Clemens Scheitz was born in Munich, where his father was a tailor and he had an interest in physics and was a self-taught pianist. He earned a living through concert performances, piano lessons, small acting roles, and as an inventor. As a young man, he appeared in a 1922 silent film directed by Adolf Wenter and starring Victor Colani, entitled The Prince Regatta. He also supplied music for the Herzog film Woyzeck.