Helmuth Lohner (24 April 1933 – 23 June 2015) was an Austrian actor, theatre director, and from 1997 to 2006 director of the Theater in der Josefstadt.

Early life

Born in Vienna, Lohner initially trained as a commercial artist, while also taking private acting lessons. He made his acting début in 1952 at the municipal theatre in Baden bei Wien. He also appeared as operetta buffo at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt. From 1953 to 1963 he appeared in various productions of the Theater in der Josefstadt, as well as making numerous film appearances.

Career

Further engagements in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Zurich followed. Between them he appeared at the Burgtheater, and at the Salzburg Festival several times, taking the roles of "Death", "The Devil" and "Jedermann" in Hugo von Hofmannsthal's play Jedermann (which by tradition is performed every year). He made his film debut in 1955 in Josef von Báky's Hotel Adlon. From 1963 he was active in television as actor and director.

Personal life

Lohner married and divorced the German actress Susanne Cramer twice. Their daughter Konstanze Lohner is a pedagogue in Germany. He then married the German actress Karin Baal, with whom he had a daughter, actress Therese Lohner. In 2011, he married Elisabeth Gürtler-Mauthner. The couple lived together for 19 years before their marriage.

Death

Helmuth Lohner died on 23 June 2015 at the age of 82.

Selected works

As opera director

• 1994 La belle Hélène by Jacques Offenbach
• 1997 The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár
• 1999 Eine Nacht in Venedig by Johann Strauss II
• 2002 Die Csárdásfürstin by Emmerich Kálmán
• 2005 The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

As theatre actor

• 1978 Das weite Land by Arthur Schnitzler, directed by Otto Schenk
• 1987 Der einsame Weg by Arthur Schnitzler, directed by Thomas Langhoff
• 1991–1993 Ein Jedermann (Salzburg festival)
• 1999 Figaro lässt sich scheiden by Ödön von Horváth, directed by Luc Bondy

Selected films

• 1956 Herrscher ohne Krone
• 1957 Das Wirtshaus im Spessart
• 1957 Witwer mit fünf Töchtern
• 1958 Das Dreimäderlhaus
• 1958 Die Halbzarte
• 1958 The Spessart Inn
• 1959 Die schöne Lügnerin, with Romy Schneider
• 1960 My Husband, the Economic Miracle
• 1960 Pension Schöller
• 1960 Mrs. Warren's Profession
• 1961 Blond muß man sein auf Capri
• 1961 Das letzte Kapitel
• 1961 Mann im Schatten
• 1962 …und ewig knallen die Räuber (de)
• 1968 Hannibal Brooks, directed by Michael Winner, starring Oliver Reed
• 1969 Babeck (de) (TV miniseries)
• 1971 Liliom (TV movie), directed by Otto Schenk
• 1973 Reigen (de), directed by Otto Schenk
• 1974 Derrick (TV series) – Season 1, episode 2 – "Johanna"

Decorations and awards

• 1980 Kainz Medal
• 1988 Nestroy Ring
• 1991 Gold Honorary Medal of Vienna
• 1992 Kammerschauspieler
• 2001 Nestroy nomination for Best Actor
• 2003 Honorary Member of the Theater in der Josefstadt
• 2003 Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class
• 2006 Gold Medal for services to the City of Vienna