Wissenswertes

Debonair German leading actor and singer who started as an apprentice in a furniture warehouse. On screen, he was initially popular playing urbane bon vivants and heartthrobs in 1930's musical comedies and operettas. He re-emerged as a noted character star in post-war dramas like Film ohne Titel (1948) and latterly made a name for himself in family-oriented television series. In 1977, he was awarded the Filmband in Gold for lifetime achievement.

Was on the Gestapo's black list in Nazi Germany because he often helped and hid Jews.

In the years of World War II Hans Söhnker often put his life on the line by helping people in trouble - often of Jewish ancestry - to smuggle over the Swiss border. To his allies often belonged other actors and actresses, among them the young Hardy Krüger who made some courier services for him.

At about the end of the 30's he achieved the height of his career.

Was awarded Germany's Cross of Merit in 1973.

Son of a bookseller.

Made his stage debut at the Kieler Schauspielhaus in 1922.

The actor Hans Söhnker learnt his acting trade among others by Gustaf Gründgens.

In the 60's and 70's he nearly worked exclusively for television. He became very popular with his roles in the serials "Der Forellenhof" (1965), "Salto Mortale" 19(68) and "Meine Schwiegersöhne und ich" (1969).

Granduncle of Anneke Kim Sarnau.

Hans Söhnker's role repertoire changed after the war. He now impersonated characters whose experiences could be read in their faces.

Movies like "Der Strom" (1941) and "Grosse Freiheit Nr. 7" (1944) widened his popularity enormous and he became a star.

He made his theater debut in 1922, it followed engagements in Frankfurt, Chemnitz and Bremen.

To his well-known movies of that time belong "Film ohne Titel" (1947), "Der Fall Rabanser" (1950), "Studentin Helene Willfüer" (1955) and "Worüber man spricht" (19). Beside it he dedicated to the theater more again.