Kurt BöHme was born in Dresden, Germany, where he studied with Adolf Kluge at the Dresden Conservatory. He made his debut in 1930 in Bautzen as Kaspar, one of his most important roles further on. From 1930 till 1950 he was member of the Dresden State Opera, 1949 he became member of the Munich State Opera an in 1955 member of the Vienna State Opera. In the 1950s and 1960s he gets known worldwide because of his acting talents, as Bass-Buffo Baron Ochs and also as "Bösewicht" (Kaspar 1954 with Wilhelm Furtwängler, Fafner 1958-1964 with Georg Solti). "Matteo" in Fra Diavolo; Dresden Nov. 1944.

He was known for his interpretations of Wagnerian roles and Baron Ochs von Lerchenau in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier.