Bruno Schleinstein

Infobox actor


imagesize = 150px
name = Bruno Schleinstein
birthname = Bruno Schleinstein
birthdate = Birth date and age|1932|6|2
location = Berlin, Germany
othername = Bruno S.
years active = 1974 - 1977

Bruno Schleinstein (born 2nd June 1932) is a German film actor, artist, and musician.

The illegitimate son of a prostitute, he was often beaten as a child, and spent much of his life in mental institutions. He is a largely self-taught musician, who, over the years developed considerable skill on the piano, accordion and glockenspiel. He would play in back gardens performing 18th and 19th century style ballads at the weekends, while sustaining himself financially working as a forklift driver at a car plant.

Schleinstein was spotted by director Werner Herzog in the documentary "Bruno der Schwarze - Es blies ein Jäger wohl in sein Horn" (1970). Herzog promptly cast Schleinstein (under the name Bruno S.) as his lead actor in "The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser" (1974), even though he had no acting experience.

Schleinstein also starred in "Stroszek" (1977), which Herzog wrote especially for him in four days. "Stroszek" has a number of biographical details from Schleinstein's life, including the use of his own flat as the home of "Bruno Stroszek". He also plays his own instruments.

Herzog has claimed that Schleinstein was deeply suspicious of the director, and nervous of performing in front of the cameras — so had to be "listened to" for several hours on set in order to build his self-esteem.

Schleinstein remains somewhat enigmatic and has not acted since. Instead, he took up painting and music. Some of his artwork was shown at the 2004 Outsider Art Fair in New York City. He has now stopped smoking and drinking, and performs nightly. Recently, he released a CD of his music and songs.

External links

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* [http://www.no-art.info/bruno_s/drawings.html Gallery of paintings of Bruno Schleinstein]