Berthold Held was born in Kremsier in Moravia on November 20, 1868. He worked with Max Reinhardt (1873 - 1943), Austrian born American theater and film producer, who is regarded as one of the most prominent directors of German-language theatre in the early 20th century. In 1901, Reinhardt together with Held and several other theater colleagues, founded the Schall und Rauch (Sound and Smoke) Kabarett theater in Berlin and in 1906 Reinhardt took over direction of the Deutches Theater in Berlin where Held became head of the Acting School. Held worked with Reinhardt as an actor, manager and director for choral and mass scenes. Emil Rameau also worked with Reinhardt. He died in 1931.