1902 -- W. opened a Yiddish theatre in Vienna, 1904 -- in Budapest, in 1906 -- in Berlin (Thalia Theatre), where he acted for a year and founded the "Orientalia" association. Then W. settled in Vienna, where he acted for a long time in a stable fashion, and the last years only from time to time, spending most of his time with deliveries of theatre costumes for his own wardrobe.

W. for a certain time traveled around with a phonograph, with which he used to (for a small admission fee) play cantorial "compositions" and Yiddish theatre songs.

W. also participated in the film, "Di shtot on yidn" by Chona Betoyer.

Sh. E.

M. E from Jacob Mestel.