Anton Karas (July 7, 1906 – January 10, 1985) was a Viennese zither player, best known for his soundtrack to Carol Reed's The Third Man. The son of a car worker, Anton Karas began playing the Zither at the age of 12. He subsequently earned his living as an entertainer in a Heurige (Viennese Wine Bar). In 1949 director Carol Reed was shooting The Third Man in Vienna when he heard Karas playing the zither. Immediately taken by the sound of the instrument Reed asked him to supply the background music to the film. He was invited to London and lived with Reed while composing the score.

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