Daniel Hoevels
Encyclopedia
Daniel Hoevels is a Swedish-born German theater actor. Hamburger Abendblatt
has described his work as helping critics rediscover Hamburg's theater. On 6 December 2008, Hoevels accidentally slit his neck while playing "Mortimer" in Mary Stuart, written by Friedrich Schiller
, which led to near fatal injury.
He trained as an actor at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater
(music and theater academy) in Hamburg between 2001 and 2004, and acted in some films and theater productions in Hamburg and Weimar
during that time. His role at the Nationaltheater Weimar in 2004 was the first of several Shakespeare parts: he played Malvolio
in a performance of Twelfth Night. He joined the Thalia Theater (Hamburg)
in 2004, where his first roles were Huck in Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Haimon in Christine Eders's Antigone, and King Lear
in Andreas Kriegenburg's production of the eponymous Shakespeare play
. His subsequent Shakespearean roles have been Lysander
in A Midsummer Night's Dream
and Romeo Montague
in Romeo and Juliet
. He is noted for bringing a touch of comedy to rather serious roles, such as in King Lear
and Mein Kampf
. The Hamburger Abendblatt
newspaper has described Hoevels's work as helping critics rediscover Hamburg's theater.
. His character's suicide scene was to feature a dull knife, though it was damaged and was replaced by a sharp one. Thalia requested that the sharp one be dulled too, though this was "carelessly" disregarded. The near-fatal knife was bought at a local store and reportedly still contained a price tag.
Austrian police forces are currently investigating who failed to blunt the knife. They have not ruled out the possibility of a conspiracy, and some rumors claim that the knife was replaced by a rival of Hoevels. They reportedly questioned the cast and crew and performed DNA tests.
When Hoevels collapsed on the Burgtheater
's stage, the audience reportedly began to clap. They thought that the blood spilling from Hoevels's neck was some sort of special effect. No one realised he was injured until he did not take a bow after the show.
The actor was taken to a hospital, where he was given stitches. He survived the incident because the blade barely missed his carotid artery
. Hoevels returned to acting at the Burgtheater the next day.
A spokeswoman for the Burgtheater later said that reports were exaggerated, and that the audience did not applaud. Police denied that an investigation had been launched or that DNA tests of cast and crew were done.
. In an ironic twist, Werther was also to commit suicide in the play, albeit by a gun.
Hamburger Abendblatt
The Hamburger Abendblatt is a daily newspaper in Hamburg, Germany, published by Axel Springer AG. The paper used to appear Monday through Saturday only, but since 29 October 2006 it has also published a Sunday edition to compete with the Hamburger Morgenpost's introduction of a Sunday edition...
has described his work as helping critics rediscover Hamburg's theater. On 6 December 2008, Hoevels accidentally slit his neck while playing "Mortimer" in Mary Stuart, written by Friedrich Schiller
Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life , Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...
, which led to near fatal injury.
Early life and acting career
Hoevels was born in Sweden. He attended the staatlichen Theaterakademie in Hamburg, Germany, where he lives. After three years studying politics in Berlin, he found that he was born to work on stage.He trained as an actor at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater
Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg
The Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg is one of the larger universities of music in Germany.It was founded 1950 as Staatliche Hochschule für Musik on the base of the former private acting school of Annemarie Marks-Rocke and Eduard Marks.Studies include various music types from church music...
(music and theater academy) in Hamburg between 2001 and 2004, and acted in some films and theater productions in Hamburg and Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
during that time. His role at the Nationaltheater Weimar in 2004 was the first of several Shakespeare parts: he played Malvolio
Malvolio
Malvolio is the steward of Olivia's household in William Shakespeare's comedy, Twelfth Night, or What You Will.-Style:Malvolio's ethical values are commonly used to define his appearance.In the play, Malvolio is defined as a "kind of" Puritan...
in a performance of Twelfth Night. He joined the Thalia Theater (Hamburg)
Thalia Theater (Hamburg)
The Thalia Theater is one of the three state-owned theatres in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded in 1843 by Charles Maurice Schwartzenberger and named after the muse Thalia...
in 2004, where his first roles were Huck in Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Haimon in Christine Eders's Antigone, and King Lear
Leir of Britain
Leir is a legendary ancient king of the Britons, as recounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. His story is told in a modified form by William Shakespeare in the play King Lear. In the drama, some names are identical to those of the legend Leir is a legendary ancient king of the Britons, as recounted by...
in Andreas Kriegenburg's production of the eponymous Shakespeare play
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
. His subsequent Shakespearean roles have been Lysander
Lysander (Shakespeare)
Lysander is one of the iconic lovers in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream. A handsome young man of Athens, Lysander is in love with Hermia and plans to run away from her father with her to escape Athenian law and wed. But his plans are disrupted when Oberon decides to have some...
in A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
and Romeo Montague
Romeo Montague
Romeo is one of the fictional protagonists in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is the son of old Montague and his wife, who secretly loves and marries Juliet, a member of the rival House of Capulet...
in Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
. He is noted for bringing a touch of comedy to rather serious roles, such as in King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
and Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf is a book written by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. It combines elements of autobiography with an exposition of Hitler's political ideology. Volume 1 of Mein Kampf was published in 1925 and Volume 2 in 1926...
. The Hamburger Abendblatt
Hamburger Abendblatt
The Hamburger Abendblatt is a daily newspaper in Hamburg, Germany, published by Axel Springer AG. The paper used to appear Monday through Saturday only, but since 29 October 2006 it has also published a Sunday edition to compete with the Hamburger Morgenpost's introduction of a Sunday edition...
newspaper has described Hoevels's work as helping critics rediscover Hamburg's theater.
Accidental stabbing
On 6 December 2008, Hoevels slit his neck while playing "Mortimer" in Mary Stuart, written by Friedrich SchillerFriedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life , Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...
. His character's suicide scene was to feature a dull knife, though it was damaged and was replaced by a sharp one. Thalia requested that the sharp one be dulled too, though this was "carelessly" disregarded. The near-fatal knife was bought at a local store and reportedly still contained a price tag.
Austrian police forces are currently investigating who failed to blunt the knife. They have not ruled out the possibility of a conspiracy, and some rumors claim that the knife was replaced by a rival of Hoevels. They reportedly questioned the cast and crew and performed DNA tests.
When Hoevels collapsed on the Burgtheater
Burgtheater
The Burgtheater , originally known as K.K. Theater an der Burg, then until 1918 as the K.K. Hofburgtheater, is the Austrian National Theatre in Vienna and one of the most important German language theatres in the world.The Burgtheater was created in 1741 and has become known as "die Burg" by the...
's stage, the audience reportedly began to clap. They thought that the blood spilling from Hoevels's neck was some sort of special effect. No one realised he was injured until he did not take a bow after the show.
The actor was taken to a hospital, where he was given stitches. He survived the incident because the blade barely missed his carotid artery
Carotid artery
Carotid artery can refer to:* Common carotid artery* External carotid artery* Internal carotid artery...
. Hoevels returned to acting at the Burgtheater the next day.
A spokeswoman for the Burgtheater later said that reports were exaggerated, and that the audience did not applaud. Police denied that an investigation had been launched or that DNA tests of cast and crew were done.
Later performance
Hoevels returned to Hamburg on 8 December. He was to play the title character in The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
. In an ironic twist, Werther was also to commit suicide in the play, albeit by a gun.