Gerd Michael Henneberg
Encyclopedia
Gerd Michael Henneberg was a German
actor and theater director.
Theater. Afterwards, he worked in the Aschaffenburg
Theater and later became a member of the cast in the German National Theater in Weimar
, where he remained until after the end of World War II
.
At 1948, Henneberg moved to East Berlin
. He appeared on the stages of the Schiffbauerdamm Theater and the People's Theater
, but finally settled in the Maxim Gorky Theater
. Henneberg's most recognized performance was that of Scanlon of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
, a character he depicted more than four hundred times. At 5 October 1960, he was awarded the People's Artist Prize. In the early 1960, he was given the role of the manager in the Neustrelitz
Theater. At February 1962, he was given the same office in the Dresden Theater
.
Henneberg was forced to resign from the latter post at October 1965, after the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
disapproved of several plays he allowed to be performed and from the lack of cooperation with communist writers. He was criticized for lacking "Socialist ardor", and had to announce that he left due to "failing to make a contribution to Socialist dramaturgy." Henneberg returned to Neustrelitz, where he remained as manager until 1968. He continued to direct plays and to perform in the Maxim Gorky Theater until the 1980s, and made his last appearance on stage in Dresden, during 1997.
Beside his theatrical work, he also appeared in some sixty cinema and television productions, mostly East German ones. He is mostly remembered for portraying Wilhelm Keitel
in all of Yuri Ozerov
's World War II films and for making several guest appearances in the popular crime drama Polizeiruf 110
.
After suffering from a prolonged illness, Henneberg died on New Year's Eve 2011.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
actor and theater director.
Biography
Gerd Henneberg's father, Richard, was a theater director. After the young Heeneberg took private acting classes, he made his debut on stage at the age of sixteen, in the LeipzigLeipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
Theater. Afterwards, he worked in the Aschaffenburg
Aschaffenburg
Aschaffenburg is a city in northwest Bavaria, Germany. The town of Aschaffenburg is not considered part of the district of Aschaffenburg, but is the administrative seat.Aschaffenburg is known as the Tor zum Spessart or "gate to the Spessart"...
Theater and later became a member of the cast in the German National Theater in 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...
, where he remained until after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
At 1948, Henneberg moved to East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
. He appeared on the stages of the Schiffbauerdamm Theater and the People's Theater
Volksbühne
The Volksbühne is a theater in Berlin, Germany. Located in Berlin's city center Mitte on Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz in what was the GDR's capital....
, but finally settled in the Maxim Gorky Theater
Maxim-Gorki-Theater
The Maxim Gorki Theatre is a theatre in Berlin-Mitte named after the Soviet writer, Maxim Gorky.-External links:* of the Maxim Gorki Theatre...
. Henneberg's most recognized performance was that of Scanlon of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (play)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a play based on Ken Kesey's 1962 novel of the same name. Dale Wasserman's stage adaptation, with music by Teiji Ito, made its Broadway preview on November 12, 1963, its premiere on November 13, and ran until January 25, 1964 for a total of one preview and 82...
, a character he depicted more than four hundred times. At 5 October 1960, he was awarded the People's Artist Prize. In the early 1960, he was given the role of the manager in the Neustrelitz
Neustrelitz
Neustrelitz is a town in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated on the shore of the Zierker See in the Mecklenburg Lake District. From 1738 until 1918 it was the capital of the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz...
Theater. At February 1962, he was given the same office in the Dresden Theater
Staatsschauspiel Dresden
The Staatsschauspiel Dresden is a theatre on Theaterstraße in Dresden. It is maintained by the Free State of Saxony, hence its name. It is made up of a main auditorium and a studio theatre...
.
Henneberg was forced to resign from the latter post at October 1965, after the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
disapproved of several plays he allowed to be performed and from the lack of cooperation with communist writers. He was criticized for lacking "Socialist ardor", and had to announce that he left due to "failing to make a contribution to Socialist dramaturgy." Henneberg returned to Neustrelitz, where he remained as manager until 1968. He continued to direct plays and to perform in the Maxim Gorky Theater until the 1980s, and made his last appearance on stage in Dresden, during 1997.
Beside his theatrical work, he also appeared in some sixty cinema and television productions, mostly East German ones. He is mostly remembered for portraying Wilhelm Keitel
Wilhelm Keitel
Wilhelm Bodewin Gustav Keitel was a German field marshal . As head of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht and de facto war minister, he was one of Germany's most senior military leaders during World War II...
in all of Yuri Ozerov
Yuri Ozerov (director)
Yuri Ozerov was a Soviet film director and screenwriter. He directed 20 films between 1950 and 1995.-Early life:...
