Buddy Elias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buddy Elias
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Elias on a reading in the Anne Frank Zentrum in Berlin 2012
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| Born |
Bernhardt Paul Elias
2 June 1925 |
| Died | 16 March 2015 (aged 89) |
| Spouse(s) |
Gerti Wiedner
(m. 1965) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Otto Frank (maternal uncle) Anne Frank (cousin) Margot Frank (cousin) Robert Frank (maternal uncle) Herbert Frank (maternal uncle) Michael Frank (maternal grandfather) Alice Frank (maternal grandmother) |
Bernhard Paul "Buddy" Elias (born June 2, 1925 – died March 16, 2015) was a Swiss actor. He was also the president of the Anne Frank Fonds. This foundation works to keep the memory of his cousin, Anne Frank, alive.
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About Buddy Elias
Buddy Elias was born in Frankfurt, Germany, on June 2, 1925. His mother, Helene "Leni" Frank, was the younger sister of Anne Frank's father, Otto Frank. This made Buddy Anne Frank's cousin. His father, Erich Elias, became the head of a company called Opekta in Basel, Switzerland, in 1929.
Moving to Switzerland
In 1931, Buddy moved to Basel with his mother and brother, Stephan. Two years later, his grandmother, Alice Frank, also joined them. Otto Frank, Anne's father, often visited his family in Basel. He sometimes brought his daughters, Anne and Margot, with him. They also met in a place called Sils Maria.
Buddy had a good relationship with both Margot and Anne. Anne was four years younger than him. Like Buddy, she loved ice-skating.
His Career and Family
In 1947, Buddy Elias joined a famous ice-skating show called Holiday on Ice. He was the main comedian in the show. He traveled around the world with them for more than 14 years.
After his time with Holiday on Ice, he returned to Basel. He then started a new career as an actor. He performed on stage in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
In 1965, Buddy married Gertrud "Gerti" Wiedner, who was an Austrian actress. They had two sons, Patrick and Oliver, who also became actors. From 1972 onwards, Buddy Elias appeared in nearly 80 different movies and TV shows.
Keeping Anne Frank's Memory Alive
Buddy Elias was the last close family member of Anne Frank who was still alive. Anne Frank was a young girl who wrote a famous diary during the Holocaust. She died in a concentration camp in 1945. Her book, The Diary of a Young Girl, is known all over the world and has been translated into more than 70 languages.
The Anne Frank Fonds was started in 1963 by Otto Frank, Anne's father. After Otto Frank passed away in 1980, Buddy Elias became a member of the foundation's board. He later became its president. He worked hard to keep Anne Frank's story and message alive. He gave many talks and interviews about the Holocaust and Anne Frank. Buddy Elias also supported projects that fought against racism and hatred towards Jewish people. As president of the Anne Frank Fonds, he helped bring together the family's important papers and items at the Jewish Museum Frankfurt.
Buddy Elias lived with his wife, Gerti, in Basel, Switzerland. He passed away there on March 16, 2015.
Movies and TV Shows
Buddy Elias appeared in many films and television productions. Here are some of them:
- 1979: Drei Damen vom Grill (TV series)
- 1979: David
- 1979: The Magician of Lublin
- 1981: Wie der Mond über Feuer und Blut
- 1981: Charlotte
- 1982: The Magic Mountain
- 1982: Kassettenliebe
- 1983: Das Traumschiff
- 1987: Die Schwarzwaldklinik
- 1987: Bang! You're Dead!
- 1989–1992: Mit Leib und Seele (ZDF TV series)
- 1990: Die Frosch-Intrige
- 1991: Bronstein's Children
- 1993: Wolffs Revier
- 1995: My Mother's Courage
- 1998: Totalschaden
- 1999: St. Angela
- 1999: Tatort (part Bienzle und die lange Wut)
- 2002: Edel & Starck (part Das Soufflé der Götter)
- 2004: Bella Block (part Hinter den Spiegeln)
- 2004: Was nützt die Liebe in Gedanken
- 2006: Alles Atze (part Die Rückkehr des Lehrers)
- 2009: Hunkeler und der Fall Livius
- 2014: The Monuments Men
Audio Plays
Buddy Elias also lent his voice to several audio plays:
- Die Abenteuer des Odysseus. Book by Jürgen Knop, Director Ulli Herzog, 1982.
- Hugo Rendler: Finkbeiners Geburtstag. Radio-Tatort, SWR 2010.
- Bibi Blocksberg: Ein verhexter Urlaub
- Benjamin Blümchen as Rudi Rundleder.
Awards and Recognition
Buddy Elias received several awards for his work and dedication:
- 2012: Ehrenplakette der Stadt Frankfurt am Main (Medal of Honour of the City Frankfurt am Main)
- 2007: Basler Stern
See also
In Spanish: Buddy Elias para niños
