Rolf Herricht
Encyclopedia
Rolf Oskar Ewald Günter Herricht (October 5, 1927 – August 23, 1981), was an East German comedian.
designated to free school pupils to be mobilized. In 1945, he was drafted to the Volkssturm
and assigned as an anti-aircraft battery assistant.
After the war's end, he began working as property master and stage manager in a theater in his native Magdeburg
, while studying acting in a local studio. After completion, he went to appear on the stages of theaters in Salzwedel
, Stendal
, Staßfurt
, Güstrow
and also in the Kleist Theater in Frankfurt am Oder.
in 1951, while they both worked in Bernburg
. The two formed the 'Herricht and Preil' comedy duo, staging their first sketch - 'The Chess Match', in which Preil vainly attempts to play chess with Herricht, who is completely oblivious to the rules of the game - already during 1953. In their act, Herricht played the part of 'comic', while Preil served as the 'straight man'. The pair were active until Herricht's passing away.
At 1957, Herricht returned to the Magdeburg Theater, where he remained until 1961. He mainly played comical characters, like the scribe in The Beaver Coat
and the drunkard from Auerbach's Cellar at Faust I.
During his time in Magdeburg, he also worked in the radio. In 1959, he and Preil made their first performance on television, as one of their sketches was broadcast by Deutscher Fernsehfunk
. The show was well received by the audience, and the two began making regular appearances on TV. Herricht and Preil became the German Democratic Republic
's most celebrated comedians.
Herricht appeared on screen in relatively minor roles until writer Maurycy Janowski and director Gottfried Kolditz decided to create a film the plot of which would be based on his comical skill, the 1964 Geliebte weiße Maus
. Herricht portrayed a traffic policeman who falls in love with a woman and only dares speak to her when she makes an accident on the road. The picture met with considerable success. Herricht starred in several other popular DEFA comedies during the 1960s and the 1970s: among others, he played the erratic National People's Army
reserve soldier Ralf Horricht in the 1965 Der Reserveheld
and the last-minute-travel-guide Hurtig in the 1967 Meine Freundin Sybille
. His 1965 Hände hoch oder ich schieße, in which he again appeared as an eccentric policeman, was banned in the 11th Plenum of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
and only released at 2009.
Herricht was twice awarded the Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic
: on 17 May 1973 and on 13 May 1977.
He died of a heart attack at the age of 53, while performing the role of one of the gangsters in Kiss Me, Kate
on the stage of the Metropol. He is buried in Berlin's I Französischer Friedhof.
Early life
Herricht graduated from school in 1943 after passing a 'War Abitur', a form of an AbiturAbitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
designated to free school pupils to be mobilized. In 1945, he was drafted to the Volkssturm
Volkssturm
The Volkssturm was a German national militia of the last months of World War II. It was founded on Adolf Hitler's orders on October 18, 1944 and conscripted males between the ages of 16 to 60 years who were not already serving in some military unit as part of a German Home Guard.-Origins and...
and assigned as an anti-aircraft battery assistant.
After the war's end, he began working as property master and stage manager in a theater in his native Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
, while studying acting in a local studio. After completion, he went to appear on the stages of theaters in Salzwedel
Salzwedel
Salzwedel of Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, and has a population of approximately 21,500. Salzwedel is located on the German Framework Road.-Geography:...
, Stendal
Stendal
Stendal is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is the capital of Stendal District and unofficial capital of the Altmark. Its population in 2001 was 38,900. It is located some west of Berlin and around east of Hanover...
, Staßfurt
Staßfurt
Staßfurt is a town in the Salzlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on both sides of the river Bode, approximately northeast of Aschersleben, and south of Magdeburg. Pop. 23,538....
, Güstrow
Güstrow
Güstrow is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany the capital of the district of Güstrow. It has a population of 30,500 and is the seventh largest town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Since 2006 Güstrow has the official suffix Barlachstadt.-Geography:The town of Güstrow is located...
and also in the Kleist Theater in Frankfurt am Oder.
Breakthrough
Herricht first met fellow actor Hans-Joachim PreilHans-Joachim Preil
Hans-Joachim Preil was an East German comedian.-Biography:Preil begun studying acting at 1939. He later appeared on the stages of theaters in Quedlinburg, Aschersleben, Bernburg and Magdeburg. During 1951, he met fellow actor Rolf Herricht. The two founded a comedy duo, 'Herricht & Preil', making...
in 1951, while they both worked in Bernburg
Bernburg
Bernburg is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, capital of the district of Salzlandkreis. It is situated on the river Saale, approx. 30 km downstream from Halle. The town is dominated by its huge Renaissance castle featuring a museum as well as a popular, recently updated bear pit in its...
