Here are 19 famous actors from Germany died at 65:
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.
He died in myocardial infarction.
Klaus Kinski was known for his eccentric and intense personality, which brought him both critical acclaim and controversy throughout his career. He appeared in over 130 films, including collaborations with acclaimed directors such as Werner Herzog, David Schmoeller, and Sergio Leone.
Kinski began his career as a stage actor in Germany and later gained international recognition for his performances in films such as "Aguirre, the Wrath of God," "Nosferatu the Vampyre," and "Fitzcarraldo." He was also a prolific writer, publishing several autobiographical books including "All I Need is Love" and "Kinski Uncut."
Kinski's personal life was also marked by controversy, including allegations of physical and sexual abuse by his daughter Pola Kinski. Despite these allegations, Kinski remains a significant figure in German cinema and his legacy continues to inspire filmmakers and actors today.
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Werner Schroeter (April 7, 1945 Georgenthal-April 12, 2010 Kassel) also known as Werner Schröter or Werner was a German film director, screenwriter, film editor, cinematographer, film producer, actor, opera director, theatre director and television director.
He died in cancer.
Schroeter was best known for his avant-garde and experimental films, which often explored themes such as gender, sex, and power. He was heavily influenced by the work of Pier Paolo Pasolini and Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and was considered one of the key figures in the New German Cinema movement.
Throughout his career, Schroeter worked with a number of prominent actors, including Isabelle Huppert, Magdalena Montezuma, and Carole Bouquet. He was also known for his collaborations with musicians and composers, including his longtime partner, the pianist and composer Isabel Evers.
Schroeter was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the Berlinale Camera at the Berlin International Film Festival, and the Goethe Medal. He was also an accomplished opera director, having staged productions at the Vienna State Opera, the Paris Opera, and the Royal Opera House in London.
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Frederic Zelnik (May 17, 1885 Chernivtsi-November 29, 1950 London) also known as Friedrich Zelmik, Fred Zelnik or Friedrich Zelnik was a German film director, film producer and actor.
Zelnik was born in Chernivtsi, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is now in Ukraine. He began his career as a stage actor in Austria and Germany before turning to film. Zelnik produced and directed more than 90 films, both silent and talkies, during his career. He is best known for his romantic comedies, and his films often starred his wife, Lya Mara, who was a popular actress in Germany. Zelnik's films were successful in Europe and beyond, and he was regarded as one of the most important directors in German cinema before the rise of Nazism. In 1933, Zelnik, who was Jewish, left Germany with his family and settled in England, where he continued to work in the film industry. He died in London in 1950.
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Paul Otto (February 8, 1878 Berlin-November 25, 1943 Berlin) also known as Paul Otto Schlesinger was a German actor, screenwriter and film director.
He died in suicide.
Paul Otto began his career in theater before transitioning to film in the early 1910s. He was one of the most prolific German film directors of the silent era and directed over 90 films. Some of his notable directorial works include "The Golem" (1915), "The Poisonous Mushroom" (1918), and "The Eternal Mask" (1918). He also worked as a screenwriter and actor, with over 50 writing credits and over 30 acting credits to his name.
During the Nazi regime, Paul Otto was forced to retire from filmmaking due to his Jewish heritage. He was confined to his home and ultimately took his own life in 1943. Despite the tragic end to his life, his contributions to the German film industry during the silent era continue to be celebrated and studied today.
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Albert Lieven (June 23, 1906 Hohenstein-December 22, 1971 London) otherwise known as Albert Fritz Liévin, Albert Fritz Liévin-Liévin, Fritz-Albert Lieben or Fritz Albert Lieven was a German actor.
He was born in Hohenstein, East Prussia, Germany (now Olsztynek, Poland) and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He went on to become a successful actor in both British and German films, often playing suave and sophisticated characters. Some of his notable roles include the villain in the 1949 film "The Third Man" and a Nazi officer in the 1962 film "The Longest Day". Lieven also appeared in many stage productions in both Germany and the UK. He was married twice, and often worked alongside his second wife, German actress Hildegarde Neff. At the time of his death in 1971, Lieven was living in London and had become a British citizen.
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Dieter Pfaff (October 2, 1947 Dortmund-March 5, 2013 Hamburg) was a German actor, film director and educator. He had two children, Johanna Pfaff and Maximilian Pfaff.
He died caused by cancer.
Dieter Pfaff gained fame in the 1980s with his role as the police commissioner "Sigi Möller" in the TV series "Der Fahnder". He won the Adolf Grimme Award for his performance in the show. Pfaff also starred in the medical TV drama "Der Dicke", playing the role of a lawyer who became overweight and decided to change his life by becoming a public prosecutor. In addition to his acting career, Pfaff also directed several films, including "Zweier Ohne" and "Solo für Klarinette". He was also a respected acting teacher at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama.
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Friedrich Gnass (November 13, 1892 Langendreer-May 8, 1958 East Berlin) also known as Friedrich Gnaas, Gnas or Friedrich Gnaß was a German actor.
