- Günter Meisner gained fair recognition in his days for the portrayal of Adolf Hitler in quite a few movies, and also for playing the role of Arthur Slugworth in Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
- He spent almost four decades in the movie industry and have more than 100 works to his credit, until his demise in 1994 as a result of heart failure
- The German actor during his time didn’t restrict himself to acting alone, he ventured into directing and funded two galleries and a theater studio
Günter Meisner was a German actor and director well known for portraying the character of German Fuhrer Adolf Hitler, as well as Arthur Slugworth in the 1971 American musical film Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. His career in the movie industry lasted for almost four decades with more than 100 feature films and TV shows to his credit. He died of heart failure in 1994 at the age of 68, bringing an end to his spectacular career.
This post dives into his life, career, and how he died.
Early Life and Career of Günter Meisner
The late German actor was born on 18th April 1926 in Bremen, Germany. Although details of his family background and how he grew up remain sketchy, available details show that he was first a sculptor and painter before he switched to acting. Prior to the switch, he studied drama at the State Conservatory in Dusseldorf under Gustaf Grundgens.
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How He Ditched Sculpting and Painting for Acting
Other reports give more details on how the late German actor went into acting. The reports say Meisner worked for a short time at a steel mill and went on to train as a radio operator during World War II with the German paratroopers. It was said that he wanted to pursue a career in sculpting and painting after the war, but he changed to drama. After studying under Gustaf Grundgens at the State Conservatory in Dusseldorf, he landed his first job at a local theater known ‘Schauspielhaus.’
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He Didn’t Restrict Himself to Acting Alone
Going deep into his career, The Is Paris Burning actor appeared in a good number of films, TV series and took part in theater productions as a director. Some of his film credits include The Boys From Brazil, The Odessa File, Bridge at Remagen, Under the Volcano, and Babette Goes to War among many others. Similarly, his TV credits include ABC’s The Winds of War, CBS’ Blood and Honor, and BBC’s Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years, just to mention a few.
As regards theater, Meisner specialized in comedies, featuring in the Theater of the Absurd, and Report to the Academy, and also appearing in the Broadway show Fairwell. Between 1959 and 1962, the late German actor founded three theaters namely; Gallery Diogenes, International Association for Arts and Sciences, and Diogenes Studio Theater.
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What are the Movies He Depicted Adolf Hitler?
Meisner played the character of later German dictator Adolf Hitler in the 1981 TV series “Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years, 1982 French-German action comedy film “L’as des as” (The Ace of Aces), and 1983 miniseries “The Winds of War. ” In L’as des as, the late German actor was portrayed as corporal Adolf Hitler during world war I and as Hitler’s sister Angela. While The Winds of War follows the key events at the beginning of world war II, Adolf Hitler and the German Army.
Günter Meisner During Filming
The Winds of War actor passed away on 5th December 1994 at the age of 68 due to heart failure. He died while filming an episode of the German language TV series Tatort. His remains were buried in Friedhof Heerstraße cemetery in Berlin.
His Filmography
Meisner’s acting career began around the late 1950s to the day he drew his last breath in 1994. He featured in a lot of films, TV, and theater projects over the course of his almost four decades career. Below are a few selected works of the late German actor:
- A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1957)
- Here I Am, Here I Stay (1958)
- Babette Goes to War (1959)
- The BlackChapel (1959)
- The Miracle of Father Malachia (1961)
- The Counterfeit Traitor (1962)
- Murderer in the Fog (1964)
- Funeral in Berlin (1966)
- The Bridge Remagen
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
- The Battle of Sutjeska (1973)
- Voyage of the Damned (1976)
- Avalanche Express (1979)
- Blood and Honor: Youth Under Hitler (1982)
- L’As des as (1982)
- The Winds of War (1983)
- The Man Inside (1990)
- Ruby Cairo (1992)
- Faraway, So Close (1993)
- The Violin Player (1994)
5 Interesting Facts About Him
1. Was He Ever Married?
The late German actor during his lifetime was married to a woman named Gisela Albrecht Meisner. According to reports, she was a freelance reporter living in Berlin. At the moment, there are no details indicating whether she is still alive or not.
2. Did He Have Any Children?
Although he was married till the day he died, it is not clear whether he shared any children with his wife Gisela. Similarly, the media have not given any information regarding this.
3. He Was Multi-Lingual
Meisner was multi-lingual. He was fluent in three languages; English, French, and German. Some reports say he speaks four languages, but only listed the ones above, without the fourth.
4. He Directed Two Films To Criticise Racial Discrimination in Africa
It seems the late German actor was against racial discrimination, especially in Africa. This could be the reason why he directed and produced two films criticizing racial discrimination, “Don’t Look for Me in Places Where I Can’t Be Found” and Bega Dwa Bega” (One for All) in Swahili for Tanzanian Film Unit in 1970.
5. He Allegedly Took Part in a Relief Effort in Nigeria
It is obvious that the late Bremen native was a man of peace. He was said to have participated in relief efforts in Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 to 1970.
