Here are 5 famous musicians from West Germany died at 73:
Kurt Schröder (September 6, 1888 Hagenow-January 5, 1962 Frankfurt) also known as K. Schroeder or Kurt Schroeder was a West German film score composer and conductor.
He studied music in Berlin and worked as a conductor in various theaters before joining the German film industry in the early 1920s. He composed music for more than 200 films, including the silent film classic "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang. Schröder's style of film composition was often characterized by his use of leitmotifs, or recurring musical themes, to represent specific characters, emotions, or events within the film's narrative. He continued to compose music for films throughout his career, receiving accolades for his work such as the Filmband in Gold Lifetime Achievement award in 1960. Schröder passed away in Frankfurt in 1962 at the age of 73.
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Wolfgang Zeller (September 12, 1893 Mansfeld-January 11, 1967 Berlin) was a West German film score composer and composer.
Zeller was a prominent figure in German music in the first half of the 20th century. He is known for his contributions to over 200 films, both during and after the Nazi rule. He composed music for some of the most renowned German productions of his time, such as "Die Feuerzangenbowle", "Die Frau meiner Träume" and "Das Mädchen Rosemarie".
In addition to his work in film, Zeller was also a prolific composer of operettas, orchestral music, and choral works. Some of his most famous pieces include the operetta "Wien lacht wieder" and the comic opera "Schatzmeister" which both premiered in Berlin in the late 1920s.
Despite his successful and prolific career, Zeller faced difficulties during the Nazi period due to his Jewish heritage. He was eventually able to flee the country and sought refuge in Switzerland before returning to Germany after the war. His legacy lives on through his contributions to German music and film.
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Lucie Höflich (February 20, 1883 Hanover-October 9, 1956 Berlin) a.k.a. Helene Lucie von Holwede was a West German teacher and actor. She had one child, Ursula Höflich Mayer.
Lucie Höflich began her acting career in 1901 with the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. Over the course of her career, she appeared in more than 120 films, including silent movies like Paul Leni's "The Cat and the Canary" (1927) and later talkies like "The Woman in the Window" (1944). She was considered a leading lady of German cinema in the 1920s and 1930s. In addition to her work in film, Höflich also appeared in numerous stage productions and radio dramas. She was known for her versatility as an actor, playing both comedic and dramatic roles. Later in her career, she also worked as a voice actor for German-language dubs of foreign films. She continued acting until her death in 1956.
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Werner Abrolat (August 15, 1924 Sovetsk-August 24, 1997 Munich) also known as Werner Aprelat was a West German actor and voice actor.
Abrolat began his acting career in theatre in the 1940s and later transitioned to film in the 1950s. He appeared in more than 80 films throughout his career and became well known for his work in the crime genre. Some of his most notable roles were in the films "The Return of Dr. Mabuse" (1961) and "Scotland Yard vs. Dr. Mabuse" (1963).
Additionally, Abrolat was a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to German dubs of popular American films and TV shows. He provided the German voice for actors such as Sidney Poitier, James Stewart, and Yul Brynner.
In 1965, Abrolat was awarded the Golden Camera award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film "Der unheimliche Mönch" (The Sinister Monk). He continued to act in films and television throughout the 1980s, with his last credited role being in the TV series "Forsthaus Falkenau" in 1997.
Abrolat passed away later that year at the age of 73 in Munich.
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Sepp Allgeier (February 6, 1895 Freiburg im Breisgau-March 11, 1968 Freiburg im Breisgau) a.k.a. Allgeier or Sepp (Josef) Allgeier was a West German cinematographer, photographer and film director. He had one child, Hans-Jörg Allgeier.
Allgeier is best known for his collaborations with director Leni Riefenstahl on the films "The Blue Light" and "Triumph of the Will". He was also a pioneer in the use of hand-held cameras, a technique that revolutionized cinema and is still used today. In addition to working in film, Allgeier was a noted photographer, capturing a wide range of subjects including landscapes, portraiture and architecture. He also directed several films in his own right, including the documentary "The Bathtub of the Archduke" and the drama "Street Musician". Allgeier's contributions to the world of cinema continue to be celebrated, and he is remembered as one of the most influential cinematographers of the 20th century.
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