Erwin Geschonneck

Erwin Geschonneck (27 December 1906 – 12 March 2008) was a German actor. His biggest success occurred in the German Democratic Republic, where he was considered one of the most famous actors of the time.

Erwin Geschonneck
Erwin Geschonneck, 1968
Born
Erwin Geschonneck

(1906-12-27)27 December 1906
Bartenstein, German Empire
Died12 March 2008(2008-03-12) (aged 101)
Berlin, Germany
Spouse(s)Heike Geschonneck
ChildrenMatti Geschonneck, Alexander Geschonneck

Early life

Geschonneck was born in Bartenstein, East Prussia (now Bartoszyce, Poland), the son of a poor shoemaker. The family moved to Berlin in 1909 so his father could work as a nightwatchman. In 1919, the younger Geschonneck joined the Communist Party of Germany. After the Nazi takeover in 1933, he emigrated to the Soviet Union via Poland, but was expelled in 1938 and moved to Prague. After the German occupation of Bohemia and Moravia, he was arrested on 31 March 1939.[1] During World War II, he was imprisoned in several Nazi concentration camps. In 1945, Geschonneck was one of the few prisoners who survived the RAF sinking of the Cap Arcona.[2]

Career

Immediately following the war, Geschonneck acted in theaters in Hamburg, Germany, and made his film debut in 1947 in In jenen Tagen. He subsequently moved to East Germany, worked with Bertolt Brecht, and became a successful actor. He was a member of the jury at the 6th[3] and 7th Moscow International Film Festivals.[4]

The German film Jacob the Liar by Frank Beyer was nominated for Best foreign language film at the Academy Awards in 1977 – the only nomination for the GDR. In December 2006, he turned 100.

His last film, made in 1995 for the German television network ARD, was Matulla und Busch, where he played alongside veteran actor Fred Delmare. Geschonneck's son Matti Geschonneck directed.

Death

Geschonneck died in Berlin on 12 March 2008, aged 101.[5]

Filmography

Television
  • Die Gewehre der Frau Carrar (1953) – Pedro
  • Gewissen in Aufruhr (TV miniseries, 1961) – Oberst Joachim Ebershagen
  • Der Andere neben dir (1963) – Prof. Marschner
  • Asphalt-Story (1964) – Robby Assmann
  • Die Ermittlung – Oratorium in 11 Gesängen (1966) – Zeuge 9
  • Rendezvous mit Unbekannt (TV miniseries, 1969)
  • Jeder stirbt für sich allein (TV miniseries, 1970) – Otto Quangel
  • Das Geheimnis der Anden (TV miniseries, 1972) – Don Pineto / Prof. Binder
  • Im Schlaraffenland (1975) – James Luis Türkheimer
  • Ein altes Modell (1976) – Bruno Nakonz
  • Ein Wigwam für die Störche (1976) – Opa Fritz
  • Die Insel der Silberreiher (1976) – Oberst von Bülow
  • Des kleinen Lokführers große Fahrt (1978) – Großvater
  • Plantagenstraße 19 (1979) – Richard Matuschke
  • Verlobung in Hullerbusch (1979) – Ernst / Walter Wagemühl
  • Herbstzeit (1979) – Paul Wositschka
  • Meschkas Enkel (1981) – Meschka
  • Benno macht Geschichten (1982) – Oskar Schrader
  • Das Graupenschloß (1982) – Waldemar
  • Matulla und Busch (1995) – Matulla (final film role)

References
  1. Der Tagesspiegel, 13 March 2008: Der Urkräftige (obituary, in German)
  2. Berliner Zeitung, 13 March 2008: Der Querkopf (obituary, in German)
  3. "6th Moscow International Film Festival (1969)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  4. "7th Moscow International Film Festival (1971)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 2014-04-03. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  5. Associated Press (March 13, 2008). "Erwin Geschonneck". The Orlando Sentinel. Newsbank. pp. C4. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
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