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1-50 of 91
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Anton Diffring was a character actor who worked continuously in motion pictures due to his aristocratic face and cool, clipped diction, making him ideal for typecasting in British and later American motion pictures as Nazis and other vile, despicable characters. What was ironic about his typecasting as a Nazi is that Diffring, born in Koblenz, Germany, on October 20, 1916, fled Nazi Germany in 1939.
He was the son of Bertha (Diffring) and Solomon/Samuel Pollack, a Jewish shop owner. He was born into a family that boasted generations of actors, and studied drama in Berlin and Vienna. At the outbreak of World War II, he fled Germany and wound up in Canada, where he was interned as an enemy alien for the duration of the war. It was in Canada where he began his acting career after World War II, working primarily there and in the US before moving to Britain in 1950.
He became popular playing Nazis in the postwar period, as the British film industry turned out film after film about the war, which created a great demand for actors who could convincingly play Nazis, the nastier the better. Diffring could play nasty, and his career as a character actor soared. He was still going at it in the 1960s, when he began appearing in American and international co-productions as German soldiers from both WW I and WW II, including The Blue Max (1966), Counterpoint (1967) and that Turner Network Television staple, Where Eagles Dare (1968). He was still going at it in the 1970s and 1980s, as he continued a nearly 40-year-long acting career that was terminated only by his death.
He was a much better actor than most of his roles required. Diffring broadened his range as an actor with stage and television work, but the movies continually beckoned, as casting agents were hooked on him when it came to Nazi roles. It was that face that did it; it was both his blessing and his curse. He had the light hair, the piercing blue eyes and the chiseled face of the haughty aristocrat, the German Junker, but it was a face that could telegraph much in the few seconds that was the average shot of a motion picture. As a character actor, he got much done with less (time).
In François Truffaut's Fahrenheit 451 (1966) he was cast in all likelihood as a counterpart to the Austrian actor Oskar Werner, so that Werner's own Teutonicness in the English setting wouldn't be as arch. He excelled as Werner's nemesis, as he could create a mood or signal an entire story line with just a look; dialog didn't matter (he likely would have been a superstar in silent films, when it was "the faces" that mattered).
Diffring tried to break out of those silken villain roles, moving to Rome in 1968, but producers turned to him again and again to fill their needs for a foreign heavy. He appeared as one of the most infamous Nazis of all, Adolf Hitler's hangman Reinhard Heydrich, in Operation Daybreak (1975), and as Hitler's foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop in the American mini-series The Winds of War (1983). It made him a good living and it made him known, even if it did not fulfill his artistic ambitions.
What made his career such a success in terms of its longevity and fecundity was that Diffring was an actor who was enjoyable to watch. From Jack Clayton's I Am a Camera (1955) to Terence Fisher's The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959), from Samuel Fuller's Tote Taube in der Beethovenstraße (1972) to Ken Russell's Valentino (1977), Diffring gave memorable performances, sandwiched in with all the Nazi heavies one career could possibly bear.
Anton Diffring died at his home in Chateauneuf-de-Grasse, France, on May 20, 1989. He was 72 years old.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Michel Auclair was born on 14 September 1922 in Koblenz, Germany. He was an actor, known for Beauty and the Beast (1946), The Day of the Jackal (1973) and Funny Face (1957). He was married to Frédérique Homo. He died on 7 January 1988 in Saint-Paul-en-Forêt, Var, France.- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Rosemarie Fendel was born on 25 April 1927 in Koblenz-Metternich, Germany. She was an actress and writer, known for Trotta (1971), Im Reservat (1973) and Tätowierung (1967). She was married to Hans von Borsody and Johannes Schaaf. She died on 13 March 2013 in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany.- Music Department
- Composer
- Writer
Gus Kahn was born on 6 November 1886 in Koblenz, Germany. He was a composer and writer, known for Paycheck (2003), Repo Men (2010) and Con Air (1997). He was married to Grace Kahn. He died on 8 October 1941 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Fabian Stumm was born in 1981 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He is an actor and writer, known for Bones and Names (2023), Daniel (2022) and Lore (2012).- Tristan Seith was born on 3 December 1979 in Koblenz, Germany. He is an actor, known for Im Knast (2015), Crooks Ltd. (2015) and Helen Dorn (2014). He is married to Nesrin Samdereli.
- Mark Bellinghaus was born on 20 July 1963 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He is an actor, known for The Name of the Rose (1986), Forsthaus Falkenau (1989) and A Case for Two (1981).
- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Tobi Baumann was born on 22 May 1974 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He is a director and producer, known for Der Wixxer (2004), Ghosthunters: On Icy Trails (2015) and Faking Hitler (2021).- Actor
- Composer
- Writer
André Dietz was born on 6 July 1975 in Koblenz, Germany. He is an actor and composer, known for Zum Schwarzwälder Hirsch (2022), Alles was zählt (2006) and A Dangerous Method (2011). He has been married to Shari Dietz since 2 July 2011. They have four children.- Composer
- Music Department
- Editor
Andreas Grimm was born in 1962 in Koblenz, Germany. He is a composer and editor, known for Der Wixxer (2004), Ladykracher (2002) and Axel! (2002).- Valéry Giscard d'Estaing was born on 2 February 1926 in Koblenz, Germany. He was married to Anne-Aymone Giscard d'Estaing. He died on 2 December 2020 in Authon, Loir-et-Cher, France.
- Karl-Heinz Gerdesmann was born on 3 July 1921 in Koblenz, Germany. He was an actor, known for Leben des Galilei (1962), Intercontinental Express (1964) and Durchbruch Lok 234 (1963). He died on 17 November 1991 in Hamburg, Germany.
- Rolf Stiefel was born on 1 May 1920 in Koblenz, Germany. He is an actor, known for Battle of Britain (1969), Das Leben ist die größte Schau - Seltsame Geschichten und komische Begebenheiten (1964) and Hamburger Extrablätter (1961).
- Hans-Joachim Hanisch was born on 12 August 1928 in Koblenz, Germany. He was an actor, known for Der Floh im Ohr (1973), The Divided Heaven (1964) and Die Maskierten (1964). He died on 14 June 2023.
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Johannes Huth was born on 8 February 1989 in Koblenz, Germany. He is an actor and director, known for CSI:Kowelenz - Zwei Leichen ist eine zu viel (2011), Der Bengel (2017) and Violine (2012).- Claudia Kleinert was born on 31 December 1969 in Koblenz, Germany. She is an actress, known for Sophie (2015), Landesschau (1957) and Hallo Niedersachsen (1985).
- Actor
- Composer
- Music Department
Jürgen Rißmann was born on 14 October 1963 in Koblenz, Germany. He is an actor and composer, known for Der Knastarzt (2014), Buddenbrooks (2008) and Stromberg (2004).- Producer
- Director
- Editor
Thorsten Fleisch was born in 1972 in Koblenz, Germany. He is a producer and director, known for Flesh City (2019), Deep Learning Death (2021) and Hautnah (2002).- Andrea Quirbach was born in 1960 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. She is an actress, known for Tatort (1970), Anna Maria - Eine Frau geht ihren Weg (1994) and Der Staatsanwalt (2005).
- Elisabeth Lennartz was born on 13 November 1902 in Koblenz, Germany. She was an actress, known for Ich bei Tag und du bei Nacht (1932), Ihr erstes Erlebnis (1939) and Hell on Earth (1931). She was married to Gustav Knuth and Gustav Hartung. She died on 14 May 2001 in Küsnacht, Germany.
- Nora Balling was born on 31 July 1964 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Fabian Siegismund was born on 14 October 1975 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He is an actor and writer, known for GameStar: Die Redaktion (2004), In bester Verfassung (2019) and Deborah (2018).- Actor
- Editor
- Production Manager
Rainer Schmitt was born in 1948 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He is an actor and editor, known for Der blinde Richter (1984), Ein Tag mit dem Wind (1979) and Pogo 1104 (1984).- Actress
- Producer
Alice Hoffmann was born on 16 September 1951 in Koblenz, Germany. She is an actress and producer, known for Familie Heinz Becker (1992), Unter Tannen (2016) and Tatort (1970).- Director
- Writer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Dietmar Klein was born on 11 July 1956 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He is a director and writer, known for Der Erdnußmann (1992), Solinger Rudi (1991) and Teotihuacan (1996).- Céline Bethmann was born on 4 July 1998 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Beate Klöckner was born in 1950 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. She is a director and writer, known for Kopfschuß (1981), Mein lieber Schatz (1985) and Rudolfo (1990).- Alexa is a German-born American actress and resides in Brooklyn, NY. She holds an Associate Diploma in Ballet Padagogy from London,UK. After touring Europe with a British Dance Company, Alexa studied the Performing Arts in NYC where most of her work is these days. Occasionally her work still takes her back to Europe.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Raymond Alessandrini was born in 1948 in Koblenz, Germany. He is a composer and actor, known for 36th Precinct (2004), The Innocents (2016) and Mille milliards de dollars (1982).- Markus Kirschbaum was born in 1969 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He is an actor, known for The Final Sacrifice: Directors Cut (2022), Last Letters from Monte Rosa (2010) and Pola X (1999).
