Walter Ruttmann was born on December 28, 1887 in Frankfurt-on-Main, Germany. He was a director and writer, known for Metropolis (1927), Mannesmann - Ein Film der Mannesmannröhren-Werke (1937) and Acciaio (1933). He was married to Christine Margarete Helene Prasch, Nina Hamson, Erna Treitel and Maria Christina Agnes Sommer. He died on July 15, 1941 in Berlin, Germany.
Was severely injured in 1941 while filming a documentary about the fighting on the Russian front. Transported back to Berlin, he died in a hospital during an operation to try to save his life.