Viggo Wiehe
Encyclopedia
Viggo Hjalmar Wiehe was a Danish stage and film actor whose career spanned over five decades.
, Denmark
, he was the son of actor and opera singer Johan Henrik Wiehe and Fanny Wiehe (née Petersen). He began his stage career as a dramatic actor under the tutelage of Karl Mantzius and Olaf Poulsen
from 1897 to 1899 and later studied later at the Royal Theatre. He made his stage debut at the Folketeatret (People's Theatre) in a production by writer Herman Bang
in 1899. He was then engaged at Oddgeir Stephensen's theater company, and from 1922 to 1923 at the Odense
Folketeater, Odense Theatre, and then among other theatres throughout Denmark such as the Dagmar Theatre, Casino Theatre and Det ny Teater (The New Theatre) in Copenhaven.
Wiehe began appearing in films in 1912 and from 1912 to 1930, he appeared in approximately twenty-five silent film
s. One of his most popular starring roles of the silent film era was that of Søren Qvist, a village minister with a short-temper who is accused of murdering his unlikeable servant in the 1922 August Blom
-directed mystery Praesten i Vejlby
(The Vicar of Vejlby). Wiehe is often also recalled for his role as Count de Chambord in director Carl Theodor Dreyer
's 1921 drama Leaves from Satan's Book
. Wiehe made the transition to sound film with relative ease and spent the 1930s appearing in several roles in Danish films, as well as continuing his career on stage. His last film befire retiring was a small role in Lau Lauritzen-directed Røverne fra Rold.
.
Career
Born in CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, he was the son of actor and opera singer Johan Henrik Wiehe and Fanny Wiehe (née Petersen). He began his stage career as a dramatic actor under the tutelage of Karl Mantzius and Olaf Poulsen
Olaf Poulsen
Olaf Poulsen was perhaps the best-known Danish comedic stage actor of his time. He was famous for playing such roles as Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Falstaff, among others for the Royal Danish Theatre. His performance as Old Ekdal in an 1885 production of Henrik Ibsen's The Wild...
from 1897 to 1899 and later studied later at the Royal Theatre. He made his stage debut at the Folketeatret (People's Theatre) in a production by writer Herman Bang
Herman Bang
Herman Joachim Bang was a Danish author, one of the men of the Modern Breakthrough.-Biography:Bang was born into a noble family of Asserballe, on the small Danish island of Als, the son of a South Jutlandic vicar...
in 1899. He was then engaged at Oddgeir Stephensen's theater company, and from 1922 to 1923 at the Odense
Odense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
Folketeater, Odense Theatre, and then among other theatres throughout Denmark such as the Dagmar Theatre, Casino Theatre and Det ny Teater (The New Theatre) in Copenhaven.
Wiehe began appearing in films in 1912 and from 1912 to 1930, he appeared in approximately twenty-five silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s. One of his most popular starring roles of the silent film era was that of Søren Qvist, a village minister with a short-temper who is accused of murdering his unlikeable servant in the 1922 August Blom
August Blom
August Blom was a Danish film director, production leader and pioneer of silent films during the "golden age" of Danish filmmaking from 1910 to 1914.-Career:...
-directed mystery Praesten i Vejlby
Praesten i Vejlby (1922 film)
The Vicar of Vejlby is a 1922 Danish crime mystery film directed by August Blom. It is also known as The Hand of Fate. The silent film is based on a novella by Steen Steensen Blicher about a true murder case from 1626. The story was adapted later by George Schnéevoigt The Vicar of Vejlby is a...
(The Vicar of Vejlby). Wiehe is often also recalled for his role as Count de Chambord in director Carl Theodor Dreyer
Carl Theodor Dreyer
Carl Theodor Dreyer, Jr. was a Danish film director. He is regarded by many critics and filmmakers as one of the greatest directors in cinema.-Life:Dreyer was born illegitimate in Copenhagen, Denmark...
's 1921 drama Leaves from Satan's Book
Leaves from Satan's Book
Leaves from Satan's Book is a 1921 drama film directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer and starring Helge Nissen.-Synopsis:Satan has been cast out from hell and banished to Earth under decree of heaven. He can return, only through a series of temptations. However, for every soul who gives in to his...
. Wiehe made the transition to sound film with relative ease and spent the 1930s appearing in several roles in Danish films, as well as continuing his career on stage. His last film befire retiring was a small role in Lau Lauritzen-directed Røverne fra Rold.
Personal life
Viggo Wiehe was married Danish actress Anna Marie Reich Christiansen (1883 - 1962) on 31 October 1912 in Frederiksberg Church in Copenhagen. The couple remained married until his death in 1956 at the age of 81. He was buried at the Holmens Kirkegård cemetery in ØsterbroØsterbro
Østerbro is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located just north of the city centre, outside the old city gate Østerport which, after it was moved around 1700, used to be located close to present-day Østerport Station...
.