. The two formed the 'Herricht and Preil' comedy duo, staging their first sketch - 'The Chess Match', in which Preil vainly attempts to play chess with Herricht, who is completely oblivious to the rules of the game - already during 1953. In their act, Herricht played the part of 'comic', while Preil served as the 'straight man'. The pair were active until Herricht's passing away.
At 1957, Herricht returned to the Magdeburg Theater, where he remained until 1961. He mainly played comical characters, like the scribe in The Beaver Coat
The Beaver Coat
The Beaver Coat is a satirical play by Gerhart Hauptmann premiered in Berlin in 1893.The work is an example of a German naturalistic Diebskomödie, or 'thief's comedy'. The drama takes place "somewhere in Berlin... around the end of the eighties"...
and the drunkard from Auerbach's Cellar at Faust I.
During his time in Magdeburg, he also worked in the radio. In 1959, he and Preil made their first performance on television, as one of their sketches was broadcast by Deutscher Fernsehfunk
Deutscher Fernsehfunk
Deutscher Fernsehfunk , known from 1972 to 1990 as Fernsehen der DDR , was the state television broadcaster in East Germany.-Foundation:...
. The show was well received by the audience, and the two began making regular appearances on TV. Herricht and Preil became the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
's most celebrated comedians.
Height of career
Herricht made his film debut in DEFA's 1959 comedy Before the Lightning Strikes, playing a minor part of a locomotive constructor. Herricht later appeared in some twenty cinema productions, while also playing in many television films. In 1964, he joined the regular cast of the Metropol Theater in Berlin. He also had a career as a singer.Herricht appeared on screen in relatively minor roles until writer Maurycy Janowski and director Gottfried Kolditz decided to create a film the plot of which would be based on his comical skill, the 1964 Geliebte weiße Maus
Geliebte weiße Maus
Geliebte weiße Maus is a 1964 East German musical film.-Cast:* Rolf Herricht: Fritz Bachmann* Karin Schröder: Helene Bräuer* Marianne Wünscher: Mrs. Messmer* Gerd Ehlers: Mr...
. Herricht portrayed a traffic policeman who falls in love with a woman and only dares speak to her when she makes an accident on the road. The picture met with considerable success. Herricht starred in several other popular DEFA comedies during the 1960s and the 1970s: among others, he played the erratic National People's Army
National People's Army
The National People’s Army were the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic .The NVA was established in 1956 and disestablished in 1990. There were frequent reports of East German advisors with Communist African countries during the Cold War...
reserve soldier Ralf Horricht in the 1965 Der Reserveheld
Der Reserveheld
Der Reserveheld is an East German film. It was released in 1965....
and the last-minute-travel-guide Hurtig in the 1967 Meine Freundin Sybille
Meine Freundin Sybille
Meine Freundin Sybille is an East German film. It was released in 1967.-Cast:* Rolf Herricht: Hurtig* Hanns-Michael Schmidt: Ronny* Evelyn Opoczynski: Sybille* Eva-Maria Hagen: Helena* Helga Göring: Mrs. Mücke* Arthur Jopp: Sybille's father...
. His 1965 Hände hoch oder ich schieße, in which he again appeared as an eccentric policeman, was banned in the 11th Plenum of 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...
and only released at 2009.
Herricht was twice awarded the Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic
Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic
The Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic was an East German state award bestowed on individuals for contributions in various fields of art.-History:...
: on 17 May 1973 and on 13 May 1977.
He died of a heart attack at the age of 53, while performing the role of one of the gangsters in Kiss Me, Kate
Kiss Me, Kate
Kiss Me, Kate is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It is structured as a play within a play, where the interior play is a musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The original production starred Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang.Kiss...
on the stage of the Metropol. He is buried in Berlin's I Französischer Friedhof.
Cinema
- 1959: Bevor der Blitz einschlägtBevor der Blitz einschlägtBevor der Blitz einschlägt is an East German comedy film directed by Richard Groschopp. It was released in 1959.-Plot:...
- 1959: MusterknabenMusterknabenMusterknaben is an East German romantic comedy film, directed by Johannes Knittel. It was released in 1959.-Plot:...
- 1960: Seilergasse 8
- 1961: For Eyes OnlyFor Eyes OnlyFor Eyes Only is an East German espionage film. It was released in 1963.-Plot:1961, West Germany. Hansen is a man who escaped from the German Democratic Republic and now works for an American company called Concordia...
