In accordance with the wishes of his parents, he was to study law, but decided to follow the call of the stage. After attending the Academy of Music and Acting Arts in Vienna, he debuted in Olmütz as Tsarevich, in a play by Gabryela Zapolska.
After various stage appearances in Austria and Moravia, he returned to Vienna in 1921, where he was engaged by Egon Dorn, the director of the Kabarett Simpl. There he worked as a 'Blitzdichter' (nickname: the Tick), and performed together with Fritz Grünbaum in a 'Doppelconférence', a specialised art-form which was created in Budapest.
He married Anny Hán in 1924. In 1938 he was forced to become a refugee, going first to Brno, then Paris and ending up in New York. There he performed for other exiles.
In 1946, he returned to Vienna, and from 1950 on, he performed at the Simpl again, now as its director, a role in which he remained until his death.
He also worked as a writer and director, contributing the program of all the revues together with Hugo Wiener, who in his turn also wrote his Doppelkonferenzen.
From 1957 onward, he appeared on a regular basis in broadcasting and later on the Austrian TV channel, ORF. Very popular were his Balances, e.g. balance of the year, balance of the month, etc.
Farkas also is the main character in the Austrian revue comic bookDer Bloede und der Gscheite (engl.: The Stupid and the Smart One), released in 2014, drawn by illustrator Reinhard Trinkler and based on the classic 'Doppelconférences' by Hugo Wiener.
SCHWIMMLEHRER UNTER SICH
Filmography
Writer
2017
Heinz Marecek: Ein Fest des Lachens - Weihnachten einmal anders (TV Movie) (segment "'Schnee'")
2005
Hackl & Marecek: Was lachen Sie? (Video)
1990
Was lachen Sie? (TV Movie)
1984
Lach mal wieder (TV Series) (2 episodes)
- Episode #1.3 (1984)
- Episode #1.2 (1984)
1981
Wiener Knallbonbons (TV Series) (based on the work of - 2 episodes)
- Das liebe Geld (1981) - (based on the work of)
- Gauner und andere Leut' (1981) - (based on the work of)
1981
Bei Kerzenlicht (TV Movie)
1980
Jeder lacht auf seine Weise (TV Movie)
1979
Ein verrücktes Paar (TV Series) (writer - 1 episode)
- Episode #1.6 (1979) - (writer)
1975
Alte Hüte aus Wien - Witziges - Spitziges - Spritziges (TV Movie)
-
Bilanz der Saison (TV Series) (3 episodes, 1963 - 1971) (book - 1 episode, 1971)
- Episode dated 12 June 1971 (1971) - (book)
- Schaufenster Österreich (1971)
- Frühling 1963 (1963)
- Winter 1962/63 (1963)
1957
Bilanz des Jahres (TV Series) (2 episodes)
- Episode #1.14 (1970)
- Episode #1.1 (1957)
1969
Heiter bis wolkig (TV Movie) (writer)
1968
Bei Kerzenlicht (TV Movie) (play)
1964
Der Feldherrnhügel (TV Movie) (adaptation)
1964
Hofloge (TV Movie)
1963
Romy und Julius (TV Movie)
1962
Bilanz des Monats (TV Series) (1 episode)
- April 1962 (1962)
1961
Im schwarzen Rössl (uncredited)
1961
Ganz dumme Sachen (TV Movie)
1961
...und du, mein Schatz, bleibst hier
1958
Liebe, Mädchen und Soldaten (writer)
1958
Bei Kerzenlicht (TV Movie) (play)
1957
Familie Schimek
1957
August der Halbstarke
1957
Vater macht Karriere (screenplay)
1956
Where the Lark Sings
1956
Rosmarie kommt aus Wildwest
1956
...und wer küßt mich?
1955
Die Wirtin zur Goldenen Krone
1955
Wunder Bar (TV Movie) (play)
1954
Hofloge (TV Movie) (teleplay)
1954
Die süßesten Früchte
1953
Ein tolles Früchtchen (writer)
1953
Ich und meine Frau (writer)
1952
Schäm' dich, Brigitte! (adaptation)
1950
Gruß und Kuß aus der Wachau (book)
1950
Der Theodor im Fußballtor
1949
Nichts als Zufälle (book)
1949
L'inconnu d'un soir (writer)
1949
Rosen der Liebe (writer)
1948
Fregola (writer)
1944
Boogie-Woogie Dream (Short)
1937
Land der Liebe (play "Die Hofloge")
1934
Milyon avcilari (screenplay "Sehnsucht 202")
1934
Salto in die Seligkeit (screenplay)
1934
Wonder Bar (based on the play by)
1933
By Candlelight (adaptation)
1933
Abenteuer am Lido (writer)
1933
Streichquartett (Short) (idea)
1933
Der große Trick (Short) (writer)
1932
Madame hat Besuch
1932
Une jeune fille et un million
1932
Mein Name ist Lampe (Short)
1932
Sehnsucht 202
1931
Justizmaschine
1931
Wenn die Soldaten... (play)
Actor
1971
Hochzeit (TV Movie) as
Vater Hoffer
1970
Geld oder Leben (TV Movie)
1970
G'schichten aus Wien (TV Series)
- Vom Cabaret bis ABC (1970)
1963
Bilanz der Saison (TV Series) as
Wüstenfürst
- Episode dated 13 September 1969 (1969)
- Sommer 1963 (1963) - Wüstenfürst
- Frühling 1963 (1963)
1967
Wir treiben es bunt (TV Movie)
1967
Made in Austria (TV Movie)
1965
Leinen aus Irland (TV Movie) as
Advokat Dr. Seeligmann
1963
Romy und Julius (TV Movie) as
Der Autor
1963
Charleys Tante (TV Movie) as
Stephan Spettigue
1962
Bilanz des Monats (TV Series)
- April 1962 (1962)
1961
Ganz dumme Sachen (TV Movie) as
Geschäftsfreund
1960
Ich heirate Herrn Direktor as
Dr. Spunder
1953
Stolen Identity as
Waiter
1952
Abenteuer in Wien as
Ober in der Bar
1949
Rosen der Liebe as
Sekretär Vogel
1944
Boogie-Woogie Dream (Short) as
Minor Role (uncredited)
1933
Der große Trick (Short)
1932
Lumpenkavaliere as
Schiedsrichter
1931
Justizmaschine
1923
Nameless
Director
1964
Der Feldherrnhügel (TV Movie) (theatre director)
1931
Justizmaschine
Music Department
1932
Lumpenkavaliere (lyricist)
Soundtrack
1932
Sehnsucht 202 (lyrics: "Ja, der Himmel über Wien...", "Parfumlied", "Inseratenlied!")