Curd Jürgens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Curd Jürgens
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Jürgens in 1976
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| Born |
Curd Gustav Andreas Gottlieb Franz Jürgens
13 December 1915 Solln, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
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| Died | 18 June 1982 (aged 66) Vienna, Austria
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| Nationality | Austrian |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1935–1982 |
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) |
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| Awards | Volpi Cup for Best Actor 1955 The Heroes Are Tired |
Curd Jürgens (born December 13, 1915 – died June 18, 1982) was a famous actor from Germany and Austria. He acted in many plays and movies. In English-speaking films, he was often called Curt Jurgens.
He was well-known for playing the character Ernst Udet in the movie Des Teufels General. He also played the villain Karl Stromberg in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977. Other important roles included Éric Carradine in And God Created Woman and Professor Immanuel Rath in The Blue Angel.
Contents
Early Life and Acting Start
Curd Jürgens was born on December 13, 1915, in a town called Solln, which was part of the German Empire. His father, Kurt, was a trader, and his mother, Marie-Albertine, taught French. He had two older twin sisters named Jeanette and Marguerite.
Before becoming an actor, Curd Jürgens worked as a journalist. His first wife, Louise Basler, was an actress. She encouraged him to try acting. He spent a lot of his early acting years performing on stage in Vienna, Austria.
First Films and War Years
Curd Jürgens made his very first movie in 1935. It was called The Royal Waltz, and he played Emperor Franz Joseph I. He also appeared in a comedy called Family Parade in 1935.
During World War II, Jürgens continued to act in films. He played Carl Millöcker in Operetta (1940) and Emperor Joseph II in Whom the Gods Love (1942).
Jürgens did not agree with the Nazi government in Germany. In 1944, he had an argument with some important Nazi officials. Because of this, he was sent to a labor camp in Hungary. After a few weeks, he managed to escape and went into hiding. After the war ended, Jürgens became an Austrian citizen.
Becoming an International Star
After the war, Curd Jürgens continued to act in many films. He started getting lead roles, meaning he was the main character. His big break came in 1955 with the movie Des Teufels General (The Devil's General). In this film, he played a fictional version of a famous German general from World War II, Ernst Udet.
He then starred in The Heroes Are Tired (1955), which was made with a French film company. Another important film was And God Created Woman (1956), where he acted alongside Brigitte Bardot. This movie was a huge success around the world. He also played the main role in Michel Strogoff (1956), which was very popular in France.
By this time, Curd Jürgens was a well-known international film star. He made his first Hollywood movie, The Enemy Below (1957), where he played a German submarine commander. He also appeared in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) with Ingrid Bergman, which was very popular.
In 1959, he starred in a new version of The Blue Angel. He wanted to act in both Hollywood films and movies from other countries so that producers around the world would remember him. He was considered one of the busiest international stars.
Later Career and Stage Work
Curd Jürgens continued to act in many films throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He often played important supporting roles. Some of his later films include Battle of Britain (1969) and Battle of Neretva (1970).
One of his most famous later roles was the villain Karl Stromberg in the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Stromberg was a rich industrialist who wanted to turn the world into an ocean paradise. His very last film was a spy thriller called Teheran 43 (1981).
Besides movies, Jürgens was also a very important stage actor. He was part of several theaters in Vienna. From 1973 to 1977, he played the main role in the famous play Jedermann at the Salzburg Festival. This was a very important role for German-speaking actors.
His last time on stage was in an opera by Mozart called Die Entführung aus dem Serail in 1981. He also tried directing a few films and wrote some screenplays. In 1976, he wrote a book about his life called ... und kein bißchen weise, which means And Not At All Wise.
Personal Life and Legacy
Curd Jürgens had a home in France, but he often went back to Vienna to perform on stage. He was a very tall man, about 1.92 meters (6 feet 3 inches) tall. The actress Brigitte Bardot even nicknamed him "the Norman Wardrobe" because of his height.
He was married five times during his life. His last wife was Margie Schmitz.
Curd Jürgens passed away in Vienna, Austria, on June 18, 1982, at the age of 66. He had suffered a heart attack several years before. He was buried in the Vienna Central Cemetery in a special grave of honor. His burial was a unique night ceremony, with many fans and family members attending. The Austrian Air Force even flew over the cemetery to honor him.
Images for kids
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Jürgens' grave in the Vienna Central Cemetery
See also
In Spanish: Curd Jürgens para niños
