Benno Sterzenbach
Encyclopedia
Benno Sterzenbach was a German
cinema and theatre actor
and director.
with Ellen Schwiers at Jagsthausen festival. On television, he is mostly known for his roles in filmed theatrical adaptations: Der Richter und sein Henker (1957) by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
, Der Schlaf der Gerechten (1962) by Albrecht Goes and Mirandolina (1963) by Carlo Goldoni
.
Suspected of espionage
due to his editorial relations, he was arrested by the Gestapo
in 1941, and imprisoned for a month, during which time he protested his innocence. He was eventually freed after his case was expedited. This episode was repeated in a number of his play
s.
With Wege im Zwielicht in 1948, he made his cinematic debut under the direction of Gustav Fröhlich. In 1960, he was in one of the first films by Edgar Wallace
after the war: Der Rächer. In the same year, he was in Es ist soweit. In 1966, he acted alongside Heinz Reincke in one of the first German colour television series, Adrian der Tulpendieb.
After acting in 1962 in Max, der Taschendieb with Heinz Rühmann
, in 1964 he played the role of a doctor in Flug in Gefahr, a film which started a long series of films based on plane crashes.
Benno Sterzenbach found most success in the role of General Winston Woodrov Wamsler in Raumpatrouille – Die phantastischen Abenteuer des Raumschiffes Orion. After this, he was invited to series such as Die fünfte Kolonne, Derrick
and The Old Fox
.
In France, he is best known for his role as Major Achbach in La Grande Vadrouille
with Louis de Funès
and Bourvil
.
Benno Sterzenbach has also written a number of books.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
cinema and theatre actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and director.
Biography
His first major theatre role came as Adelheid in Götz von BerlichingenGötz von Berlichingen
Gottfried "Götz" von Berlichingen and also known as Götz of the Iron Hand, was a German Imperial Knight and mercenary....
with Ellen Schwiers at Jagsthausen festival. On television, he is mostly known for his roles in filmed theatrical adaptations: Der Richter und sein Henker (1957) by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Friedrich Dürrenmatt was a Swiss author and dramatist. He was a proponent of epic theatre whose plays reflected the recent experiences of World War II. The politically active author's work included avant-garde dramas, philosophically deep crime novels, and often macabre satire...
, Der Schlaf der Gerechten (1962) by Albrecht Goes and Mirandolina (1963) by Carlo Goldoni
Carlo Goldoni
Carlo Osvaldo Goldoni was an Italian playwright and librettist from the Republic of Venice. His works include some of Italy's most famous and best-loved plays. Audiences have admired the plays of Goldoni for their ingenious mix of wit and honesty...
.
Suspected of espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
due to his editorial relations, he was arrested by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
in 1941, and imprisoned for a month, during which time he protested his innocence. He was eventually freed after his case was expedited. This episode was repeated in a number of his play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
s.
With Wege im Zwielicht in 1948, he made his cinematic debut under the direction of Gustav Fröhlich. In 1960, he was in one of the first films by Edgar Wallace
Edgar Wallace
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was an English crime writer, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and numerous articles in newspapers and journals....
after the war: Der Rächer. In the same year, he was in Es ist soweit. In 1966, he acted alongside Heinz Reincke in one of the first German colour television series, Adrian der Tulpendieb.
After acting in 1962 in Max, der Taschendieb with Heinz Rühmann
Heinz Rühmann
Heinrich Wilhelm "Heinz" Rühmann was a popular German film actor.-Life and work:Rühmann was born in Essen, Westphalia. His role in the 1930 movie Die Drei von der Tankstelle led him to film stardom. He remained highly popular as a comedic actor throughout the 1930s and early 1940s...
, in 1964 he played the role of a doctor in Flug in Gefahr, a film which started a long series of films based on plane crashes.
Benno Sterzenbach found most success in the role of General Winston Woodrov Wamsler in Raumpatrouille – Die phantastischen Abenteuer des Raumschiffes Orion. After this, he was invited to series such as Die fünfte Kolonne, Derrick
Derrick (TV series)
Derrick is a German TV series produced by Telenova Film und Fernsehproduktion in association with ZDF, ORF and SRG between 1974 and 1998 about Detective Chief Inspector Stephan Derrick and his loyal assistant Inspector Harry Klein , who solve murder cases in Munich and surroundings Derrick is a...
and The Old Fox
The Old Fox
The Old Fox is a German television series created in 1976, but first on the air in 1977, now running for over three decades....
.
In France, he is best known for his role as Major Achbach in La Grande Vadrouille
La Grande Vadrouille
La Grande Vadrouille is a 1966 Franco-British comedy film about how the crew of a Royal Air Force B-17 shot down over Paris must then make their way through German-occupied France with the main help of two French citizens with very different mindsets.For over forty...
with Louis de Funès
Louis de Funès
Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza was a very popular French actor who is one of the giants of French comedy alongside André Bourvil and Fernandel...
and Bourvil
Bourvil
André Bourvil, born André Robert Raimbourg was a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy, most notably in his collaboration with Louis de Funès in La Grande Vadrouille .-Biography:His father was killed in the First World War before Bourvil was born...
.
Benno Sterzenbach has also written a number of books.
Filmography
- 1959 : Es ist soweit
- 1960 : Der Rächer
- 1961/62 : Max, der Taschendieb
- 1964 : Flug in Gefahr
- 1965 : Doktor Murkes gesammelte Nachrufe
- 1966 : La Grande VadrouilleLa Grande VadrouilleLa Grande Vadrouille is a 1966 Franco-British comedy film about how the crew of a Royal Air Force B-17 shot down over Paris must then make their way through German-occupied France with the main help of two French citizens with very different mindsets.For over forty...
(Die große Sause) - 1966 : Raumpatrouille – Die phantastischen Abenteuer des Raumschiffes Orion
- 1982 : L'As des asL'as des asL'as des as is a 1982 French-German comedy film starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and directed by Gérard Oury.-Plot:...
- 2003 : Raumpatrouille Orion – Rücksturz ins Kino