Karlheinz Hackl facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Karlheinz Hackl
Hackl and his wife in 2009
Born	(1949-05-16)16 May 1949 Vienna
Died	1 June 2014(2014-06-01) (aged 65) Vienna
Education	Vienna University of Economics and Business

Karlheinz Hackl (born May 16, 1949 – died June 1, 2014) was a talented actor and theater director from Austria. He performed in many different ways, including on stage, in movies, on TV, and even singing in cabaret shows.

About Karlheinz Hackl

Karlheinz Hackl grew up in Vienna, Austria, in a place called Theodor-Körner-Hof. He was an only child and came from a modest but stable family. After finishing high school, he started studying business at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. However, he soon discovered his passion for acting and began taking lessons at a private drama school in Vienna called Krauss. His acting career officially began in 1972 at the Theater der Courage in Vienna.

Early Career and Stage Success

From 1974 to 1976, Hackl performed at the Volkstheater in Vienna. After that, he moved to Germany to act at the Thalia-Theater in Hamburg. In 1978, he returned to Austria and joined the famous Burgtheater in Vienna. He quickly became a favorite among the audience there.

In 1988, Karlheinz Hackl tried something new: he directed a play for the first time at the Volkstheater. This showed he was not just a great actor but also had a talent for directing.

Movies, TV, and Teaching

Karlheinz Hackl also appeared in many movies and television shows. He worked with well-known directors like Axel Corti and Alan J. Pakula. One of his most famous movie roles was in Sophie's Choice. In this film, he played a very difficult and intense character. He was also known for playing female roles on stage, like in the musical La Cage aux Folles at the Volkstheater, which became one of his signature performances.

Starting in 1996, Hackl began teaching acting at the Max Reinhardt Seminar, a well-known drama school in Vienna. In 1997, he married Austrian actress Maria Köstlinger. He also wrote a book about his life, which was published in 2009.

Facing Challenges

In 2003, Karlheinz Hackl was diagnosed with a serious illness. However, he bravely fought it and made a strong recovery. By 2005, he was back on stage and continued to appear in movies and TV shows.

In 2009, he shared his experiences by publishing a book about his journey with cancer and his long recovery. He also recorded a music CD, singing cover versions of songs by the Austrian singer Georg Danzer.

In 2012, Hackl received the Nestroy award, which is a very important Austrian award for theater professionals. This showed how much his work was appreciated. Sadly, in mid-2013, he became ill again during a performance. Karlheinz Hackl passed away on June 1, 2014, in Vienna, at the age of 65.

Movies and TV Shows