German actors who died due to Cancer
Here are 22 famous actors from Germany died in Cancer:
Werner Klemperer
Werner Klemperer (March 22, 1920 Cologne-December 6, 2000 Manhattan) was a German actor and musician. His children are called Mark Klemperer and Erika Klemperer.
Werner Klemperer is best known for his role as Colonel Wilhelm Klink in the American sitcom Hogan's Heroes. Klemperer fled Germany in 1935 with his father, conductor Otto Klemperer, due to the rise of the Nazi Party. He later became a naturalized US citizen and served in the US Army during World War II. In addition to his acting career, Klemperer was also a talented musician, having studied piano and cello at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City. He appeared in a number of Broadway productions throughout his career, earning a Tony Award for his role in the musical Cabaret. Klemperer also made numerous appearances on television shows such as The Twilight Zone and Murder, She Wrote. Despite his success as an actor, Klemperer remained fiercely proud of his German heritage and was a strong advocate for the arts.
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Walter Gotell
Walter Gotell (March 15, 1924 Bonn-May 5, 1997 London) also known as Walter Jack Gotell, Walter Gotel or Walter Gottell was a German actor and businessperson. He had one child, Carole Gotell.
Gotell is best known for his work in the James Bond movie franchise, where he played the role of KGB General Gogol in several films. He first appeared in the 1977 film "The Spy Who Loved Me" and continued to play the role until his final appearance in "The Living Daylights" in 1987. In addition to his work in the Bond films, Gotell also appeared in other popular movies such as "One, Two, Three" and "The African Queen". He also had numerous television credits, including roles in "The Saint" and "Department S".
Outside of acting, Gotell was also a successful businessman. He established a successful electronics company in South Africa during the 1960s, which he later sold in the 1980s. Despite his business success, Gotell was always passionate about acting and continued to work in films and television until his death in 1997.
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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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Jörg Hube
Jörg Hube (November 22, 1943 Neuruppin-June 19, 2009 Munich) also known as Jörg Hube-Feise was a German actor and film director.
Hube was known for his versatile acting skills, having appeared in over 200 films and television shows. He began his career in the theater and later transitioned to film and television acting. He received critical acclaim for his role in the 2004 film "Grenzverkehr" and won the Bavarian Film Award for Best Actor. In addition to his acting career, he also directed several successful stage productions. Hube was also a noted voice actor, working on numerous German-dubbed versions of popular films, including the German voice of Professor Snape in the Harry Potter series. He passed away in 2009 after suffering a heart attack while performing on stage.
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Mathias Wieman
Mathias Wieman (June 23, 1902 Osnabrück-December 3, 1969 Zürich) also known as Mathias Wiemann, M. Wieman, Carl Heinrich Franz Mathias Wieman or Wiemann was a German actor.
Wieman began his acting career in theater in the 1920s and went on to become a well-known film actor in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. He appeared in several propaganda films during World War II, including "Kolberg" and "Ich klage an". After the war, he continued to act in films and on stage, including a prominent role in the 1957 film "The Devil Strikes at Night". Wieman was also a director and a teacher at the Otto Falckenberg School of Performing Arts in Munich. He moved to Switzerland in the 1950s and acted in several Swiss productions. Wieman was married twice and had two children. He died in Zurich at the age of 67.
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Richard Talmadge
Richard Talmadge (December 3, 1892 Camburg-January 25, 1981 Carmel-by-the-Sea) also known as Sylvester Alphonse Metz, Dick Talmadge or Richard Talmage was a German film director, actor, film producer and stunt performer.
He was born in Germany but moved to the United States at a young age to pursue a career in Hollywood. Talmadge began his career in the film industry as a stuntman, performing dangerous stunts for other actors. He worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks.
In addition to his work as a stuntman, Talmadge also acted in films and eventually transitioned into directing and producing films of his own. He was known for his action-packed films, many of which featured elaborate stunts and fight scenes.
Talmadge was a pioneer in the development of special effects and is credited with creating new techniques for creating realistic explosions and other special effects in films. He also helped to establish industry safety standards for stunt performers, which are still in use today.
Talmadge retired from the film industry in the 1950s, but his legacy as a pioneer in the development of action and special effects in films continues to influence the industry to this day.
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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.
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Theo Lingen
Theo Lingen (June 10, 1903 Hanover-November 10, 1978 Vienna) also known as Lingen, Theo or Franz Theodor Schmitz was a German actor, film director, screenwriter and musician. He had one child, Ursula Lingen.
Lingen began his career as a pianist and comedian, and made his first film appearance in 1927. He appeared in over 230 films over the course of his career, including notable roles in "The Congress Dances" (1931), "The Merry Widow" (1952), and "The Haunted Castle" (1960). In addition to his film work, Lingen also directed several films and wrote screenplays. He was a popular figure in German-speaking countries, and his comedic talents made him a beloved personality. In addition to his entertainment work, Lingen was also a member of the resistance during World War II, and worked to smuggle Jewish individuals out of Germany. After the war, he continued his entertainment career until his death in 1978 at the age of 75.