He began his career in the German film industry during the silent era, appearing in films such as "Der Hund von Baskerville" (The Hound of the Baskervilles) and "Die Zentralmacht" (The Central Power). In the 1930s, he continued to act in films, including the anti-Nazi film "Die Warschauer Zitadelle" (The Warsaw Citadel), but he ultimately fell out of favor with the Nazi regime and was arrested for "homosexual activities" in 1940. He was released two years later and returned to the stage, eventually settling in East Berlin after World War II. He continued to act in both stage and film productions until his death in 1958.
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Fritz Odemar (January 13, 1890 Hanover-May 6, 1955 Munich) was a German actor. He had one child, Erik Ode.
He died as a result of cancer.
Fritz Odemar was best known for his work in German cinema during the 1920s and 1930s. He began his career in theater before making his film debut in 1913. Odemar's breakthrough came with his role in the silent film Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari), which is considered a landmark in the German Expressionist movement.
Throughout his career, Odemar acted in more than 100 films, often playing the villain or the antagonist. He worked with some of the finest filmmakers of the time, including Fritz Lang, Josef von Sternberg, and Georg Wilhelm Pabst.
Odemar was not immune to the political turmoil in Germany. During the Nazi regime, Odemar was briefly arrested by the Gestapo but was eventually released due to his popularity as an actor. Despite this, he was eventually banned from performing in film and theater due to his Jewish ancestry.
After the war, Odemar resumed his acting career and took on various roles in both film and theater. However, his health began to decline as he battled cancer, which eventually took his life at the age of 65 in Munich.
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Jörg Hube (November 22, 1943 Neuruppin-June 19, 2009 Munich) also known as Jörg Hube-Feise was a German actor and film director.
He died in cancer.
Jörg Hube began his career in theatre and later transitioned to films and television. He appeared in over 80 films and TV series during his career, including The Tin Drum (1979), Zwei Münchner in Hamburg (1989) and Rossini (1997). He was known for his versatile acting abilities, portraying both comedic and dramatic roles. In addition to acting, Hube also directed a number of films and TV shows, including Der Bulle von Tölz and Tatort. He was a prominent figure in Bavarian culture, and in 2008, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the State of Bavaria for his contributions to the arts. After his death in 2009, the Jörg Hube Prize was established in his honor to recognize outstanding achievements in cultural work in Bavaria.
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Walter Franck (April 16, 1896 Hüttensteinach-August 10, 1961 Garmisch-Partenkirchen) also known as Walter Frank was a German actor.
He began his acting career in the 1920s and appeared in over 60 films throughout his career. Some of his notable performances include his role as Herr Faber in the 1931 film "M" directed by Fritz Lang and as the brewer in the 1953 film "Heart of Stone". Aside from acting in films, Franck also performed on stage and was a member of the ensemble of the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. Franck's acting career was interrupted during World War II, where he served in the German army. After the war, he continued acting and appeared in several films until his death in 1961.
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Jürgen Frohriep (April 28, 1928 Rostock-July 13, 1993 Berlin) was a German actor.
He was best known for his role as Hauptmann Hans Martin in the East German police procedural television series "Polizeiruf 110". Frohriep started his acting career in 1949 with the DEFA studio and went on to appear in over 100 films, TV dramas and stage plays. He was known for his versatility and his ability to play both dramatic and comedic roles with equal ease. In addition to his acting career, Frohriep was also a trained opera singer and occasionally performed in musical productions. He received several awards during his career, including the National Prize of East Germany in 1970. Frohriep remained an active actor until his death in 1993 at the age of 65.
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Wilhelm Bendow (September 29, 1884 Einbeck-May 29, 1950 Einbeck) also known as Emil Boden was a German actor.
He began his acting career in 1901, performing mainly in theaters in Berlin and Vienna. Bendow gained popularity for his comedic roles in films during the 1920s and 1930s. He starred in over 200 films, including early German comedies such as "The Oyster Princess" (1919) and "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920). Bendow's talent for physical comedy also landed him roles in international films such as the British film "Yellow Caesar" (1941). After World War II, he continued acting until his death in 1950.
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Leo White (November 10, 1882 Grudziądz-September 20, 1948 Glendale) also known as Leo Herbert White was a German actor.
He began his career in Europe, performing with various theater companies before moving to the United States in the early 1910s to pursue work in the burgeoning film industry. Over the course of his career, White appeared in more than 300 films, often playing comedic and character roles. He worked with some of the biggest names in silent comedy, including Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd, and was a frequent collaborator of the Three Stooges. In addition to his acting work, White occasionally wrote and directed films as well. He retired from the film industry in the mid-1940s and passed away a few years later at the age of 65.
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Ulrich Thein (April 7, 1930 Braunschweig-June 21, 1995 Berlin) was a German film director, screenwriter and actor.
