The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Odd, distinctive, present - Peter Simonischek is dead

2023-05-30T11:02:32.121Z

Highlights: Peter Simonischek, who was born in Graz, has played almost all roles on the German-speaking stages. As an odd old 68er, he even reached for the Oscar for best foreign-language (non-English-language) film with "Toni Erdmann" In 1982 he made his debut at the Salzburg Festival with Goethe's passionate, insane poet Torquato Tasso. He played lovers with great nonchalance and thoughtful characters with a lot of depth.



Austrian actor Peter Simonischek shows his award at the 29th European Film Awards ceremony (2016). © Jacek Turczyk/PAP/epa/dpa

Lover, villain, rogue: The actor Peter Simonischek has mastered a wide variety of roles. It was almost enough to win an Oscar with "Toni Erdmann". At the age of 76, the character actor died.

Vienna - The longing for the brilliant achievement has accompanied Peter Simonischek throughout his life. "I get goose skins (goosebumps)," the actor told the German Press Agency on his 75th birthday. And he excelled in many roles. On Tuesday night, the mime died surrounded by his family in Vienna at the age of 76, as the Burgtheater confirmed.

As Everyman in "Everyman" he appeared on stage more often than anyone else in this role at the Salzburg Festival. As an odd old 68er, he even reached for the Oscar. In 2017, "Toni Erdmann" with Simonischek in the touching lead role as best foreign-language (non-English-language) film was at least in the final in Los Angeles. "It was like winning the lottery, but if you have a five, you actually want a six," was his ambivalent summary after the near-success in Hollywood.

Simonischek, who was born in Graz, has played almost all roles on the German-speaking stages - and has often made a deep impression on critics and audiences alike. His versatility set standards: very authentically, he gave the mischievous boy like the bad man. He played lovers with great nonchalance and thoughtful characters with a lot of depth. Whether drama or comedy, the actor's presence on stage or on set was tremendous. With his distinctive voice, he worked as a narrator for audio books or appeared at readings - sometimes together with his wife Brigitte Karner.

Fight against the parental home

"I'm so grateful that I can do what I love," Simonischek, who has collected two Grimme Awards, the European and German Film Awards, among others, once told dpa.

The beginning of his career as an actor was a fight against his parents. "My father beat me up after graduating from high school because he thought I was going to starve to death in an attic," Simonischek recalled of the reaction to his plans. As a concession to his father, he at least did an apprenticeship as a dental technician.

His career initially took him to stages in Switzerland, where he received a permanent engagement at the Stadttheater St. Gallen. From there he moved to Bern in 1970 and then came to the Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf via the Staatstheater Darmstadt.

From 1979 he was a member of the ensemble of the Berlin Schaubühne for 20 years. He found his years in Germany particularly enriching. "If you're a stranger, try harder. Abroad, the turbo is ignited," said the actor.

Debut at the Salzburg Festival 1982

Over the years, however, Simonischek remained connected to his native Austria. In 1982 he made his debut at the Salzburg Festival with Goethe's passionate, insane poet Torquato Tasso. An impressive 210 times – for 200 drama performances, four readings and six orchestral concerts – Peter Simonischek stood on stages of the Salzburg Festival, as they summed up on Tuesday.

The actor Peter Simonischek comes to the opening reception of the Munich Film Festival at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof (2016). © Tobias Hase/dpa

In 1999, the actor returned to Austria in its entirety - to the Burgtheater in Vienna. He played in Chekhov's "Platonov", Schnitzler's "The Wide Country" and in "The Ignorant and the Madman" by Thomas Bernhard, among others.

In the German-language premiere of the Edward Albee play "The Goat or Who is Sylvia?" (2004) he thrilled audiences in the role of star architect Martin, who falls in love with a goat and thereby destroys his marriage and existence.

In contrast to many other stage actors, Simonischek enthusiastically got involved in the film. In 1980 he received his first major film role in Axel Corti's "Das eigene Glück und das andere". Together with Margarethe von Trotta, he directed "Fear and Love" (1987). In 2003 he had a role in the Heimatfilm "Hierankl" by Hans Steinbichler. In 2012 he was part of the star-studded ensemble of the historical film "Ludwig II".

On television, the Austrian played various parts, not least in crime series such as "Bella Block". In the ARD drama "Mit einem Schlag" (2008), he played a building contractor who suffers a stroke in his early 60s and can no longer return to his old life.

Praise and awards for "Toni Erdmann"

In general, space to develop on stage and on set was important to him. Directors who know everything better in advance are anathema to him. "It's always about power and how to deal with it. It would be nice if you didn't have to spend so much energy on such power games," Simonischek told dpa.

Peter Simonischek is dead. © Jens Kalaene/dpa

However, Simonischek will be remembered by a wide audience, not least as Toni Erdmann. His role as a lovable, quirky father who wants to improve his relationship with his daughter (Sandra Hüller), who is timed by the business world, brought him immense praise and many awards.

The Austrian actor Peter Simonischek as "Everyman" in Salzburg. © Barbara Gindl/APA/epa/dpa

And he himself, father of three sons (including the actor Maximilian Simonischek (40)), made the role thoughtful. "The audacity and madness of Toni Erdmann is enviable. I wanted there to be more of him in myself." dpa

Source: merkur

All life articles on 2023-05-30

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.