- 1962: Auf der SonnenseiteOn the Sunny Side (film)On the Sunny Side is an East German musical comedy film, directed by Ralf Kirsten and starring Manfred Krug. It was released in 1962.-Plot:...
- 1964: Geliebte weiße MausGeliebte weiße MausGeliebte weiße Maus is a 1964 East German musical film.-Cast:* Rolf Herricht: Fritz Bachmann* Karin Schröder: Helene Bräuer* Marianne Wünscher: Mrs. Messmer* Gerd Ehlers: Mr...
- 1965: Der ReserveheldDer ReserveheldDer Reserveheld is an East German film. It was released in 1965....
- 1965: Nichts als Sünde
- 1966/2009: Hände hoch oder ich schieße
- 1967: Meine Freundin SybilleMeine Freundin SybilleMeine Freundin Sybille is an East German film. It was released in 1967.-Cast:* Rolf Herricht: Hurtig* Hanns-Michael Schmidt: Ronny* Evelyn Opoczynski: Sybille* Eva-Maria Hagen: Helena* Helga Göring: Mrs. Mücke* Arthur Jopp: Sybille's father...
- 1968: Hauptmann Florian von der MühleHauptmann Florian von der MühleHauptmann Florian von der Mühle is an East German film. It was released in 1968.-Cast:* Manfred Krug: Florian* Regina Beyer: Duchess Guastalla* Rolf Herricht: Amadeus* Gisela Bestehorn: Baroness Colloredo* Jutta Klöppel: Fanny Schauendorf...
- 1968: 12 Uhr mittags kommt der Boß
- 1969: Mit mir nicht, Madam!
- 1969: Der Weihnachtsmann heißt Willi
- 1969: Seine Hoheit – Genosse PrinzSeine Hoheit – Genosse PrinzSeine Hoheit - Genosse Prinz is an East German film. It was released in 1969.-Cast:* Rolf Ludwig: Kaspar Mai / Eitel Friedrich Prince of Hohenlohe-Liebenstein* Regina Beyer: Angelika Engel* Jutta Wachowiak: Princess Diana* Ilse Voigt: Spreewald Emma...
- 1970: Husaren in Berlin
- 1971: Chyornye sukhari
- 1972: Der Mann, der nach der Oma kam
- 1972: Nicht schummeln, Liebling!
- 1977: DEFA Disko 77
- 1979: Der Baulöwe
Television
- 1959: Wie die Wilden
- 1960: Zweimal Madeleine
- 1961: Gastspiele im Dschungel
- 1961: Kater Lampe
- 1961: Bodo Baddy's bunte Bühne
- 1962: Was halten Sie von Musik?
- 1963: Komm mit mir nach Montevideo
- 1965: Muss das sein?
- 1966: Drei leichte Fälle
- 1969: Tolle Tage
- 1970: Der Schein trügt
- 1972: Der Mann seiner Frau
- 1973: Ein gewisser Katulla
- 1974: Schultze mit "tz"
- 1974: So eine Frau...
- 1974: Alle Haare wieder
- 1975: Mein lieber Kokoschinsky
- 1976: Keine Hochzeit ohne Ernst (Bunbury)
- 1976: Fürs ganze Leben
- 1976: Heute Ruhetag
- 1976: Frauen sind Männersache
- 1976: Maxe Baumann - Ferien ohne Ende
- 1977: Umwege ins Glück
- 1977: Der rasende Roland
- 1977: Ehe man Ehefrau bleibt
- 1977: Urlaub nach Prospekt
- 1977: Du und icke und Berlin
- 1977: Maxe Baumann - Keine Ferien für Max
- 1978: Ein Hahn im Korb
- 1978: Maxe Baumann - Max auf Reisen
- 1979: Maxe Baumann - Überraschung für Max
- 1980: Maxe Baumann - Max in Moritzhagen
Singles
- Ausgerechnet Blechmusik
- Die Eiszeit Kommt Wieder
- Die Vielweiberei
- Gelber Mond
- Ich bin auf den Hund gekommen
- Ich bin ein Star des Fußballplatzgesangsvereins
- Ich soll stets die Leute nur zum Lachen bringen
- Immer dieser Ärger mit den Kleinen )
- Klamotten-Rag
- Laubenpiepergartenhundefest
- Mein grüner Papagei
- Oh, dieser Jazz
- Wenn Sie mich so anseh'n
External links
- Rolf Herricht on the IMDb.
- A collection of 'Herricht & Preil' sketches on MDR.de.