GANZ, BRUNO

(1941- )

Actor. Zurich-born Ganz emerged as the German-speaking theater's most celebrated actor when he was awarded theIffland Ringin 1996. He had begun his training in 1960 as a teenager with the Zurich Stage Studio and soon thereafter began performing professionally in Bremen. In 1970 Ganz joinedPeter Steinat Berlin's Theater am Halleschen Ufer and soon became a stalwart of the company, appearing in several Schaubühne productions, most notably the much-praisedSummer Folkin 1975. By that time, Ganz had worked with several outstanding German directors in noteworthy productions, such asClausPeymann's 1972 world premiere ofThomasBernhard'sDer Ignorant und der Wahnsinnige(The Ignoramus and the Madman) at the Salzburg Festival. Ganz had also established himself as a film actor of some repute. In 1976 he appeared in Wim Wenders'sThe American Friend(with Dennis Hopper) and Eric Rohmer'sDie Marquise von O(with Schaubühne colleagueEdith Clever); dozens of film roles followed, consolidating his reputation as an international star. His films includedThe Boys from Brazil(1978) with Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck,Der Himmel über Berlin(Wings of Desire, 1987) with Peter Falk, and Jonathan Demme's 2004 remake ofThe Manchurian Candidatewith Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep. His portrayal of Adolf Hitler in Oliver Hirschbiegel'sDer Untergang(The Downfall, also in 2004), won him widespread praise from critics and audiences internationally.