Hans Schellbach

Hans Schellbach, actually Johannes Scheliga (born 28 June 1925 in Karf bei Beuthen in Oberschlesien; † 26 May 1990 in Sandesneben, Schleswig-Holstein) was a German actor, most convincing in the roles of gravitate powermen, and writer. Johannes Scheliga was born in 1925 as the son of the railroad schaffer Paul Scheliga and his wife Anna, née Mucha. After graduating from school in Beuthen he completed a commercial apprenticeship and during the Second War he received acting lessons in Wroclaw. After 1945 he continued his theater career under the artist name Hans Schellbach. He was seen, among other things, at stages in Hof, Hamburg, Munich, Bamberg, Salzburg and at the Burgtheater in Vienna.From the mid-1960s he showed a considerable presence in television plays. Schellbach, of compact stature, equipped with white hair and equipped with a penetrating voice, was mostly considered with roles of powerful citizens and officials, generals and industrialists. He also played revolutionaries several times. His performances in ambitious documentary plays of the late 1960s, early 1970s with a historical background were most convincing for him. Schellbach's characters were always of dominant presence, such as his communist and politician Georgi Dimitrow in the television play Der Fall Petkov. He impersonated the Inspector Lestrade in three episodes of a German Sherlock-Holmes series (1967/68); in the two-parter about the Dublin Easter Uprising 1916 The Irish freedom struggle from 1969 he played the Irish hero James Connolly and shortly afterwards the Mexican general and national hero Mariano Escobedo in the two-part monarch drama Maximilian of Mexico.Schellbach also appeared in individual episodes of popular television series of the late 60s, including Commissioner Freytag, Cliff Dexter, John Kling's Adventure and The Fifth Column. In the street sweeper Melissa he also had an appearance.The movie had only subordinate importance in Schellbach's work in front of the camera; his last appearance there he performed with a small role in the Dieter Hallervorden comedy Der Schnüffler in 1982.