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Ulrich Schamoni
Ulrich Schamoni (November 9, 1939 Berlin-March 9, 1998 Berlin) also known as Ulli Schamoni or Paul Papra was a German film director, screenwriter, actor, television director and media proprietor. His child is called Ulrike Schamoni.
Schamoni started his career as an actor, appearing in several German films before moving on to direction and writing. He gained recognition for his 1969 film "Es" (aka "It"), which was a part of the "New German Cinema" movement. Some of his other notable films include "Chapeau Claque" (1973), "Zwei himmlische Töchter" (1978) and "Klassen Feind" (1983). In addition to his work in film, Schamoni also directed television shows and was a co-founder of the German production company, "Moovie - the art of entertainment". He was married twice, first to actress Gina Kaus and later to singer and actress Nico. Schamoni died in 1998 in Berlin, Germany of cancer.
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Fritz Odemar
Fritz Odemar (January 13, 1890 Hanover-May 6, 1955 Munich) was a German actor. He had one child, Erik Ode.
Fritz Odemar began his career as a stage actor and appeared in many successful productions before transitioning to film in the early 1920s. He quickly became a popular character actor and appeared in over 100 films throughout his career. Some of his notable roles include the films "The Three from the Filling Station" (1930), "A Night in May" (1938), and "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" (1943). Odemar continued to act in films even during the Nazi regime and was able to avoid being blacklisted due to his popularity. After World War II, he continued to act in films until his death in 1955.
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Viktor de Kowa
Viktor de Kowa (March 8, 1904 Przesieczany-April 8, 1973 Berlin) also known as Viktor Paul Karl Kowarzik, Victor de Kowa, Victor Paul Karl Kowalczyk or Victor Paul Karl Kowarzik was a German actor, film director, singer, narrator, poet and writer.
Born in present-day Slovakia, Viktor de Kowa began his career in the arts as a singer before branching out into acting and directing. He worked in theater and film, appearing in over 80 films throughout his career, including the 1944 film "Die Feuerzangenbowle," which has become a classic in German cinema. In addition to his work on stage and screen, de Kowa was also a prolific writer, publishing several volumes of poetry and prose. He was known for his smooth voice, which he often used for narration on documentaries and soundtracks. Despite his success in the arts, de Kowa remained humble, and was respected and beloved by his colleagues and fans alike. He died in 1973 at the age of 69 in Berlin, leaving behind a legacy as one of Germany's most versatile and talented performers.
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Rudolf Vogel
Rudolf Vogel (November 10, 1900 Planegg-August 9, 1967 Munich) was a German actor and radio personality. He had one child, Peter Vogel.
Rudolf Vogel started his acting career in the theatre before transitioning to film in the 1930s. He appeared in over 150 films, often playing supporting roles or character parts. Some of his notable film credits include "Münchhausen" (1943), "The White Hell of Pitz Palu" (1929), and "The Confessions of Felix Krull" (1957).
In addition to his film work, Vogel was also a prominent radio personality in Germany. He hosted a program called "Funkstunde" on Bavarian Radio from 1946 until his death in 1967. He was known for his deep, authoritative voice and his talent for storytelling.
Vogel was honored with several awards during his career, including the Bavarian Order of Merit in 1961. He passed away in Munich in 1967 at the age of 66.
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Dieter Pfaff
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.
Pfaff became widely known for his leading role in the German television series "SOKO" where he played the character of Kriminalhauptkommissar (commissioner) Trautmann. He won the Grimme-Preis television award for his performance in the series in 1996. He also appeared in other television shows such as "Bloch" and "Tatort" as well as in the films "Das Experiment" and "Drei". Apart from acting, Pfaff was also a trained educator and taught drama at the Academy of Fine Arts in Hamburg. He passed away in 2013 due to a heart attack.
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Peter Przygodda
Peter Przygodda (October 26, 1941 Berlin-October 2, 2011 Munich) also known as Keule was a German film editor, actor, film director, screenwriter, lector and television director. He had one child, Anna Theresa Przygodda.
Przygodda began his career as an actor and later transitioned to film editing. He is considered one of the most important editors in German film history and worked on over 100 films in his career. He frequently collaborated with director Wim Wenders, editing some of his most acclaimed films such as Wings of Desire, Paris, Texas, and Until the End of the World. Przygodda also worked with other notable filmmakers including Jean-Jacques Annaud and Margarethe von Trotta. He won numerous awards for his editing work including a BAFTA for The Inner Life of Martin Frost. In addition to editing, Przygodda also directed films such as The Rabbitt is Me (1971) and Me and Him (1988). He died in 2011 at the age of 69.
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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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Anton Diffring
Anton Diffring (October 20, 1916 Koblenz-May 19, 1989 Châteauneuf) also known as Alfred Pollack, Anthony Diffring, Antony Diffring or Anton de Vient was a German actor.
