Escaping his birthplace of Sulęcin inside a roll of carpet during the final months of 1944, Ulli Lommel grew from a refugee child into a prolific force within the New German Cinema movement. His career spanned acting, screenwriting, and directing, characterized by extensive collaborations with Rainer Werner Fassbinder and a decade-long creative association with Andy Warhol in New York City.
Collaboration with Fassbinder
Lommel entered the German film industry during the 1960s, quickly becoming a fixture in the circle of Rainer Werner Fassbinder. He appeared in the director's 1969 debut Love Is Colder Than Death, which secured a German Film Award for the ensemble cast. He continued to work on major projects including The American Soldier, World on a Wire, and Chinese Roulette. Beyond acting, he produced the 1971 western Whity, a project whose grueling production schedule inspired the later film Beware of a Holy Whore.
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In 1977, Lommel relocated to the United States and aligned himself with Andy Warhol. His fascination with Warhol’s aesthetic led to the production of several films, including the 1978 rock and roll western Cocaine Cowboys, which featured appearances by both Jack Palance and Warhol. His 1980 film Blank Generation documented the New York punk scene, utilizing the CBGB club as a primary setting to frame the performances of Richard Hell and the Voidoids.
Genre Cinema and Later Projects
Transitioning into international genre film, Lommel directed The Boogeyman in 1980, achieving significant global commercial success. This led to a series of features throughout the 1980s, such as Brainwaves, The Devonsville Terror, and Revenge of the Stolen Stars, working with performers like Tony Curtis, Donald Pleasence, and Klaus Kinski. In his later years, he produced the multi-million dollar feature The 4 Senses and participated in various projects in Brazil, including a documentary about the German national football team's training camp.
Fast facts
- Born: 1944, Sulęcin
- Died: 2017, Stuttgart
- Nationality: German
- Collaborator: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Collaborator: Andy Warhol
- US Relocation Year: 1977
- Notable Genre Hit: The Boogeyman (1980)
Questions readers ask
What was Ulli Lommel’s association with Andy Warhol?
Lommel was a creative associate who worked with Warhol on several films, including Cocaine Cowboys and Blank Generation.
Which major German director did Lommel frequently collaborate with?
He worked extensively with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, acting in and producing several of his early films.
Achievements
- Worked as actor, film director and screenwriter
