German actors who deceased in 2002
Here are 12 famous actors from Germany died in 2002:
Norbert Schultze
Norbert Schultze (January 26, 1911 Braunschweig-October 14, 2002 Bad Tölz) also known as Schultze, Norbert or Norman Schultze was a German film score composer, actor, composer, screenwriter and pianist. He had two children, Kristian Schultze and Norbert Schultze Jr..
Norbert Schultze is known for his contribution to the German music industry, particularly during the 1930s and 1940s. He composed music for several German films, including the 1942 propaganda film, "Hitlerjunge Quex" and the 1943 war film, "U-Boote westwärts". His most famous composition, however, is the beloved German Christmas song, "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" (Silent Night, Holy Night) which he translated into German.
Aside from his music career, Schultze also served in the German army during World War II and was held as a prisoner of war by the British from 1945 to 1947. He later returned to music and continued composing into the 1970s. Schultze received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1971.
Read more about Norbert Schultze on Wikipedia »
Frank Ripploh
Frank Ripploh (September 2, 1949 Rheine-June 22, 2002) also known as Peggy von Schnottgenberg was a German screenwriter, actor, film director and film producer.
He is best known for his semi-autobiographical film "Taxi zum Klo" (1980), which explored his experiences as a gay man living in West Berlin during the 1970s. The film received controversy and censorship due to its explicit sexual content, but also critical acclaim and has since become a cult classic. Ripploh continued to explore LGBTQ+ themes in his later works, including the films "Boys Like Us" (1984) and "Lovelines" (1984), and the book "Peggy's Blue Skylight" (1996), which chronicled his experiences with AIDS. Ripploh was an outspoken activist and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Germany, and his films and writing have been credited with helping to break down taboos and promote greater acceptance for queer people in German society.
Read more about Frank Ripploh on Wikipedia »
Tonio Selwart
Tonio Selwart (June 9, 1896 Wartenberg-November 2, 2002 New York City) a.k.a. Antonio Franz Theus Selmair-Selwart, Tony Selwart or Anton Th. Selmair was a German actor.
He started his acting career in Germany during the 1920s and eventually made his way to Hollywood in the 1930s. Selwart appeared in over 70 films and TV shows during his career. Some of his notable roles include Baron von Strack in the film classic "Casablanca" and Dr. Grof in "The Joy Luck Club". Selwart was also a distinguished stage actor, having acted in several Broadway productions throughout the 1950s and 1960s. He remained active in the industry until his death at the age of 106 in 2002.
Read more about Tonio Selwart on Wikipedia »
Albrecht Becker
Albrecht Becker (November 14, 1906 Thale-April 22, 2002 Hamburg) a.k.a. Walter Albrecht Becker was a German photographer, actor, production designer, film art director and artist.
Becker studied at the Bauhaus in Dessau before starting his career as a photographer in the 1930s. His most well-known work as a photographer includes portraits of famous German figures such as Max Ernst and Bertolt Brecht.
During World War II, Becker worked as an actor in films such as "Titanic" (1943) and "Münchhausen" (1943). After the war, he began working as a production designer and film art director, contributing to films such as "The Bridge" (1959) and "The Longest Day" (1962).
In addition to his work in film, Becker was also an accomplished artist, creating paintings, sculptures, and stage designs. He continued to work in film and art until his death in Hamburg in 2002 at the age of 95.
Read more about Albrecht Becker on Wikipedia »
Wolfgang Preiss
Wolfgang Preiss (February 27, 1910 Nuremberg-November 27, 2002 Bühl) also known as Lupo Prezzo was a German actor and voice actor.
He began his career as a stage actor in the 1930s, and later moved on to film and television work. He is perhaps best known for his roles in war movies, and he appeared in several iconic World War II films such as "The Longest Day" and "The Bridge at Remagen". Preiss also had a prolific voice acting career, providing the German dubbing for numerous American actors, including Humphrey Bogart and Charlton Heston. In addition to his acting work, Preiss was a trained psychologist and worked as a marriage counselor later in his life. He received several awards for his contributions to German cinema, including the Filmband in Gold in 1995.
Read more about Wolfgang Preiss on Wikipedia »
Klaus Löwitsch
Klaus Löwitsch (April 8, 1936 Berlin-December 3, 2002 Munich) also known as Klaus Lowitsch or Klaus Loewitsch was a German actor.
He started his acting career in the 1960s, appearing in various theater productions before transitioning into film and television roles in the 1970s. Löwitsch was known for his intense and complex performances, often portraying characters who were conflicted or struggling with personal issues. He gained international recognition for his lead role in the cult classic science fiction film "The Final Programme" (1973) and for his portrayal of Jansen in Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "World on a Wire" (1973).
Throughout his career, Löwitsch worked with some of the most renowned directors in European cinema, including Fassbinder, Werner Herzog, and Wim Wenders. He earned critical acclaim for his performances in Fassbinder's "The Marriage of Maria Braun" (1979) and "Lili Marleen" (1981), as well as in Wenders' "The American Friend" (1977) and "Paris, Texas" (1984).
