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Johannes Heesters


Foto: D'Ora Kallmus (1881-1963)
Mit freundlicher Genehmigung
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Copyright

1903 - 2011

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The actor Johannes Heesters got a first engagement at the Amsterdamer Sprechbühne after a singing and acting training. Besides he already appeared for the first time in a movie in "Cirque Hollandais" (24).

Johannes Heesters shifted his activity to the operatta from the middle of the 30's and had great successes in "Der Bettelstudent" at the Volksoper Wien.
In this time he also began his great career in movies. He fascinated the audience with light entertainment movies of musical base and was successful with the movie "Das Hofkonzert" (36).
Together with the indestructible actress and singer Marika Rökk he formed the dream couple of the German revue film. Their common movies were "Der Bettelstudent" (36), "Gasparone" (37) and "Hallo Janine" (39). They both were joined together in the 50's again and took part in some more movies.

Johannes Heesters appeared till the end of war in movies like "Die lustigen Vagabunden" (40), "Immer nur Du" (41), "Jenny und der Herr im Frack" (41) and "Es fing so harmlos an" (44), beside it he was also convincing in a character role in the film "Illusionen" (41).

After the war he was successful in operettas in the first place. He was convincing in "Der Graf von Luxemburg", "Bel Ami" and "Gigi". In this time his silk scarf and his top hat became a trademark with which he was connected with till today.

The 50's turned out to be a very activity decade again where he took part among others in the movies "Die Czardasfürstin" (51), "Im weissen Rössl" (52), "Gestatten, mein Name ist Cox" (55), "Bel ami" (55), "Viktor und Viktoria" (57), "Bühne frei für Marika!" (58) and "Frau im besten Mannesalter (58).

From the 60's he only appeared in two more movies on the big screen - "Junge Leute brauchen Liebe" (61) and "Otto - der Film" (85). Otherwise he restricted his activity to operettas and TV productions. One of his last great roles he played an Carl-Heinz Schroth's side in the movie "Sonny Boys" (82).

Since then Johannes Heesters appeared regularly as a singer, an activity he carried on till to his death.

In his last years he impersonated smaller roles by few occassions, among them "Silent Love" (94), "Ein gesegnetes Alter" (96), "1 1/2 Ritter - Auf der Suche nach der hinreissenden Herzelinde" (08) and the short movie "Ten" (11).
With it he became the oldest professional actor of the world at the age of 108 and with 87 years as an actor in front of the camera and 90 years on stage

To his numerous prices beside the Filmband in Gold 1975 also belong the Media and Television Award "Bambi" to which he had a very special relationship. He got this award in 1967 for the first time, in the next years followed other Bambis in 1987, 1990, 1997 and 2003.
As a particular tribute he got a Bambi every year from 2007 as long as he should live, so five more Bambis joined his collection. 

Johannes Heesters was married in second marriage with the actress Simone Rethel. His daugher Nicole Heesters by her first marriage also seized the profession of an actress.
 

Other movies with Johannes Heesters:
Bleeke Bet (34) Die vier Mullers - Alles für die Firma (35) Die Leuchter des Kaisers (36) Wenn Frauen schweigen (37) Nanon (38) Das Abenteuer geht weiter (39) Meine Tante - deine Tante (39) Liebesschule (40) Rosen in Tirol (40) Karneval der Liebe (42) Es lebe die Liebe (44) Glück bei Frauen (44) Es fing so harmlos an (44) Frech und verliebt (44) Die Fledermaus (46) Wiener Melodien (47) Liebe Freundin (49) Wenn eine Frau liebt (50) Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies (50) Professor Nachtfalter (51) Tanz ins Glück (51) Liebeskrieg nach Noten (53) Die geschiedene Frau (53) Die Jungfrau auf dem Dach (53) Schlagerparade (53) Hab' ich nur Deine Liebe (53) Stern von Rio (54) Ein Herz und eine Seele/...und wer küsst mich? (56) Meine Schwester und ich (56) Heute heiratet mein Mann (56) Opernball (56) Von allen geliebt (57) Besuch aus heiterem Himmel/Jetzt ist er da aus USA (58) Die unvollkommene Ehe (59) Nocturno im Grand Hotel (59) Serie "Am grünen Strand der Spree: Capriccio Italien" (60) Heut geh' ich ins Maxim (61) Nicht zuhören, meine Damen! (62) Ein zärtliches Lied (62) Hotel Victoria (62) Mein Bruder Jacques (62) Ich knüpfte manche zarte Bande (62) Die lsutige Witwe (63) Leider lauter Lügen (64) Viktoria und ihr Husar (65) Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies (66) Wenn die kleinen Veilchen blühen (68) Unsere liebste Feindin (68) Serie "Der Kommissar: Parkplatz-Hyänen" (70) Gastspiele (71) Paganini (72) Serie "Eine Frau bleibt eine Frau" (72) Serie "Hallo, Hotel Sacher...Portier!: Opernball" (73) Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies (74) Serie "Die Alten kommen" (79) Serie "Liebe bleibt nicht ohne Schmerzen" (80) Serie "Die wunderschöne Wilhelmine" (84) Serie "Ich knüpfte manche zarte Bande" (85) Serie "Alte Gauner" (85) Serie "Zwei Münchner in Hamburg" (89) Serie "Altes Herz wird nochmal jung" (91) Serie "Geschichten aus der Heimat: Das letzte Edelweiss" (93) Silent Love (94) Serie "Zwischen Tag und Nacht" (95) Serie "Zwei alte Hasen: Grandhotel" (95) Ein gesegnetes Alter (96) Theater: Momo (99) Serie "In aller Freundschaft: Zurück ins Leben" (03) 1 1/2 Ritter - Auf der Suche nach der hinreissenden Herzelinde (08)


 
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