Biography
Helmut Qualtinger was born in Vienna, Austria. He initially studied medicine, but quit university to become a newspaper reporter and film critic for local press, while beginning to write texts for cabaret performances and theater plays. Qualtinger debuted as an actor at a student theater and attended the Max Reinhardt Seminar as a guest student.
Beginning in 1947, he appeared in cabaret performances. In 1949, Qualtinger's first theatrical play, Jugend vor den Schranken, was staged in Graz. Up to 1960, Qualtinger collaborated on various cabaret programmes with the Namenlosen Ensemble made up of Gerhard Bronner, Carl Merz, Louise Martini, Peter Wehle, Georg Kreisler, and Michael Kehlmann.
Qualtinger was famous for his practical jokes. In 1951, he managed to launch a false report in several newspapers announcing a visit to Vienna of a (fictional) famous Inuit poet named Kobuk (author of "The Burning Igloo"). The reporters who assembled at the railway station however were to witness Qualtinger, in fur coat and cap, stepping from the train. Asked about his "first impressions of Vienna", the "Inuit poet" commented in broad Viennese dialect, "Haaaßis'sdo - [It's hot here]".
The short one-man play Der Herr Karl, written by Qualtinger and Carl Merz and performed by Qualtinger in 1961, made the author known across German-speaking countries. "Herr Karl", a grocery store clerk, tells the story of his life to an imaginary colleague - from the days of the Habsburg empire, the First Austrian Republic, the Austrofascist regime leading up to the Anschluss (annexation) by Nazi Germany, World War II and finally military occupation by Allied forces in the 1950s, seen from the perspective of a one who is a prototypical opportunist. Qualtinger's portrayal of the petit-bourgeois Nazi collaborator came at a time when "normality" had just been restored and Austrians' involvement in the Nazi movement was being downplayed and "forgotten", making many enemies for the author, who even received anonymous threats of murder.
Beginning in the 1970s, Qualtinger frequently performed recitals of his own and other texts, including excerpts from Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf and Karl Kraus' Die letzten Tage der Menschheit (The Last Days of Mankind). These recitals were highly popular and resulted in several records being published.
Qualtinger played countless theater, TV and film parts, making his final appearance in The Name of the Rose in 1986, along with Sean Connery.
Qualtinger died in Vienna on 29 September 1986, of a liver condition.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Filmography
all 72
Movies 65
self 8
TV Shows 7
Writer 6
Narrator 1

Ikonen Österreichs (2019)

The Name of the Rose (1986)

The Diary of Dr. Döblinger (1986)

Cat's Game (1985)

Krimistunde (1982)

Tales from the Vienna Woods (1979)

Feuerwasser (1978)

End of the Game (1978)

Grandison (1978)

Mulligans Rückkehr (1977)

Die Alpensaga (1976)

Mitgift (1976)

Eiszeit (1975)

The Cultist (1974)

Weights and Measures (1973)

Geschäfte mit Plückhahn (1971)

König Johann (1971)

Passion eines Politkers (1970)

Die Geschichte der 1002. Nacht (1969)

Diary of a Serial Killer (1969)

Das vierte Gebot (1968)

The Castle (1968)

Kurzer Prozeß (1967)

Umsonst (1967)

Der Herr Karl (1967)

Der Fall Bohr (1966)

Samba (1966)

Die Hinrichtung (1966)

Lumpazivagabundus (1965)

Der Himbeerpflücker (1965)

Radetzkymarsch (1965)

Biedermann und die Brandstifter (1963)

Einen Jux will er sich machen (1962)

Mann im Schatten (1961)

Die Kurve (1961)

The Magnificent Rogue (1960)

Die schöne Lügnerin (1959)

Mikosch im Geheimdienst (1959)

Das Abgründige in Herrn Gerstenberg (1957)

Scherben bringen Glück (1957)

Hanussen (1955)

Du bist die Richtige (1955)

Hab’ ich nur Deine Liebe (1953)
Gallery


Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1928-10-08
Deathday1986-09-29 (57 years old)
Birth PlaceVienna, Austria
ChildrenChristian Qualtinger
CitizenshipsAustria
AwardsKainz Medal
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
Last updated:
- Helmut Qualtinger
- Filmography
- Information
- Related Persons