German actors who were born in 1940
Here are 12 famous actors from Germany were born in 1940:
Peer Raben
Peer Raben (July 3, 1940 Viechtafell-January 21, 2007 Mitterfels) also known as Raben, Peer, Wilhelm Rabenbauer, Peer Rabeen, Wil Rabenbauer or Willi Rabenbauer was a German film score composer, actor, film producer, film director, author, television director and screenwriter.
Born in Viechtafell, Germany in 1940, Peer Raben began his career in the film industry in the 1960s as a composer, collaborating with director Rainer Werner Fassbinder on many of his films. In addition to his work in film music, Raben also worked as an actor, screenwriter, and director, and produced several films throughout his career.
Raben's work with Fassbinder was highly influential, with the pair developing a close working relationship that spanned 15 years and 25 films. Their collaborations produced some of the most iconic films of the New German Cinema movement, including "The Marriage of Maria Braun" and "Berlin Alexanderplatz."
Throughout his career, Raben was known for his experimental approach to film music, blending elements of classical music, popular music, and avant-garde soundscapes in his compositions. He won several awards for his work, including the Bavarian Film Award for Best Music for the film "The Deathmaker."
In addition to his film work, Raben also worked in television, directing episodes of the German crime drama series "Tatort." He also authored several books, including a memoir titled "Sex für eine Mark – Die wunderbare Welt des Films."
Peer Raben passed away in Mitterfels, Germany in 2007 at the age of 66. Despite his relatively short life, Raben left a lasting impact on German cinema and remains a revered figure in the film industry to this day.
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Dirk Galuba
Dirk Galuba (August 28, 1940 Piła-) is a German actor.
Dirk Galuba started his career in the 1960s with appearances in German TV shows such as "Tatort" and "Derrick". However, he is best known for his role as Hans-Joachim "Jo" Gerner in the long-running soap opera "Gute Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten" (Good Times, Bad Times). He has been part of the cast since the show's inception in 1992 and has become one of the show's most beloved characters. Outside of his work on the soap opera, Galuba has also acted in various German films and TV series such as "Der Landarzt", "Die Schwarzwaldklinik" and "Forsthaus Falkenau". In addition to his acting career, Galuba has also worked as a voice actor, dubbing various films and TV shows into German.
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Walter Renneisen
Walter Renneisen (March 3, 1940 Mainz-) is a German actor.
He began his acting career in theater and went on to appear in numerous films and television series. Renneisen gained widespread recognition for his role as prosecutor Gerhard Paulsen in the popular crime drama television series "Tatort." He has also appeared in international productions such as "The Name of the Rose" and "The Bourne Identity." In addition to his acting work, Renneisen is also a voice-over artist and has lent his voice to various documentaries and audiobooks. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to German theater and television, including the Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
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Lambert Hamel
Lambert Hamel (June 7, 1940 Ludwigshafen-) is a German actor.
Hamel began his acting career in the mid-1960s, appearing in small roles in German films and television shows. He gained critical acclaim for his roles in the films "The Longest Day" (1962) and "Battle of the Bulge" (1965). Hamel continued to work in both film and television throughout the 1970s and 1980s, receiving widespread recognition for his performance in the TV series "Das Boot" (1981). In 1990, he co-founded the Academy of Visual Arts in Frankfurt, where he taught acting for many years. Hamel has also worked as a voice actor, providing the German voice for characters in films such as "The Terminator" (1984) and "Jurassic Park" (1993).
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Gunter Schoß
Gunter Schoß (December 2, 1940 Berlin-) a.k.a. Schoß, Gunter is a German actor.
He is best known for his performances in German TV series and movies such as "Tatort", "Schimanski", and "Küstenwache". Schoß was trained in acting at the Otto Falckenberg School in Munich and started his career in the theater before transitioning to film and television. In addition to his acting work, Schoß has also worked as a director and writer, and has won numerous awards for his contributions to German cultural arts. Outside of his career, Schoß is an avid collector of antiques and enjoys spending time with his family.
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Klaus Wennemann
Klaus Wennemann (December 18, 1940 Oer-Erkenschwick-January 7, 2000 Bad Aibling) was a German actor. He had two children, Volker Wennemann and Richard Wennemann.
Wennemann is best known for his role as the captain in the Oscar-nominated film "Das Boot". He had a successful career in German film and television, appearing in over 50 productions throughout his career. He was also a successful stage actor, performing in various theater productions throughout Germany. However, he struggled with alcoholism throughout his life, which led to health complications and ultimately his untimely death at the age of 59. He is honored with a star on the Walk of Fame in Munich.
