He is remembered for his several cinematic portrayals of Adolf Hitler and for his role as Arthur Slugworth / Mr. Wilkinson in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

He was fluent in four languages (German, French, Italian & English) and appeared in many English-language, German-language and French-language films.

Born in Bremen, Meisner briefly worked at a steel foundry before training as a radio operator with the Luftwaffe's Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers).

After the war, though Meisner was interested in a career in sculpture and painting, in 1948 he switched to drama and studied under Gustaf Gründgens at Düsseldorf's State Conservatory, where he also got his first job at the local Schauspielhaus.

Other films Meisner took part in were Is Paris Burning?,[1] The Quiller Memorandum,[2] Funeral in Berlin,[3] and The Boys from Brazil.