Oskar Werner
Oskar Werner
Personal life
- Born: November 13, 1922 in Vienna, Austria
- Died: October 23, 1984 in Marburg an der Lahn, Germany
- Cause of death: Myocardial infarction
- Nationality: Austrian
- Occupation: Actor
- Years active: 1948–1984
Early life and education
Oskar Werner was born on November 13, 1922 in Vienna, Austria. His father, Oskar Werner Sr., was a lawyer and his mother, Eleonore Werner (née Jellinek), was a homemaker. Werner had two older sisters, Elisabeth and Margarethe.
Werner attended the Theresianum, a prestigious private school in Vienna. He graduated in 1940 and went on to study law at the University of Vienna. However, he soon dropped out of law school and enrolled in the Max Reinhardt Seminar, a drama school in Vienna.
Career
Werner made his stage debut in 1941 at the Vienna Burgtheater. He went on to appear in a number of stage productions in Vienna and Berlin. In 1948, he made his film debut in Der Engel mit der Trompete (The Angel with the Trumpet).
Werner rose to international fame in the 1950s and 1960s for his performances in a number of acclaimed films, including:
- Jules et Jim (1962)
- Ship of Fools (1965)
- Fahrenheit 451 (1966)
- The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)
- The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968)
Werner was also a talented stage actor. He won a Tony Award in 1962 for his performance in the Broadway production of Iphigenia in Aulis.
Personal life
Werner was married three times. His first marriage, to actress Elisabeth Kallina, lasted from 1944 to 1952. His second marriage, to actress Annemarie Düringer, lasted from 1954 to 1960. His third marriage, to actress Uschi Glas, lasted from 1964 to 1971.
Werner had two children, a son named Elias and a daughter named Eleonore.
Death
Werner died of a myocardial infarction on October 23, 1984 in Marburg an der Lahn, Germany. He was 61 years old.
Legacy
Werner is considered one of the greatest actors of his generation. He was known for his intense performances and his ability to bring complex characters to life. Werner's work has been praised by critics and audiences alike.
In 1985, Werner was posthumously awarded the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for his performance in Voyage of the Damned.