As "Theo Lingen" he performed at theatres at Hanover, Halberstadt, Münster and Frankfurt; in plays like The Importance of Being Earnest he very quickly earned a reputation as a superb character comedian, distinguished by his characteristic nasal speech.

Because Zoff was of Jewish descent, which under the Nazi regime usually resulted in a professional disqualification (Berufsverbot), Lingen thought about going into exile.

However, because of his great popularity with the general public, he was given a special permit by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels to continue to perform and was able to protect his wife from persecution.

In 1944, Lingen moved to Vienna, and, in view of the approaching Red Army, retired to his cottage at Strobl on the Wolfgangsee shortly afterwards.

For a few days in May 1945, he acted as de facto mayor, disempowering the local Nazi authorities and surrendering to the US Army at St. Gilgen.