Erwin Geschonneck


Erwin Geschonneck 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, 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 31 March 1939. During World War II, he was imprisoned in several Nazi concentration camps. In 1945, Geschonneck was one of the few prisoners who survived the RAF sinking of the Cap Arcona.

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 Bertolt Brecht, and became a successful actor. He was a member of the jury at the 6th and 7th Moscow International Film Festivals.
The German film Jacob the Liar by Frank Beyer was nominated for Best foreign language film at the Academy Awards in 1977 – the only nomination for the GDR. In December 2006, he turned 100.
His last film, made in 1995 for the German television network ARD, was , where he played alongside veteran actor Fred Delmare. Geschonneck's son directed.

Death

Geschonneck died in Berlin on 12 March 2008, aged 101.

Filmography