Ulrich Thein was born on April 7, 1930 in Braunschweig, Germany. He began his career as an actor in 1953, working in various theaters across East Germany. In the 1960s, he transitioned into directing, and went on to create several successful films and television shows.
Some of his most notable works include the television series "Das Schulgespenst" (The School Ghost) and the film "Die Abenteuer des Werner Holt" (The Adventures of Werner Holt). Throughout his career, Ulrich Thein was known for his ability to skillfully combine drama and comedy, and he was praised for his unique visual style.
In addition to his work in film and television, Ulrich Thein was a respected theater director, and he served as the artistic director of the Maxim Gorki Theatre in Berlin from 1982 until his death in 1995. He was also a member of the Academy of Arts in Berlin, and was recognized for his contributions to German culture and cinema with several awards and honors.
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Ferdinand Schumann-Heink (August 9, 1893 Hamburg-September 15, 1958 Los Angeles) a.k.a. F. Schumann-Heink, Ferdinard Schumann-Heink, Ferde Schumann-Heink or Ferdinand Schuman-Heink was a German actor.
He died caused by myocardial infarction.
Ferdinand Schumann-Heink was not only an actor but also a writer, director and producer. He began his career in the silent film era but made a successful transition to talkies. Known for his versatility, he played a wide range of roles from romantic leads to villains. He appeared in more than 150 films, including the classic silent film, "Metropolis" (1927). In addition to his work in film, Schumann-Heink also appeared in several stage productions throughout his career. He was married to the American soprano singer, Lillian Nordica, until her death in 1914. Schumann-Heink continued to work in the entertainment industry until his sudden death in 1958.
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Hans Häckermann (March 3, 1930 Pirna-September 16, 1995 Ritzerau) was a German actor.
He died as a result of illness.
Häckermann began his acting career in 1952 as a stage actor in Munich. He later went on to appear in numerous films and television shows throughout his career, including the popular crime drama "Tatort" and the comedy series "Lindenstraße". Häckermann was also known for his voice acting work, lending his voice to German dubbings of foreign films and television shows. In addition to his acting career, he was also a successful stage director and worked at the Schauspielhaus in Bochum from 1971 to 1973. Despite his success in the industry, Häckermann preferred to keep his personal life private and was rarely seen in the public eye outside of his work.
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Michel Auclair (September 14, 1922 Koblenz-January 7, 1988 Fayence) a.k.a. Vladimir Vujović or Vladimir Vujovic was a German actor.
He died caused by cerebral hemorrhage.
Born to a French father and a Serbian mother, Michel Auclair spent part of his childhood in France and later moved to Yugoslavia. He began his acting career in theater in the early 1940s and later transitioned to film, starring in several French, British, and American productions throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
One of Auclair's most notable performances was in the 1953 film "The Sun Also Rises," based on Ernest Hemingway's novel. He also appeared in the 1962 film "The Longest Day," which depicted the D-Day invasion during World War II.
In addition to his acting work, Auclair was also a writer and published several novels and plays throughout his career.
Auclair continued to act in films and television shows until his death in 1988 at the age of 65. He is remembered as a talented and versatile actor with a career that spanned decades and crossed international borders.
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Toni Impekoven (June 21, 1881 Cologne-May 6, 1947 Sprendlingen) a.k.a. Anton Impekoven was a German writer, screenwriter, actor and playwright. He had one child, Niddy Impekoven.
Impekoven began his career as an actor in various German theaters. He later transitioned to writing and became a highly regarded playwright, penning numerous plays throughout his career. In addition to his work in the theater, he wrote screenplays for several German films in the early 20th century.
Impekoven's most famous work is his play "Familie Selicke," which was first performed in 1913 and went on to become a major success. The play explores the lives of a family living in Berlin during the early part of the 20th century and the challenges they face as they try to navigate the changing social and economic landscape of the time.
Despite his success, Impekoven's career was cut short by World War II. He was arrested by the Nazis and spent time in several concentration camps before being released in 1945. He died just two years later at the age of 65.
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Wolfgang Neuss (December 3, 1923 Wrocław-May 5, 1989 Berlin) also known as Neuss, Wolfgang or Hans Otto Wolfgang Neuss was a German actor and screenwriter.
He was one of the most important figures in post-war German cabaret, famous for his political satire and irreverent humor. Neuss began his career on radio, first as an announcer and later as a comedian, and gained national recognition in the early 1950s with his appearances on the popular show "Mikado." In the following years, he wrote and performed in numerous cabaret shows, often collaborating with other artists such as Dieter Hildebrandt and Klaus Havenstein. His biting critiques of politics, society and culture made him a beloved figure for many Germans, but also earned him the ire of conservative politicians and cultural gatekeepers. Neuss continued to work in film and television throughout the 1960s and 1970s, but his reputation as a cabaret performer remained his most enduring legacy. He died in Berlin in 1989, leaving behind an influential body of work and generations of admirers, many of whom fondly remember his performances as moments of political courage and artistic brilliance.
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