German actors who were born in 1926
Here are 15 famous actors from Germany were born in 1926:
Klaus Kinski
Klaus Kinski (October 18, 1926 Sopot-November 23, 1991 Lagunitas, California) also known as Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski, Klaus Kinsky, Nikolaus Günther Nakszynski, Klaus Gunther Nakszynski or Klais Kinski was a German actor, musician, author, soldier, screenwriter, film director, voice actor and narrator. He had three children, Nastassja Kinski, Nikolai Kinski and Pola Kinski.
Klaus Kinski was known for his intense acting style and often played villains in films. He worked with notable directors such as Werner Herzog, appearing in five of Herzog's films including "Aguirre, the Wrath of God" and "Fitzcarraldo." Kinski also wrote several books, including his autobiography "All I Need is Love," which detailed his tumultuous personal life and relationships. He was a controversial figure, known for his tempestuous personality and erratic behavior on and off the set. Kinski died of a heart attack in 1991 at the age of 65. Despite his controversial reputation, he is still regarded as one of the greatest German actors of all time.
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Siegfried Lenz
Siegfried Lenz (March 17, 1926 Ełk-October 7, 2014) was a German writer, screenwriter, novelist, actor, television producer and teacher.
He is considered one of Germany's most important post-World War II writers, known for his exploration of the complexities, challenges, and contradictions of German history and identity. Lenz's works include over 20 novels, several plays and essays, and numerous short stories. His notable works include "The German Lesson," "The Heritage," and "The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum." In addition to his writing career, Lenz taught at several universities and received numerous literary awards, including the Goethe Prize in 1998. Lenz passed away at the age of 88.
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Peter Zadek
Peter Zadek (May 19, 1926 Berlin-July 30, 2009 Hamburg) also known as Peter Arsch was a German screenwriter, film director, theatre director, television director, actor, translator and intendant.
He was born to a Polish-Jewish couple in Berlin and was forced to flee Nazi Germany with his family in 1933. Later, Zadek studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and began his career in the theatre. He gained international recognition for his groundbreaking productions, which often addressed political and social issues. Zadek was known for his bold and unconventional approach, and his work was often controversial. He worked in many different countries and collaborated with some of the most respected actors and writers of his time. Later in life, Zadek suffered from Parkinson's disease, but continued to work until shortly before his death in 2009. He is remembered as one of the most important directors of the 20th century.
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Hans Henn
Hans Henn (December 19, 1926-) is a German actor.
Henn started his career in the theater and later transitioned to film and television. Some of his most notable roles include his portrayal of Detective Inspector Brinkmann in the crime television series "Der Alte" (The Old Fox), which he played for over a decade. He also appeared in several German films throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including "Achtung! Feind hört mit!" (Attention! The Enemy Is Listening!), "Die Verlobte" (The Fiancée), and "Der Lügner und die Nonne" (The Liar and the Nun). Henn has been recognized for his contributions to the German entertainment industry and was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 1999.
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Günter Meisner
Günter Meisner (April 18, 1926 Bremen-December 5, 1994 Berlin) also known as Gunter Meisner, Guenter Meisner, Günter Meissner, Günther J. Meissner, Gunther Meisner, Günther Meisner or Günther Meissner was a German actor.
Meisner began his acting career in the theater and made his film debut in 1958 in the German film "Der Hauptmann von Köpenick". He went on to appear in over 100 film and television productions, often playing villainous characters due to his distinctive appearance and commanding voice. He gained international recognition for his role as the sinister Nazi doctor, Professor Hans Verger in the 1978 film "The Boys From Brazil". Meisner also appeared in several films by German director, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, including "Lola" and "The Marriage of Maria Braun". In addition to his acting career, Meisner was a talented painter and writer, and also served in the German military during World War II.
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Walter Sedlmayr
Walter Sedlmayr (January 6, 1926 Munich-July 14, 1990 Munich) also known as Walther Sedlmayer or Walter Sedlmayer was a German actor, film director, television director and screenwriter.
He began his acting career in the 1950s, appearing in numerous films and stage productions. Sedlmayr was best known for his role as the detective in the popular German crime series "Der Kommissar" (The Commissioner) which aired from 1969 to 1976.
Aside from acting, he also worked as a film and television director, and wrote screenplays for various productions. Sedlmayr received several awards throughout his career, including the Bambi Award for Best Actor in 1971.
In 1990, Sedlmayr was tragically murdered in his apartment in Munich. The case remains unsolved to this day, and his death shocked the nation. Despite the mystery surrounding his death, Sedlmayr's legacy as a talented actor and artist continues to live on through his work.
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Martin Benrath
Martin Benrath (November 9, 1926 Lankwitz-January 31, 2000 Herrsching) also known as Helmut Kurt August Hermann Krüger was a German actor.
He began his career in the theater and became a member of the prestigious Berliner Ensemble in 1952. He later appeared in numerous films and television shows, including the acclaimed German film "The Tin Drum" (1979), for which he earned a German Film Award for Best Actor.
Benrath was also a voice actor, lending his voice to dubbing roles for foreign films and television series into German. He was particularly well-known for his dubbing work for Western films, including the German version of "The Magnificent Seven" (1960).
In addition to his acting career, Benrath was also a lecturer at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg, where he taught acting for film and television. He continued to act until his death in 2000 at the age of 73.
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David Hurst
David Hurst (May 8, 1926 Berlin-) otherwise known as Heinrich Theodor Hirsch is a German actor and theatrical producer.
