Oskar Werner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oskar Werner
Werner in 1947
Born	Oskar Josef Bschließmayer (1922-11-13)13 November 1922 Vienna, Austria
Died	23 October 1984(1984-10-23) (aged 61) Marburg an der Lahn, Hesse, West Germany
Resting place	Triesen, Liechtenstein
Years active	1939–1984
Spouse(s)	Elisabeth Kallina ​ ​ (m. 1944; div. 1952)​ Anne Power ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1968)​
Partner(s)	Diana Bennett Wanger (1965–1969)
Children	2

Oskar Werner (born Oskar Josef Bschließmayer; November 13, 1922 – October 23, 1984) was a famous Austrian actor. He starred in many plays and movies. Some of his most well-known films include The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Ship of Fools, both from 1965. He also appeared in Jules and Jim (1962) and Fahrenheit 451 (1966).

Oskar Werner was recognized for his talent. He won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for other important awards like the Academy Award and the BAFTA Award.

Early Life and Acting Dreams

Oskar Werner was born in Vienna, Austria. He spent a lot of his childhood with his grandmother. She told him exciting stories about the Burgtheater, which is a famous theater in Austria. These stories made him dream of becoming an actor.

When he was 18, Oskar was accepted into the Burgtheater. He was the youngest person ever to join this respected theater! He started using the stage name Oskar Werner for his acting roles. His first play was in October 1941.

During World War II, Oskar was called to join the military. He did not agree with the ideas of the Nazis. He tried to avoid fighting. He was given simple jobs like peeling potatoes. In 1944, he married actress Elisabeth Kallina. She had a Jewish background, which was dangerous at that time.

They had a daughter named Eleanore. Later that year, Oskar left the military. He and his family hid in the Vienna Woods until the war ended. This kept them safe during a very difficult time.

Oskar Werner's Acting Career

After the war, Oskar Werner returned to acting. He performed in many plays at the Burgtheater and other theaters. He often played interesting characters.

First Films and International Recognition

Oskar made his first movie in 1948. It was called Der Engel mit der Posaune. The next year, he played Karl, the nephew of the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven, in the film Eroica.

In 1950, Oskar went to the United Kingdom. He acted in the English version of The Angel with the Trumpet. After this, he made a few more German-Austrian films. Then, he went to Hollywood for a big role in the war movie Decision Before Dawn.

After Hollywood, Oskar returned to Europe. He lived in Triesen, Liechtenstein. He continued to act on stage. He performed in famous plays like Hamlet and Henry V.

He didn't make many movies for a while. But in 1955, he appeared in five films. One of them was Mozart, where he played the main character, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It wasn't until 1962, when he starred in Jules and Jim, that he became famous around the world.

Later Successes and Awards

Oskar Werner's role as Dr. Schumann in the 1965 film Ship of Fools was very successful. He won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor. He was also nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

In the same year, he played Fiedler in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. For this role, he won a Golden Globe Award. He also received another BAFTA nomination.

In 1966, Oskar starred in François Truffaut's movie Fahrenheit 451. He played Guy Montag, a fireman who burns books in a world where reading is forbidden. He then rebels against this system. In 1968, he played an orchestra conductor in Interlude. He also played a priest in The Shoes of the Fisherman.

In the early 1970s, Oskar went back to stage acting. He also traveled to many countries. In 1975, he appeared in an episode of the TV show Columbo. His last movie role was in Voyage of the Damned in 1976. He received another Golden Globe nomination for this film.

His last stage performance was in 1983. He made his final public appearance in 1984, just before he passed away.

Personal Life

In 1944, Oskar Werner married Elisabeth Kallina. They had a daughter named Eleanore. They later divorced in 1952. In 1954, he married Anne Power. She was the daughter of actress Annabella. They divorced in 1968. Oskar also had a son named Felix Florian Werner, born in 1966.

Oskar Werner passed away on October 23, 1984, at the age of 61. He had a heart attack. He is buried in Liechtenstein.

Filmography and Television Work

Images for kids

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  Oskar Werner in 1947.

See also

• List of Austrian film actors
• List of German-speaking Academy Award winners and nominees
• List of Liechtensteiners
• List of people from Vienna