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Matthias Habich
Matthias Habich (January 12, 1940 Gdańsk-) is a German actor and voice actor.
He began his career as a stage actor and later transitioned to film and television. Habich has appeared in numerous German and international films, including the Oscar-winning film "Das Boot" (1981), "Enemy at the Gates" (2001), and "Downfall" (2004). He has also worked in theater productions and on television, including the popular German series "Tatort". Habich is known for his skilled performances in both dramatic and comedic roles, and has received several awards throughout his career, including the Order of Merit of Berlin and the Carl Zuckmayer Medal. In addition to his acting work, Habich has also worked as a voice actor for documentaries, audio books, and commercials.
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Wilhelm von Homburg
Wilhelm von Homburg (August 25, 1940 Berlin-March 10, 2004 Puerto Vallarta) a.k.a. Norbert Grupe, Wilhem Von Homburg, The Boxer Beatle, The German answer to Muhammad Ali, Wilhelm von Homberg, Prinz Wilhelm von Homburg or Prinz von Homburg was a German actor, wrestler and professional boxer.
Born in Germany during World War II, Wilhelm von Homburg began his career as a boxer, earning the nickname "The German Muhammad Ali" due to his boxing skills and charisma in the ring. He then became a wrestler, performing under the name "The Boxer Beatle" and became a regular on the German wrestling circuit.
In the 1970s, Wilhelm von Homburg turned his attention to acting and landed several small roles in German films before making his Hollywood debut in the 1980s. He appeared in several blockbuster films, including "Die Hard" and "Ghostbusters II", where he played the memorable role of Vigo the Carpathian. His unique appearance and imposing presence made him a popular character actor in Hollywood.
Sadly, Wilhelm von Homburg passed away in 2004 at the age of 63 while on vacation in Mexico. Despite his relatively short career, he remains a beloved figure in both the worlds of entertainment and sports.
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Peer Augustinski
Peer Augustinski (June 25, 1940 Berlin-October 3, 2014) was a German actor.
He was best known for his voice-over work, having lent his voice to many popular characters in German-language versions of films and TV shows. Some of his notable voice-over roles include Darth Vader in the Star Wars series, Roger Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh. Augustinski also had a successful career as a stage actor, appearing in productions throughout Germany. In addition to his acting work, he was an accomplished author, having written several books including a memoir about his experiences as a voice actor titled "Ich bin Darth Vader", which translates to "I am Darth Vader". Augustinski passed away in 2014 at the age of 74.
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Tilo Prückner
Tilo Prückner (October 26, 1940 Augsburg-) also known as Thilo Prückner or Tilo Pruckner is a German actor.
He was born in Augsburg, Germany on October 26, 1940. He started his acting career in the 1960s, initially focusing on theater. In 1970, he received his first film role in the movie "Hügelige Tage" directed by Rudolf Thome. He went on to appear in numerous notable German films, including "Tatort" and "Kir Royal".
Prückner was also known for his voice-over work, dubbing foreign films and TV shows into German. He voiced characters in popular shows like "The Simpsons" and "South Park".
In addition to acting, Prückner was also a writer and director. He directed several theater plays and co-wrote the screenplay for the film "Kalt ist der Abendhauch".
Tilo Prückner passed away on July 2, 2020, in Berlin, Germany at the age of 79.
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Norbert Georg Kuchinke
Norbert Georg Kuchinke (January 1, 1940 Czarny Bór-December 3, 2013 Berlin) a.k.a. Norbert Kukhinke or Norbert Kuchinke was a German actor, writer and journalist. His children are called Evdokia Kuchinke and Christoph Kuchinke.
Kuchinke studied acting and worked in various theaters in East Germany during the 1960s and 1970s. He also worked as a journalist for the East German newspaper, the Neues Deutschland. In the 1980s, he moved to West Germany and continued his acting career, appearing in numerous films and TV shows. He was a prolific writer, publishing several books, including memoirs and fiction. Kuchinke was known for his outspoken political views and activism, particularly his opposition to the East German government. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, he remained active in advocating for human rights and democracy in Germany. He passed away in 2013 in Berlin at the age of 73.
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Dietrich Mattausch
Dietrich Mattausch (April 26, 1940 Litoměřice-) otherwise known as Dieter Mattausch is a German actor.
He began his career in the theater, performing in various productions in Germany and Switzerland before transitioning to film and television. Mattausch has appeared in over 120 films and television shows, including popular German TV series such as Tatort, Derrick, and Der Alte. He has also acted in international productions such as the film adaptation of John le Carré's novel The Russia House. Mattausch has received numerous awards for his work, including the Bavarian Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in the film "Oberst Redl". In addition to acting, he has also directed several theater productions.
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