's World War II films and for making several guest appearances in the popular crime drama Polizeiruf 110
Polizeiruf 110
Polizeiruf 110 is a long running German language detective television series. The first episode was broadcast 27 June 1971 in the German Democratic Republic , and after the dissolution of Fernsehen der DDR the series was picked up by ARD...
.
After suffering from a prolonged illness, Henneberg died on New Year's Eve 2011.
Selected filmography
- Thomas MüntzerThomas Müntzer (film)Thomas Muentzer is a 1956 East German film about the life of the 16th-Century Protestant theologian and peasant leader Thomas Muentzer, directed by Martin Hellberg.-Plot:At 1519, the teachings of Martin Luther sweep through the German principalities...
(1956) - Das tapfere SchneiderleinDas tapfere SchneiderleinDas tapfere Schneiderlein is an East German fantasy film directed by Helmut Spieß. It was released in 1956.-Cast:* Kurt Schmidtchen as Das Tapfere Schneiderlein* Christel Bodenstein as Traute* Horst Drinda as Prinz Eitel...
(1956) - Berlin – Ecke Schönhauser…Berlin – Ecke Schönhauser…Berlin, Schoenhauser Corner is an East German crime film directed by Gerhard Klein. It was released in 1957.-Plot summary:...
(1957) - The Crucible (1957)
- Im SonderauftragIm SonderauftragIm Sonderauftrag is an East German black-and-white film directed by Heinz Thiel. It was released in 1959.-Plot:...
(1959) - Ware für KatalonienWare für KatalonienWare für Katalonien is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Richard Groschopp. It was released in 1959.-Plot:...
(1959) - Thirty Cases of Major ZemanThirty Cases of Major ZemanThirty Cases of Major Zeman is a Czechoslovakian action-drama television show intended as a political propaganda to support the official attitude of the communist party. The series were filmed in the 1970s....
[TV series] (1961) - Frozen FlashesFrozen Flashes (film)Die gefrorenen Blitze is a two-part 1967 East-German film...
(1967) - Ways across the CountryWays across the CountryWays across the Country is a 1968 East German television miniseries, directed by Martin Ackermann.-Episode I:...
[TV series] (1968) - LiberationLiberation (film series)Liberation is an epic five-part film series considered the most large-scale World War II film ever made in the Soviet Union. Filmed from 1967 to 1971, the first part was released during 1970 for the 25th anniversary of Victory Day...
(1970-1) - Trotz alledem! (1972)
- Polizeiruf 110Polizeiruf 110Polizeiruf 110 is a long running German language detective television series. The first episode was broadcast 27 June 1971 in the German Democratic Republic , and after the dissolution of Fernsehen der DDR the series was picked up by ARD...
[TV series] (1972–1990) - Soldiers of FreedomSoldiers of FreedomSoldiers of Freedom is a 1977 film directed by Yuri Ozerov and starring Mikhail Ulyanov, Yevgeny Matveyev, Vasily Lanovoy. Soldiers of Freedom is the World War II historical drama.-Plot:...
(1977) - Bürgschaft für ein JahrBürgschaft für ein JahrBürgschaft für ein Jahr is a 1981 East German drama film directed by Herrmann Zschoche. It was entered into the 32nd Berlin International Film Festival, where Katrin Saß won the Silver Bear for Best Actress.-Cast:* Katrin Saß - Nina Kern...
(1981) - Battle of MoscowBattle of Moscow (film)The Battle of Moscow is a 1985 Soviet two-part film, presenting a dramatized account of the 1941 Battle of Moscow and the events preceding it. The films were a Soviet-East German-Czechoslovak-Vietnamese co-production directed by Yuri Ozerov who also wrote the script...
(1985) - StalingradStalingrad (1989 film)Stalingrad is a 1989 two-part Soviet-East German-Czechoslovak-American co-production directed by Yuri Ozerov, who also wrote the script. The film revolves around the Battle of Stalingrad.-Film I:...
(1989)
External links
- Gerd Michael Henneberg on the Maxim Gorky Theater's website.
- Gerd Michael Henneberg on polizeiruf-110.eu.
- Gerd Michael Henneberg on filmportal.de.
- Gerd Michael Henneberg on kino-teatr.ru.