Erwin Geschonneck

Infobox actor
name = Erwin Geschonneck
birthdate = birth date|1906|12|27
deathdate = death date and age|2008|3|12|1906|12|27
birthname = Erwin Geschonneck
birthplace = Bartenstein, Germany
spouse = Heike Geschonneck
children = Matti Geschonneck, Alexander Geschonneck

Erwin Geschonneck (December 27 1906 – March 12 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.

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 March 31st, 1939 [ [http://www.tagesspiegel.de/zeitung/Die-Dritte-Seite-Erwin-Geschonneck;art705,2493506 Der Tagesspiegel, March 13th 2008: Der Urkräftige (orbituary, in German)] ] . During the war, he was imprisoned in several concentration camps. In 1945, Geschonneck was one of the few prisoners who survived the RAF sinking of the Cap Arcona. [ [http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/print/seite_3/732576.html Berliner Zeitung, March 13th 2008: Der Querkopf (orbituary, in German)] ]

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 Bertholt Brecht, and became a successful actor. The German movie "Jacob the Liar" by Frank Beyer was nominated for Best foreign language film at the Academy Awards in 1975 - the only one nomination for G.D.R. In December of 2006, he turned 100. His last movie, 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 March 12, 2008, aged 101.

Filmography

* Matulla und Busch (1995) (TV)
* Mensch, mein Papa...! (1988)
* Wie die Alten sungen... (1986)
* Das Graupenschloß (1982) (TV)
* Der Mann von der Cap Arcona (1982)
* Benno macht Geschichten (1982) (TV)
* Looping - Der lange Traum vom kurzen Glück (1981)
* Meschkas Enkel (1981) (TV)
* Levins Mühle (1980)
* Circus maximus (1980)
* Asta, mein Engelchen (1980)
* Verlobung in Hullerbusch (1979) (TV)
* Ding im Schloß, Das (1979)
* Plantagenstraße 19 (1979) (TV)
* Herbstzeit (1979) (TV)
* Des Kleinen Lokführers große Fahrt (1978) (TV)
* Anton, der Zauberer (1978)
* Tambari (1977)
* Das Licht auf dem Galgen (1976)
* Ein Altes Modell (1976) (TV)
* Die Insel der Silberreiher (1976) (TV)
* Ein Wigwam für die Störche (1976) (TV)
* Bankett für Achilles (1975)
* Im Schlaraffenland (1975) (TV)
* Jakob, der Lügner (1975)
* Looping (1975)
* Der Untergang der Emma (1974)
* "Das Geheimnis der Anden" (1972) (mini) TV Series
* Sonnensucher (1972)
* "Jeder stirbt für sich allein" (1970) (mini) TV Series
* Wir kaufen eine Feuerwehr (1970)
* "Rendezvous mit Unbekannt" (1969) (mini) TV Series
* Die Fahne von Kriwoj Rog (1967)
* Geschichten jener Nacht (1967)
* Ein Lord am Alexanderplatz (1967)
* Die Ermittlung - Oratorium in 11 Gesängen (1966) (TV)
* Tiefe Furchen (1965)
* Berlin um die Ecke (1965)
* Asphalt-Story (1964) (TV)
* Karbid und Sauerampfer (1963)
* Der Andere neben dir (1963) (TV)
* Nackt unter Wölfen (1963)
* Ach, du fröhliche (1962)
* "Gewissen in Aufruhr" (1961) (mini) TV Series
* Fünf Patronenhülsen (1960)
* Leute mit Flügeln (1960)
* SAS 181 antwortet nicht (1959)
* Musterknaben (1959)
* Der Lotterieschwede (1958)
* Schlösser und Katen (1957)
* Katzgraben (1957)
* Der Hauptmann von Köln (1956)
* Die Abenteuer des Till Eulenspiegel (1956)
* Das Stacheltier: Es geht um die Wurst (1955)
* Das Stacheltier: Das Haushaltswunder (1955)
* Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder (1955)
* Alarm im Zirkus (1954)
* Die Gewehre der Frau Carrar (1953) (TV)
* Die Unbesiegbaren (1953)
* Schatten über den Inseln (1952)
* Das Beil von Wandsbek (1951)
* Das Kalte Herz (1950)
* Der Biberpelz (1949)
* Liebe '47 (1949)
* Die Letzte Nacht (1949)
* Hafenmelodie (1949)
* Finale (1948)
* In jenen Tagen (1947)

References

External links

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* [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/international/news/e3ida1d365b6d3f5717f79d33a34b8061b5 Hollywood Reporter: German film star Erwin Geschonneck dies]
* [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/12/arts/EU-A-E-MOV-Germany-Obit-Geschonneck.php International Herald Tribune: Famed East German actor, jailed by Nazis for communist sympathies, dies at 101]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/15/arts/15geschonneck.html?_r=1&ex=1363320000&en=04bb1177f40ae400&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin New York Times: Erwin Geschonneck, Star of Many East German Films, Dies at 101 ]
* [http://film.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/0,,2265282,00.html The Guardian: Erwin Geschonneck, A respected actor, he survived Hitler's camps to become a star in East Germany ]
* [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117983132.html?categoryId=25&cs=1 Variety Magazine: Actor Erwin Geschonnek dies at 101]
* [http://geschonneck.com/erwin/ Erwin Geschonneck]
* [http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/archiv/.bin/dump.fcgi/2006/1215/feuilleton/0033/ "Geschonneck in Bildern"] article in Berliner Zeitung

Persondata
NAME= Geschonneck, Erwin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Geschonneck, Erwin
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Actor
DATE OF BIRTH= 1906-12-27
PLACE OF BIRTH= Bartenstein, Germany
DATE OF DEATH= 2008-3-12
PLACE OF DEATH=