Gustaf Gründgens

Infobox actor
bgcolour = silver
name = Gustaf Gründgens

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imagesize =
caption = Gustaf Gründgens in Fritz Lang's film "M" (1931)
birthname =
birthdate = birth date|1899|12|22
location = Düsseldorf, German Empire
deathdate = death date and age|1963|10|7|1899|12|22
deathplace = Manila, Philippines
othername =
yearsactive = 1920 – 1963
spouse = Erika Mann (1926 – 1929)
Marianne Hoppe (1936 – 1946)
homepage =
notable role = "Mephisto" (in Goethe's Faust)
academyawards =
emmyawards =
tonyawards =

Gustaf Gründgens (December 22, 1899 – October 7, 1963) was one of Germany's most famous actors of the 20th century, leading theatres in Berlin, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg. His single most famous role was that of Mephistopheles in Goethe's "Faust" in 1956/57, which is still considered by many to have been the best interpretation of the role ever given.

Controversy

Born in Düsseldorf, Gründgens was also involved in one of the most famous literary cases in 20th century Germany, as the subject of a novel entitled "Mephisto" by Klaus Mann, son of Thomas Mann. The novel, a thinly veiled account of Gründgens' life, portrayed its main character as having shady connections with the Nazi regime. A lawsuit ensued, as well as a controversy about libel and the freedom of fiction. Their relation was a complicated one, since Gründgens was at one point married to Erika Mann, Klaus' sister, and the three had together worked in the theater. Both had sexual relationships with men –- Klaus Mann was gay and Gründgens bisexual -– but this topic was avoided in the novel.

Gründgens's adopted son was Peter Gorski, who directed "Faust" in 1960 and later sued the publisher of "Mephisto" on his father's behalf.

Personal life

From 1936 till 1946, Gründgens was married to the famous German actress Marianne Hoppe.

On October 7, 1963, he died in Manila of an internal hemorrhage.

Filmography

Director

* 1932: "Eine Stadt steht Kopf" (also actor)
* 1933: "Die Finanzen des Großherzogs"
* 1937: "Kapriolen" (also actor)
* 1938: "Der Schritt vom Wege"
* 1939: "Zwei Welten"
* 1940: "Friedemann Bach" (also actor)
* 1960: "Faust" (also actor)

Actor

* 1929: "Ich glaub' nie mehr an eine Frau"
* 1930: "Va Banque"
* 1930: "Hokuspokus"
* 1930: "Danton"
* 1930: "Brand in der Oper"
* 1931: "Yorck"
* 1931: "M – Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder"
* 1931: "Luise, Königin von Preußen"
* 1931: "Die Gräfin von Monte Christo"
* 1931: "Der Raub der Mona Lisa"
* 1932: "Teilnehmer antwortet nicht"
* 1932: "Liebelei"
* 1933: "Der Tunnel"
* 1933: "Die schönen Tage von Aranjuez"
* 1934: "So endete eine Liebe"
* 1934: "Schwarzer Jäger Johanna"
* 1934: "Das Erbe in Pretoria"
* 1935: "Pygmalion"
* 1935: "Das Mädchen Johanna"
* 1936: "Eine Frau ohne Bedeutung"
* 1938: "Tanz auf dem Vulkan"
* 1941: "Ohm Krüger"
* 1956/57 "Faust"
* 1960: "Faust" (film)
* 1960: "Das Glas Wasser"

See also

*Dohm-Mann family tree

External links

* A biographical article http://www.wsws.org/articles/1999/dec1999/gust-d29.shtml
* [http://film.virtual-history.com/person.php?personid=730 Photographs of Gustaf Gründgens]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrNrpSEUM5s Gustaf Gründgens playing Mephisto in the Hamburg Theatre production of Goethe's Faust, in German with English subtitles]

Persondata
NAME = Gründgens, Gustaf
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = German actor
DATE OF BIRTH = December 22, 1899
PLACE OF BIRTH = Düsseldorf, German Empire
DATE OF DEATH = October 7, 1963
PLACE OF DEATH = Manila, Philippines