He was known for his work in both British and German films, and his career spanned from the 1940s to the 1980s. Diffring appeared in many notable films, including "Where Eagles Dare" and "The Blue Max." He was also known for his work in television, appearing in popular shows such as "The Saint" and "The Avengers." In addition to his acting career, Diffring was a polyglot, speaking several languages fluently, and he even wrote a book on language learning. Diffring passed away in 1989 at the age of 72.
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Hans Quest
Hans Quest (August 20, 1915 Herford-March 29, 1997 Munich) was a German actor, television director, film director and screenwriter. He had two children, Christoph Quest and Thomas Quest.
Hans Quest began his career as an actor in the Berlin theatre scene during the 1930s. He made his film debut in 1936 in the movie "Mädchenpensionat." However, Quest's career was halted during World War II when he was drafted by the German army. After the war, Quest resumed his acting career and also transitioned into directing and screenwriting.
Quest's most significant success as a director came in the 1950s and 1960s when he directed several popular German television series, including "Münchner Geschichten" and "Das Kriminalmuseum." He also directed several films, including "Meines Vaters Pferde," which became a box office success in Germany.
In addition to his work in television and film, Hans Quest was also involved in theatre direction. He worked as a director and producer at the Munich Kammerspiele and the Bayerisches Staatsschauspiel.
Hans Quest received numerous awards for his work throughout his career, including the Federal Cross of Merit in 1972 and the Filmband in Gold in 1980. He passed away in Munich in 1997, leaving behind a legacy as one of Germany's most accomplished and respected filmmakers.
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Peter Lee Lawrence
Peter Lee Lawrence (February 21, 1944 Lindau-April 20, 1974 Rome) a.k.a. Karl Hirenbach, Arthur Grant or Karl Hyrenbach was a German actor. He had one child, David Hyrenbach.
Peter Lee Lawrence was best known for his roles in Spaghetti Western films, particularly in the 1960s and '70s. He made his debut in the film industry in 1963 with the movie "L'uomo che brucia" (The Man Who Burns) and went on to star in a number of notable films such as "The Four Musketeers", "My Name is Shanghai Joe", and "They Call Me Trinity". Despite his brief career, he was immensely popular among the audience and critics alike for his charming personality and acting skills. Sadly, Peter Lee Lawrence passed away at the young age of 30 due to stomach cancer. Even after his death, his performances continue to be admired by fans of Western cinema.
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Hermann Lause
Hermann Lause (February 7, 1939 Meppen-March 28, 2005 Hamburg) also known as Herman Lause was a German actor.
He was born in Meppen, Germany, and began his career in theater in the 1960s. Lause later transitioned to film and television, appearing in over 70 productions throughout his career. Some notable films he appeared in include "The Tin Drum" (1979), "Bang Boom Bang" (1999), and "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (1997). He also had recurring roles on several German TV series, such as "Der Landarzt" and "Großstadtrevier." Lause was known for his versatile acting skills and portrayed a wide range of characters, from comedic to dramatic roles. He passed away in Hamburg in 2005 at the age of 66.
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Werner Schroeter
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.
Throughout his career, Werner Schroeter was known for his independent and unconventional approach to filmmaking, often incorporating elements of opera and experimental theatre into his work. He began his career making experimental short films before moving on to feature films in the 1970s.
Schroeter's most notable works include "The Death of Maria Malibran" (1972), which won the International Critics' Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and "Malina" (1991), which was based on the novel by Ingeborg Bachmann. He also directed a number of operas, including productions at the Salzburg Festival and the Vienna State Opera.
Despite being a highly regarded filmmaker, Schroeter's work was often controversial and polarizing. Some critics praised his bold and innovative approach, while others dismissed his work as overly pretentious and indulgent.
Schroeter passed away in 2010 at the age of 65, leaving behind a legacy as one of Germany's most influential and idiosyncratic filmmakers.
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Klaus-Michael Grüber
Klaus-Michael Grüber (June 4, 1941 Neckarelz-June 23, 2008 Belle Île) also known as Klaus Michael Grueber or Klaus Michael Grüber was a German film director and actor.
Grüber was known for his contributions to the world of theater and film. He started his career as an actor, but later transitioned to directing. Some of his notable works include directing the film "The Inner Circle" and the play "Hamlet". He was a prolific theater director and worked with many renowned theater companies throughout his career. Grüber was also a lecturer at the Hessische Theaterakademie and the Universität der Künste Berlin before his death in 2008. He was widely respected in the German theater and film industry for his unique vision and creative approach to storytelling.
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Gottfried John
Gottfried John (August 29, 1942 Berlin-September 1, 2014 Utting) a.k.a. John, Gottfried was a German actor and voice actor.
He rose to international prominence through his critically acclaimed performance as the ruthless villain, General Ourumov, in the 1995 James Bond film "GoldenEye." John got his start in acting in the 1960s, performing in various theater productions before transitioning to film and television work. He went on to have a successful career, appearing in over 100 films and television shows, including "Berlin Alexanderplatz," "The Tin Drum," and "The Ogre." Alongside his acting career, John was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to numerous German-language audiobooks and dubbing foreign films and TV shows into German. He received several awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Order of Merit of Berlin and the National Prize of East Germany.
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