Swiss movie stars born in 1923
Here are 6 famous actors from Switzerland were born in 1923:
José Giovanni
José Giovanni (June 22, 1923 Paris-April 24, 2004 Lausanne) also known as Joseph Damiani or Jose Giovanni was a Swiss screenwriter, film director, writer, actor and television director.
Giovanni was born to Italian parents in Paris, France. He spent much of his life in and out of prison, owing to his involvement in the French Resistance and later, for his criminal activities. While serving his sentence in jail, Giovanni began writing novels that would become bestsellers, such as "Le Trou" and "Dernier chambardement".
After he was released from prison in the 1950s, Giovanni turned to filmmaking and successfully transitioned from a career in writing noir novels to writing and directing crime movies. His films are known for their grittiness, realism, and exploration of the darker aspects of human nature. His most famous films include "Le Deuxième Souffle" and "Un Puit Aux Shouettes".
Aside from his work in film, Giovanni was also an accomplished television director and wrote several stage plays. Over the course of his career, he was awarded several prestigious accolades such as the Grand prix de littérature policière and the Prix Goncourt.
Despite spending much of his early life in and out of jail, Giovanni went on to achieve significant success in the world of cinema and literature. He is remembered as one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation, and his contributions to French cinema continue to inspire filmmakers around the world.
Later in his career, Giovanni also dabbled in acting and appeared in a few films, including "Borsalino" and "The Inheritor". He also worked as a screenwriter for other filmmakers, including Jean-Pierre Melville. In addition to his creative work, Giovanni was a political activist and outspoken critic of the French penal system, drawing from his own experiences in prison. He even directed a documentary about life in a French prison, titled "La Ligne de démarcation". Giovanni continued to write and direct films until his death in 2004 at the age of 80. He left behind a legacy of groundbreaking work that continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences to this day.
Paul Muller
Paul Muller (March 11, 1923 Neuchâtel-) also known as Paul Konrad Muller, Paul Miller, Paolo Muller, Paul Muler, Paul Müller or Robert Muller is a Swiss actor.
He started his acting career in the 1940s in small Swiss theaters before moving on to larger theaters in Germany and Italy. In 1952, he starred in his first film, "Il Tenente Giorgio," directed by Raffaello Matarazzo. Muller went on to appear in over 200 films, often playing supporting roles, with notable appearances in "The Big Gundown" (1966), "The Devil's Kiss" (1976), and the horror classic "Seven Blood-Stained Orchids" (1972). He was known for his versatile range, portraying both villainous and heroic characters throughout his career. Muller retired from acting in the early 1990s and passed away in 2008 at the age of 85.
During his long acting career, Paul Muller also appeared in several international co-productions such as the French film "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1956), the German drama "Katz und Maus" (1967), and the Italian-Spanish horror film "The Loreley's Grasp" (1974). He worked with many renowned filmmakers including Federico Fellini, in "La Dolce Vita" (1960) and Pier Paolo Pasolini, in "The Hawks and the Sparrows" (1966). Muller's talent as an actor earned him critical acclaim for his performances, and he won the Best Actor award at the Locarno Film Festival in 1963 for his role in "L'amore difficile". In addition to his film career, Muller also worked in television, appearing on the popular Italian series "L'ispettore Derrick" (1980) and the German series "Tatort" (1983).
Pinkas Braun
Pinkas Braun (January 7, 1923 Zürich-June 24, 2008 Munich) also known as Pinkas Braunn was a Swiss actor and screenwriter. He had one child, Judith Kernke.
Pinkas Braun was born in Zürich, Switzerland to Jewish parents. He started his acting career in 1943 in the city of Basel and went on to appear in numerous films and television shows throughout his career. He was well-known for his roles in German TV series such as "Tatort" and "Der Alte". Besides acting, he was also a prolific screenwriter and wrote several screenplays for films and TV shows. In 1973, he won the Adolf Grimme Award for his work on the TV series "Tatort".
Braun was also an advocate for Jewish culture and was involved in the creation of the Jewish Museum in Munich. He was a survivor of the Holocaust and his experiences during that time strongly influenced his work as an actor and writer. Pinkas Braun passed away at the age of 85 in Munich, Germany.
Pinkas Braun was a multilingual actor, who was fluent in German, French, Italian, English, and Hebrew. His linguistic abilities opened several doors for him in his acting career, and he appeared in numerous international productions. Some of his notable works included "The Odessa File," "The Tin Drum," and "Raid on Entebbe." Apart from acting and writing, he was also a theatre director and worked at the Munich Kammerspiele theatre in the 1960s. Pinkas Braun was married to Ruth Drexel, a fellow actress, until her death in 2009. He was known for being a kind and gentle person on and off the screen and was greatly respected in the entertainment industry.