Born to a Jewish family, Hurst fled Germany in 1933 with his parents due to the rise of the Nazi regime. They moved to the United States where Hurst would later serve in the United States Army during World War II. Hurst began his acting career on stage and eventually made his way to Hollywood where he appeared in numerous films and TV shows. He is perhaps best known for his role as Keith Holden in the TV series Perry Mason. In addition to acting, Hurst was also a theatrical producer and director, working on productions such as "Annie Get Your Gun" and "My Fair Lady". He passed away on March 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
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Harald Leipnitz
Harald Leipnitz (April 22, 1926 Wuppertal-November 21, 2000 Munich) a.k.a. Harald Leipniz or Harold Leipnitz was a German actor, television director and voice actor.
He began his career as a stage actor, performing in various theaters in Germany. Leipnitz later appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career, including "The Beast Must Die" (1969) and " Derrick" (1974-1998). He also directed several episodes of "Derrick" and served as a voice actor for various dubs of foreign films. In addition to his acting career, Leipnitz was also a trained opera singer and performed in several productions. He passed away in Munich at the age of 74, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances in both film and television.
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Karl Lieffen
Karl Lieffen (May 17, 1926 Osek-January 13, 1999 Starnberg) a.k.a. Carel Frantiek Lifka, Karel František Lifka, Carel František Lifka or Karl Franz Lifka was a German actor.
Born in Osek, Czechoslovakia, Lieffen’s career began in theater, where he acted in various plays including several productions of Goethe's "Faust." He eventually transitioned to film and television, and appeared in over 100 productions throughout his career. Some of his most notable roles include Count von Krolock in Roman Polanski's "The Fearless Vampire Killers" and as Captain Brandt in the World War II film "The Guns of Navarone." He was also a regular in the popular German crime drama "Tatort" for several years. Despite being fluent in German and Czech, Lieffen often portrayed stereotypical villains and was sometimes typecast in these roles. He died in Starnberg, Germany at the age of 72.
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Eckart Dux
Eckart Dux (December 19, 1926 Berlin-) also known as Dux, Eckart, Eckhard Dux, Eckard Dux or Ekkart Dux is a German actor.
Eckart Dux started his acting career in the late 1940s, performing on stage in various theaters across Germany. He then transitioned to film and television in the 1950s, appearing in numerous popular German productions. He is known for his roles in films such as "The Devil Strikes at Night" (1957), "The Desert of the Tartars" (1976), and "Das Boot" (1981). He is also recognized for his voice acting work, dubbing the German voices for characters like Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and Dumbledore in the "Harry Potter" films. Dux was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 1982 for his contributions to the German film industry. He continues to act in film, television and theater productions well into his nineties.
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John Ericson
John Ericson (September 25, 1926 Düsseldorf-) a.k.a. Joseph Meibes, John Erickson or John Meibes is a German actor. He has two children, Nicole Ericson and Brett Ericson.
Ericson started his acting career in the late 1940s in Germany before moving to the United States in the early 1950s. He signed a contract with MGM and made his American film debut in the 1951 film Teresa. Ericson went on to act in numerous films and television shows throughout his career, including The Student Prince, Bad Day at Black Rock, and Honey West. He also appeared in several Broadway productions, including The Great White Hope and A Streetcar Named Desire. Ericson's last film credit was in the 2000 film The Independent. In addition to his acting career, he has also written several novels and memoirs about his life in Hollywood.
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Ralf Wolter
Ralf Wolter (November 26, 1926 Berlin-) also known as Ralph Wolters or Ralph Wolter is a German actor.
He started his acting career in East Germany, but moved to West Germany in the 1950s where he gained popularity. Wolter appeared in over 150 films, often playing comic or character roles. He is best known for his role as the sidekick Sam Hawkens in the popular Winnetou film series, based on the novels by Karl May. Wolter also worked as a voice actor, dubbing foreign films into German. Despite being retired since the mid-1990s, Wolter is still regarded as one of Germany's most beloved actors. He has been honored with numerous awards in recognition of his contributions to German cinema.
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Frederick Rolf
Frederick Rolf (August 14, 1926 Berlin-) also known as Rolf Günther Friedrichs is a German actor and film director. He has two children, David Rolf and Eva Natanya Rolf.
Frederick Rolf was born in Berlin and began his acting career in the 1950s. He appeared in many German films throughout the decade, including "The Captain from Köpenick" and "A Glass of Water."
In the 1960s, Rolf transitioned to directing films and went on to direct several successful movies such as "The Mechanical Piano" and "The House That Screamed."
Aside from his work in film, Frederick Rolf has also acted in theater productions and radio plays. He is known for his versatile acting skills and his ability to portray complex characters.
Rolf has been recognized for his contribution to the entertainment industry with several awards, including the Order of Merit of Berlin and the Federal Cross of Merit.
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Peer Schmidt
Peer Schmidt (March 11, 1926 Erfurt-May 8, 2010 Berlin) a.k.a. Peer Eugen Georg Schmidt was a German actor.
He began his acting career in the 1940s, and rose to prominence in west Germany during the 1950s and 1960s for his roles in various film and television productions. Some of his notable works include "Der Gendarm vom St. Pauli" (The Policeman of St. Pauli), "Ganoven" (Crooks), and "Die Halbstarken" (The Beatniks). He was also involved in theater performances, and was a member of the ensemble cast of the Berliner Ensemble in the 1970s. Throughout his career, he appeared in over 100 film and television productions, and was considered as one of the most versatile actors of his time. Peer Schmidt was honored with several prestigious awards for his contributions to German cinema and theater, and is remembered as a respected figure in the German entertainment industry.
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