Löwitsch continued acting until his death in 2002, appearing in over 80 films and television shows during his career. He was widely regarded as one of the most talented actors of his generation and his legacy in German and European cinema has endured long after his passing.
Read more about Klaus Löwitsch on Wikipedia »
Hans Paetsch
Hans Paetsch (December 7, 1909 Montreux-Vieux-February 3, 2002 Hamburg) a.k.a. Paetsch, Hans was a German actor.
He is known for his work in German dubbing, particularly as the voice of the narrator in the German version of the children's TV series, "The Adventures of Pinocchio". Paetsch also appeared in several films and TV shows throughout his career. He was a member of the Deutsches Schauspielhaus theatre in Hamburg for over 50 years, where he performed in numerous plays. In addition to his acting work, Paetsch was also a writer and translated several works into German, including "Le Petit Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Read more about Hans Paetsch on Wikipedia »
Heinz Drache
Heinz Drache (February 9, 1923 Essen-April 3, 2002 Berlin) was a German actor. He had one child, Angelica Drache.
Heinz Drache began his acting career in theater during the 1940s and later transitioned to film and television in the 1950s. He became a popular figure in German cinema and appeared in more than 100 films throughout his career. He was particularly famous for his work in the thriller and crime genres, and his most notable roles include Inspector Klevenow in the 1960s German crime TV series "Der Kommissar" and the titular role in the 1960 film "The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle."
Drache was also a prolific voice actor and dubbed the German voices for actors such as Kirk Douglas and Charlton Heston in several of their films. In addition to his work in film and television, Drache was also a successful stage actor and performed in numerous plays in Germany.
He passed away in 2002 in Berlin, leaving behind a legacy as one of Germany's most beloved actors.
Read more about Heinz Drache on Wikipedia »
Martin Sperr
Martin Sperr (September 14, 1944 Dingolfing-Landau-April 6, 2002 Landshut) was a German actor, screenwriter and playwright.
Sperr began his acting career in the early 1970s and quickly gained recognition for his talent. He appeared in numerous plays, television shows, and films, including the critically acclaimed film, "Die Verrohung des Franz Blum." In addition to acting, Sperr also wrote several plays and screenplays, including "Saustall," which was turned into a successful film in 1979.
One of Sperr's most notable achievements was co-founding the Off-Broadway-style theater, Theatergalerie, in Munich in 1975. He served as artistic director of the theater for many years and helped to launch the careers of several successful German actors and playwrights.
Throughout his career, Sperr received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to German theater and film. However, in spite of his success, Sperr struggled with alcoholism and died of liver failure in 2002 at the age of 57.
Read more about Martin Sperr on Wikipedia »
Helmut Zacharias
Helmut Zacharias (January 27, 1920 Berlin-February 28, 2002 Brissago) also known as Zacharias or Der Zaubergeiger (The Magic Violinist) was a German actor, musician, violinist and composer. He had one child, Stephan Zacharias.
Helmut Zacharias started playing the violin at the age of two and by the age of six, began his career as a professional musician. His style was a mix of classical, swing and pop music, and he became very popular in Germany and abroad during the 1950s and 1960s. Zacharias recorded more than 400 LPs and sold over 14 million albums worldwide. Some of his most popular songs include "Tokyo Melody," "Tea for Two," and "When the White Lilacs Bloom Again." In addition to his music career, Zacharias also appeared in several German films and television shows. His popularity began to decline in the 1970s as disco and rock music became more popular, but he continued to perform until his retirement in the 1990s. Zacharias passed away in 2002 at the age of 82.
Read more about Helmut Zacharias on Wikipedia »
Heinz Welzel
Heinz Welzel (May 30, 1911 Berlin-March 26, 2002 Berlin) was a German actor.
Heinz Welzel began his acting career in the 1930s and appeared in over 50 films over the course of his career. He was known for his versatility and ability to play both comic and dramatic roles with equal ease. Welzel was a member of the Berliner Ensemble, a theater group founded by Bertolt Brecht, for many years. He also performed on stage at various theaters across Germany. In addition to his acting work, Welzel also worked as a voice actor, dubbing foreign films into German. He passed away in Berlin in 2002 at the age of 90.
Read more about Heinz Welzel on Wikipedia »
Ivan Desny
Ivan Desny (December 28, 1922 Beijing-April 13, 2002 Ascona) also known as Yvan Desny, Ivan Nikolai Desnitskij, Juan Desny, Ivan Nikolai Desnitzky, Иван Десни or Ivan Gums was a German actor.
He was born in Beijing (formerly known as Peking) to Russian parents and spent his childhood traveling around the world with his father, who was a diplomat. Desny started his acting career in Paris in the 1940s, starring in French movies such as "Les Amants de Montparnasse" and "Les Yeux Noirs". He later moved to Germany, where he became a popular actor in both movies and television, often playing suave and sophisticated characters. Some of his notable films include "The Marriage of Maria Braun", "La Bonne Soupe", and "The Longest Day". Desny was also fluent in several languages and lent his voice to many dubbed versions of foreign films. He died in Ascona, Switzerland at the age of 79.
Read more about Ivan Desny on Wikipedia »