Wolfgang Preiss(1910-2002)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Born in Nuremberg on February 27, 1910, the son of a school teacher,
well-known German actor Wolfgang Preiss started studying philosophy and
theatre sciences alternately (including dance training) and made his
stage debut in 1932 in Munich. He appeared in many theatres throughout
his country in the 30s including Heidelberg, Bonn, Bremen, Stuttgart,
Baden-Baden and Berlin.
Beginning in a couple of early 1940s German films, WWII interrupted Preiss' movie output for quite some time, but, in many ways, the war never left him, for he would continue playing war-time colonels, generals, and field marshals for the duration of his prolific career.
Following more theatre and radio work, Preiss returned to post-war German filming and was seldom seen out of uniform with a mass of pictures including Amiral Canaris (1954), Le 20 juillet (1955) (starring role), Der Cornet - Die Weise von Liebe und Tod (1955), Anastasia, la dernière fille du tsar (1956), Stresemann (1957), U·B-55, corsaire de l'océan (1957) and Ich war ihm hörig (1958). His diabolical tendencies also lent to his casting as the title criminal mastermind in a series of mystery films: Le diabolique docteur Mabuse (1960), Le Retour du Dr. Mabuse (1961), L'invisible docteur Mabuse (1962), Échec à la brigade criminelle (1962) and Mabuse attaque Scotland Yard (1963).
Preiss continued to keep his Nazi uniform starched and pressed as he branched out internationally for such 1960's war films as Trahison sur commande (1962), Le Jour le plus long (1962), Le Cardinal (1963), Le train (1964), L'express du colonel von Ryan (1965), Paris brûle-t-il ? (1966), La bataille pour Anzio (1968) and La légion des damnés (1969). As the nemesis of such American heroes as William Holden, Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, Robert Mitchum and Peter Falk, he moved into the next decade with portrayals of Rommel in Le 5ème commando (1971) starring Richard Burton and Field Marshal Von Rundstedt in Richard Attenborough's Un pont trop loin (1977) which featured an international star cast.
Preiss would appear in over 100 German and continental productions in his lifetime. Other popular filming would include featured roles in Notre agent à Salzbourg (1972), Ces garçons qui venaient du Brésil (1978), Liés par le sang (1979) and La formule (1980). In his twilight years, Preiss turned more and more to TV as part of the ensemble casts of the quality miniseries Wallenstein (1978), Le souffle de la guerre (1983) and Les orages de la guerre (1988). He ended his career with a role in the French adventure movie drama Aire libre (1996).
Preiss died on November 27, 2002, at the age of 92, as the result of a fall. Married three times, he was survived by his third wife, Ruth, whom he married in 1955.
Beginning in a couple of early 1940s German films, WWII interrupted Preiss' movie output for quite some time, but, in many ways, the war never left him, for he would continue playing war-time colonels, generals, and field marshals for the duration of his prolific career.
Following more theatre and radio work, Preiss returned to post-war German filming and was seldom seen out of uniform with a mass of pictures including Amiral Canaris (1954), Le 20 juillet (1955) (starring role), Der Cornet - Die Weise von Liebe und Tod (1955), Anastasia, la dernière fille du tsar (1956), Stresemann (1957), U·B-55, corsaire de l'océan (1957) and Ich war ihm hörig (1958). His diabolical tendencies also lent to his casting as the title criminal mastermind in a series of mystery films: Le diabolique docteur Mabuse (1960), Le Retour du Dr. Mabuse (1961), L'invisible docteur Mabuse (1962), Échec à la brigade criminelle (1962) and Mabuse attaque Scotland Yard (1963).
Preiss continued to keep his Nazi uniform starched and pressed as he branched out internationally for such 1960's war films as Trahison sur commande (1962), Le Jour le plus long (1962), Le Cardinal (1963), Le train (1964), L'express du colonel von Ryan (1965), Paris brûle-t-il ? (1966), La bataille pour Anzio (1968) and La légion des damnés (1969). As the nemesis of such American heroes as William Holden, Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, Robert Mitchum and Peter Falk, he moved into the next decade with portrayals of Rommel in Le 5ème commando (1971) starring Richard Burton and Field Marshal Von Rundstedt in Richard Attenborough's Un pont trop loin (1977) which featured an international star cast.
Preiss would appear in over 100 German and continental productions in his lifetime. Other popular filming would include featured roles in Notre agent à Salzbourg (1972), Ces garçons qui venaient du Brésil (1978), Liés par le sang (1979) and La formule (1980). In his twilight years, Preiss turned more and more to TV as part of the ensemble casts of the quality miniseries Wallenstein (1978), Le souffle de la guerre (1983) and Les orages de la guerre (1988). He ended his career with a role in the French adventure movie drama Aire libre (1996).
Preiss died on November 27, 2002, at the age of 92, as the result of a fall. Married three times, he was survived by his third wife, Ruth, whom he married in 1955.
