Gerhard Behrendt facts for kids
Gerhardt Behrendt (born 3 April 1929 in Potsdam, died 26 September 2006 in Berlin) was a talented German director, Puppet designer, and writer. He is most famous for creating the beloved Sandmännchen character for East German television, Deutscher Fernsehfunk.
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Who Was Gerhardt Behrendt?
Gerhardt Behrendt was a creative person who loved art and storytelling. He spent his life bringing characters to life, especially through puppets and animation. His most famous creation, the Sandmännchen, became a bedtime tradition for many children.
Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
Behrendt started his artistic journey in 1943. He began as a painter's apprentice at the Preußisches Staatstheater in Berlin. There, he learned about scenic painting, which is creating backgrounds and sets for plays.
After World War II ended in 1945, he continued his studies at the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin. During this time, he also worked as an actor and a comedian. In 1946, he started working in his chosen field and also drew caricatures, which are funny drawings of people. By 1949, he was officially certified as a set designer.
Creating the Sandmännchen
In 1953, Behrendt began working at DEFA, a famous German film studio. He became a specialist in designing puppets and creating animation. Then, in 1956, he started working for Deutscher Fernsehfunk, the East German television station. There, he directed animated shows, often with a funny, satirical twist. In 1958, he even started his own place called the Puppenstudio, which was a studio just for puppets.
It took him only 14 days in 1959 to create the character of the Sandmännchen. This little character became incredibly famous across Europe. For the Sandmännchen shows, Behrendt did many jobs. He was the writer, the director, the set designer, and the animator.
More Friends for Sandmännchen
Over time, Gerhardt Behrendt added new friends to the Sandmännchen shows. These included characters like Professor Köpfchen, Paul und Stine, the Urvieh, and the Messemännchen. The Messemännchen was a special mascot for the Leipzig Trade Fair, a big event in Germany.
Awards and Later Work
In 1977, a Polish newspaper called Kurier Polski gave him a special award. It was called the Prize of smiles, and it was suggested by Polish children who loved his work.
Behrendt continued working in his studio until the German reunification. This was when East and West Germany became one country again. After this, the East German Television was closed, and he retired. However, he still worked as an independent director and created more puppets.
On 4 April 2005, he received a very important award called the Bundesverdienstkreuz. This is also known as the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. The mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, presented him with this honor. Gerhardt Behrendt was one of the few people who received both this award and the East German Nationalpreis der DDR award.
Gerhardt Behrendt passed away on 26 September 2006 after a long illness. He left behind a wonderful legacy of characters and stories that continue to entertain children.
