Swiss movie stars died at 79
Here are 4 famous actors from Switzerland died at 79:
Heinrich Gretler
Heinrich Gretler (October 1, 1897 Zürich-September 30, 1977 District 7) was a Swiss actor.
Gretler began his acting career in the early 1920s, primarily in Swiss German language stage productions. He made his film debut in 1939 with a supporting role in the drama film "Landammann Stauffacher" and went on to appear in over 100 films throughout his career. Gretler was known for his versatility and appeared in a range of genres including comedies, dramas, and thrillers.
One of Gretler's most memorable roles was that of the innkeeper in the 1940 film "Gilberte de Courgenay," which became a beloved Swiss classic. He also had notable roles in the films "The Gilbert Case" (1952) and "Marie-Louise" (1944). In addition to his film work, Gretler continued to act on stage throughout his career, including at the prestigious Schauspielhaus Zürich.
Gretler was widely regarded as one of Switzerland's most accomplished actors and was honored with numerous awards throughout his career, including the Prix Walo in 1971. He passed away in 1977, just one day before his 80th birthday.
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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 Swiss actor.
He died in pneumonia.
Desny was best known for his work in French cinema. He acted in over 180 films and television shows throughout his career, spanning more than four decades. Desny began his acting career in Berlin during the 1940s and later moved to Paris where he established himself as a popular leading man. He worked with some of France's most notable directors, including Jean-Luc Godard and Claude Chabrol. In addition to his film work, Desny was also a talented stage actor and performed in theater productions throughout Europe. Desny was fluent in several languages, including French, German, English and Russian. He was married to actress Simone Valère for over 30 years until her death in 2004.
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William Wyler
William Wyler (July 1, 1902 Mulhouse-July 27, 1981 Los Angeles) a.k.a. Wilhelm Weiller, Willy, 90-Take Willie, Willi Wyler, Lt Col William Wyler, Bill Wyler or 99-Take Willie was a Swiss film director, film producer, screenwriter and actor. He had five children, Judy Wyler, Melanie Ann Wyler, David Wyler, Catherine Wyler and William Wyler Jr..
He died as a result of myocardial infarction.
William Wyler was one of the most respected and renowned directors in the history of Hollywood. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director 12 times and won the award three times for his films "Mrs. Miniver", "The Best Years of Our Lives" and "Ben-Hur". Wyler directed over 70 films during his career, including many classic films such as "Jezebel", "The Letter", "Wuthering Heights", "Roman Holiday" and "Funny Girl".
In addition to his directing career, Wyler was also a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and filmed several documentaries for the military. He was known for his impeccable attention to detail and his ability to draw out powerful performances from his actors. Wyler's influence on the film industry continues to this day and he is remembered as one of the greatest directors of all time.
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Grock
Grock (January 10, 1880 Loveresse-July 14, 1959 Imperia) also known as Adrian Wettach or Charles Adrien Wettach was a Swiss clown, composer, musician, writer and actor.
Grock was one of the most famous and highly paid clowns of the 20th century. He began his career as a young boy in circuses throughout Europe, and by the 1920s had become a household name. In addition to his highly physical and acrobatic style of clowning, Grock was also a talented musician and composer, and would often incorporate music into his performances. He composed over 50 pieces of music, many of which were popular hits in Europe during the 1920s and 1930s. Grock was also a published author, and wrote several books about his life and experiences as a clown. Despite his success, he remained humble and always considered himself a clown first and foremost. He retired in the 1950s, and spent the remainder of his life in a villa in Imperia, Italy, where he passed away in 1959 at the age of 79.
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