Mirko Ellis
Mirko Ellis (September 4, 1923 Locarno-September 11, 2014 Alghero) also known as Mirko Korcinski, Mirko Korcinsky, Mirco Ellis or Mirko Loy Dona Alessandro Korcinsky was a Swiss actor.
Ellis began his acting career in the 1940s, performing in small stage productions in his hometown of Locarno. He later moved to Milan to pursue his career and eventually became a renowned figure in Italian cinema. In the 1960s, he appeared in several films directed by Federico Fellini, including "La Dolce Vita" and "8½". Ellis also starred in a number of popular Italian television series, such as "Il Commissario Montalbano" and "Don Matteo". Outside of his acting career, Ellis was a skilled painter and published several books on art and cinema. He was married three times and had four children.
Despite being born in Switzerland, Mirko Ellis grew up in Milan, Italy. He was fluent in Italian, German, and French. Apart from his acting career, Ellis was also a vocal supporter of left-wing political movements in Italy. He actively campaigned for peace and solidarity among different communities. Ellis received numerous awards and recognition for his contribution to Italian cinema, including the prestigious David di Donatello award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film "La Bohème" in 1987. In his later years, Ellis dedicated his time to teaching acting and supporting young actors in Italy. He passed away in 2014, at the age of 91 in Alghero, Italy. His legacy as an actor, painter, and social activist continues to inspire people across the world.
Frank Duncan
Frank Duncan (February 1, 1923 Lausanne-February 6, 1995 France) was a Swiss actor.
He grew up in Geneva and attended drama school in Paris, where he began his career in the theatre. He later worked in film and television, both in Europe and in Hollywood. Duncan appeared in a number of popular films, including the 1962 James Bond movie "Dr. No," in which he played an uncredited role. He also appeared in several episodes of the television series "The Twilight Zone." Despite his success as an actor, Duncan remained a relatively private individual, avoiding the spotlight and shunning interviews. He died in 1995 at the age of 72.
In addition to his work in film and television, Frank Duncan was also an accomplished stage actor. He appeared in numerous productions in Paris, London, and New York City, performing in both French and English. In the early 1950s, he was a member of the renowned Theatre National Populaire in Paris, where he worked with legendary directors such as Jean Vilar and Roger Blin.
Duncan was known for his versatility as an actor, and he played a wide range of characters throughout his career. He was equally comfortable in comedic and dramatic roles and was admired for his ability to convey emotion with subtlety and nuance. Some of his most memorable performances include his role as the father in the 1963 film "The Haunting" and his portrayal of King Lear in a 1966 production of the Shakespearean tragedy.
Despite his success as an actor, Duncan was said to be somewhat of a solitary figure, preferring to keep his personal life private. He was married twice and had two children. He spent his final years living in the French countryside, where he enjoyed painting and writing poetry in addition to his acting career.
Carlo Fedier
Carlo Fedier (August 15, 1923 Canton of Uri-) is a Swiss actor and screenwriter.
He is best known for his roles in Swiss films such as "Black Sheep" and "Die Wilden Fünfziger". Fedier studied acting in Zurich and began his career in the 1940s as a theatre actor before transitioning to film. In addition to acting, he has also written scripts for films such as "Nebel", which won the Swiss Film Prize for Best Screenplay in 1997. Fedier has been honored with multiple awards over the course of his career, including the Culture Prize of the Canton of Uri in 1996. Despite retiring from acting in the 1990s, he remains an influential figure in Swiss cinema.
Fedier started his career as a professional actor at the Stadttheater St. Gallen in 1949. He then worked in several Swiss theaters, including the Schauspielhaus Zürich and the Theater am Neumarkt. In the 1950s, he made his move to television and film, starring in productions such as "Tobelbader", "Kohlhiesels Töchter" and "Victoria and Her Hussar".
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Fedier was a well-known actor of Swiss cinema, with roles in popular films like "Der Fall" and "The End of the World". The 1980s saw him take on supporting roles in international productions, including "The Name of the Rose" and "The Holcroft Covenant".
In addition to his acting and screenwriting work, Fedier was a member of the Swiss Film Commission and the Swiss Federal Commission for Film in the 1970s and 1980s. He was also a co-founder of the Swiss Film Archive in 1948.
Today, Carlo Fedier is considered one of Switzerland's greatest actors and a pioneer of Swiss cinema. His contributions to Swiss film and theater have earned him numerous honors and accolades, including the Swiss Film Award for Best Actor in "Black Sheep" and a lifetime achievement award from the Zurich Film Festival in 2006.