Josef Kainz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Josef Kainz
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| Born | 2 January 1858 Moson, Hungary, Austrian Empire
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| Died | 20 September 1910 (aged 52) |
| Resting place | Döbling Cemetery, Vienna |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1873–1910 |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Hutzler (1886–1893) |
Josef Gottfried Ignaz Kainz (born January 2, 1858 – died September 20, 1910) was a very famous Austrian actor. He was born in Hungary and performed a lot in theaters. From 1873 to 1910, he was highly active in Austria and Germany. Many people thought he was one of the greatest actors who performed in the German-speaking world. The city of Vienna even had a special award named after him, the Kainz Medal. This award was given every year from 1958 to 1999 for amazing acting. Later, it was replaced by the Nestroy Theatre Award.
Josef Kainz's Early Life
Josef Kainz was born in the town of Moson in 1858. At that time, Moson was part of the Austrian Empire. Today, it is part of Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary. His father worked there for the railroad.
In 1867, Josef's family moved back to Vienna. Josef started his acting career when he was just 15 years old. After that, he performed in theaters in different cities. These cities included Maribor, Leipzig, and Meiningen.
A Star on Stage
Starting in 1880, Josef Kainz worked with Ernst von Possart at the National Theatre Munich. He became a favorite actor of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. King Ludwig II loved Josef's acting so much that Josef would perform just for the king! In 1881, Josef and King Ludwig II even traveled together to Lake Lucerne.
A few years later, in 1884, Josef Kainz joined a new theater group. This was at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. There, he became incredibly popular. He played many famous roles, like Hamlet and Richard II. He also performed in plays by Schiller, such as Don Carlos, and as Franz Moor in The Robbers.
In 1888, he moved to the Berliner Theater with director Ludwig Barnay. However, they soon had disagreements. This led to Josef being temporarily banned from performing on German stages because he broke his contract. He then toured in other countries for several years. In 1892, he was able to return to the Deutsches Theater.
Finally, in 1899, Josef Kainz got a job at the famous Vienna Burgtheater. He was given the special title of Hofschauspieler, which means "Court Actor." At the Burgtheater, he continued to play important characters. Some of these included Shylock in The Merchant of Venice and the main character in Tartuffe.
Later Years and Passing
Josef Kainz sadly passed away from cancer in Vienna. He was 52 years old. This happened just a few days after he was chosen to be the director of the Burgtheater. His body is buried at the Döbling Cemetery in Vienna.