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Florian Schwarz was born on 28 February 1974 in Koblenz, Germany. He is a director and writer, known for Tatort (1970), Let the Cat Out of the Bag (2005) and The White Rabbit (2016).- Milos Vukovic was born on 20 July 1981 in Koblenz, Germany. He is an actor, known for Unter uns (1994), Trauma (2006) and MEK 8 (2011).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Hermann Giefer was born on 1 March 1947 in Koblenz, Germany. He is an actor, known for Forsthaus Falkenau (1989), Zum Stanglwirt (1993) and Der Bergdoktor (1992).- Johnny Müller was born on 27 October 1965 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He is an actor, known for Unter uns (1994), 666 - Traue keinem, mit dem Du schläfst! (2002) and Verbotene Liebe (1995).
- Producer
- Actor
- Writer
Ralf Günther was born on 23 June 1962 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany. He is a producer and actor, known for Ladykracher (2002), Pastewka (2005) and Die Wochenshow (1996).- Joseph Breitbach was born on 20 September 1903 in Ehrenbreitstein, Koblenz, Germany. He was a writer, known for Hinter dem Vorhang (1978), Die Jubilarin (1968) and Die Jubilarin (1969). He died on 9 May 1980 in Munich, Germany.
- Ingeborg Thomé was born on 7 February 1925 in Koblenz, Germany. She died on 8 January 2017 in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
- Martin Stadtfeld was born on 19 October 1980 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
- Toni van Eyck was born on 23 October 1910 in Koblenz, Germany. She was an actress, known for Frühlingserwachen (1929), A Woman Branded (1931) and Geschminkte Jugend (1929). She died on 16 April 1988 in Feldkirch, Austria.
- Micheal Reufsteck was born and raised as an only child in Koblenz, Germany. He had his first stage appearances with his school's theater group and made his first attempts as a radio show host at the young age of 16. Since 1996 he has been a radio show host at the public radio station SWF3 broadcasting for Germany's southwest (this station was renamed and relaunched as SWR3 after a fusion with SDR3 in 1998). In the years 1998 - 2004 he has hosted SWR3's morning show with Jochen Stoeckle. He had his first appearance on TV in 2004 in the mini documentary series _Von Null auf 42 (2004)_ (3 episodes) about 7 non-athletes becoming marathon runners and trying to finish the New York Marathon after 1 year of training. Michael was one of these glorious 7 and is still an active runner. Togehter with Stefan Niggemeier he wrote the work of reference to television series on German TV: "Das Fernsehlexikon. Alles ueber 7000 Sendungen von Ally McBeal bis zur ZDF Hitparade" (Muenchen 2005). Other appearances on TV as himself: _Leute heute (1998)_, _Tagesschau (2003)_, _Beckmann (2004)_, _ARD Buffet (2005)_. Michael is not married and does not have any children.
- Tom Viehöfer was born on 28 February 1974 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He is an actor, known for Verbotene Liebe (1995), Tatort (1970) and Vollidiot (2007).
- Katja Gloger was born in 1960 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
- Fred Metzler was born on 21 September 1929 in Koblenz, Germany. He was an actor, known for Autos (1972), Flick-Flack (1971) and Das Jazz-Studio (1965). He died on 23 January 2010.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Karin von Dassel was born on 30 January 1928 in Koblenz, Germany. She was an actress, known for Das Land des Lächelns (1952), The Girl from Flanders (1956) and Der falsche Adam (1955). She died on 14 October 2013 in Berlin, Germany.- Lucas Luhr was born on 22 July 1979 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
- Alexander Wilbert was born in 1994 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He is an actor, known for Ku'damm 56 - Das Musical (2022), Die Chaosschwestern und Pinguin Paul (2024) and Alte Freunde (2021).
- Rüdiger Hempell was born on 4 May 1940 in Koblenz, Germany. He died on 22 November 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
- Dennis Laubenthal was born on 6 April 1981 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He is an actor, known for Unter uns (1994), Alarm für Cobra 11 - Die Autobahnpolizei (1996) and Beweisführung (2011).
- Casimir Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn was born on 4 May 1976 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany.
- Femme Schmidt was born on 14 February 1990 in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.