Burghart Klaußner maintains a multifaceted career as an actor, director, and musician, having appeared in over 90 film and television productions since 1983. Trained at the Max-Reinhardt-Schule für Schauspiel in his native Berlin, he occupies a central position within the contemporary German arts landscape, extending his professional output to theatre direction and literary narration.
Early Career and Stage Experience
Born in 1949, Klaußner received his formal theatrical instruction at the Max-Reinhardt-Schule für Schauspiel. Following his education, he secured professional engagements at prominent institutions including the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin and the Hamburger Kammerspiele. His stage presence expanded across diverse European locations, with roles at theatres in Cologne, Hamburg, Zürich, Bremen, and Bochum. In 2006, he added theatre direction to his portfolio during his time in Hamburg.
Film and Audiovisual Work
Since 1983, Klaußner has accumulated an extensive screen filmography comprising more than 90 credits. His contributions to the medium encompass roles as both a film and stage actor. Beyond visual performance, he is active as a voice artist, having narrated numerous audiobooks. Notable among these recordings are works by Ian McEwan, specifically the novel Solar, as well as multiple projects by Ferdinand von Schirach.
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Klaußner holds membership in the Deutsche Filmakademie and has served as vice-president of the Freie Akademie der Künste in Hamburg since 2021. His career is marked by several significant distinctions, including the German Film Award in 2005 and the Locarno International Film Festival Best Actor Award in 2006. In 2021, he received the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Other accolades include the Preis der deutschen Filmkritik in 2009 and 2015, the Günter Rohrbach film award in 2015, the Bavarian Film Awards for Best Acting, and the Bernhard Wicki Award, both in 2016.
Literary Contribution
In 2018, Klaußner published his writing debut titled Vor dem Anfang. The book was released through the publisher Verlag Kiepenheuer & Witsch in Cologne. This transition into authorship represents an extension of his long-standing engagement with German narratives, further documented by its registration under ISBN 978-3-462-05196-4 and OCLC 1032351637.
Fast facts
- Born: 13 September 1949, Berlin
- Primary Occupations: Actor, Director, Musician
- Education: Max-Reinhardt-Schule für Schauspiel
- Notable Award: Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2021)
- Literary Work: Vor dem Anfang (2018)
- Institutional Role: Vice-president, Freie Akademie der Künste in Hamburg (since 2021)
Questions readers ask
Where did Burghart Klaußner receive his acting training?
He studied at the Max-Reinhardt-Schule für Schauspiel in Berlin.
When did Klaußner debut as a theatre director?
He made his directorial debut in Hamburg in 2006.
Has he published any books?
Yes, he authored the 2018 book titled Vor dem Anfang.
Achievements
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 2021
- Locarno International Film Festival Best Actor Award — 2006
- Worked as singer, stage actor and film actor
