Henrik Galeen (7 January 1881 – 30 July 1949) was an Austrian-born actor, screenwriter and film director considered an influential figure in the development of German Expressionist cinema during the silent era.
Considerable mystery exists about Galeen's early life, and for many years it was uncertain where exactly he was born.
He moved from Austria to Germany before the First World War, and became assistant to the leading theatre figure Max Reinhardt.
Along with two of his later films, The Student of Prague (1926) and Alraune (1928), Nosferatu serves as the basis for Galeen's reputation.
[3] He also worked on a number of less-remembered films, including a series of thrillers starring Harry Piel[4].