He started his stage career in 1895 and he made his way via the province to the theaters of the big cities. Finally he went to Philadelphia in 1902 where he also appeared as a stage actor.
Togehter with his founded Hartenstein company he toured through Germany and he also began to direct some plays.
The actor and director Paul Hartenstein was a successful stage comedian before he entered the film business at the end of the 10's.
After his return from the U.S. to Germany in 1905/06 he made his way to a character comedian and he took part in well-known plays like "Charleys Tante" and "Im weissen Rössl".
Some of his movies he produced with his film company "Hartenstein-Treu-Film".