Anton Karas, born on July 7, 1906, in Brigittenau, Vienna, Austria-Hungary, was an Austrian zither player and composer renowned for his work on the soundtrack of the 1948 film "The Third Man." Born to Theresia Streckel and later legitimized by her marriage to Karl Josef Karas, Anton was one of five children. Despite his family's financial constraints, he developed a passion for music early on, discovering his first zither in his grandmother's attic at the age of 12.

Karas's early career was shaped by his dual pursuits of music and a trade; he apprenticed as a tool and die maker while taking evening music courses. By 1924, he was studying at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and performing in local Heurigen, where he earned more than his factory-working father.

His life took a dramatic turn in 1948 when director Carol Reed discovered him playing the zither in a Viennese tavern and invited him to compose the score for "The Third Man." Despite initial reluctance and homesickness, Karas created the iconic "Harry Lime Theme," which became a global sensation and sold half a million copies by the end of 1949. This success catapulted him into international fame, leading to performances for celebrities and royalty, including Princess Margaret and Pope Pius XII.

Karas capitalized on his newfound fame by opening his own restaurant, "Zum Dritten Mann," in 1953. He continued to perform selectively until his retirement, receiving the Golden Medal of the City of Vienna in 1976. Anton Karas passed away on January 10, 1985, in Vienna, leaving behind a legacy as a pivotal figure in film music history.