Rolf Hoppe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rolf Hoppe
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Rolf Hoppe in 2009 at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival
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| Born | 6 December 1930 Ellrich, Prussian Saxony, Germany
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| Died | 14 November 2018 (aged 87) |
| Nationality | German |
| Education | Staatliches Konservatorium, Erfurt |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1948–2014 |
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Notable work
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Tři oříšky pro Popelku – Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel ("Three Wishes for Cinderella"), DEFA 1973: role of the King; Mephisto, Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film of 1981: role of the General |
| Spouse(s) | wife: Friederike |
| Children | 2: Josephine and Christine |
Rolf Hoppe (born December 6, 1930 – died November 14, 2018) was a very busy German actor. He acted in plays, movies, and TV shows. His career lasted over sixty years, and he appeared in more than 400 films.
People around the world often remember Hoppe for two main roles. He played "the General" in the movie Mephisto (1981). This film won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. He was also "the King" in the classic holiday movie Three Gifts for Cinderella (1973). This fairytale film was made in East Germany and Czechoslovakia.
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Early Life and Training
Rolf Hoppe was born in Ellrich, Germany. His father was a master baker. After finishing school, Rolf trained to be a baker too. From 1945 to 1948, he worked as a coach driver.
He then moved to Erfurt to study acting. He went to the Staatliches Konservatorium from 1949 to 1951. To support himself during this time, he worked with animals at the Zirkus Aeros.
Becoming an Actor
After his training, Rolf Hoppe started acting in theaters. He performed at the Thalia Theater in Halle. He also worked at the Theater der jungen Welt in Leipzig. This theater was special because it focused on plays for children and young people.
He performed on many famous stages, like the Staatsschauspiel Dresden and the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. He even acted at the Salzburg Festival internationally. Rolf Hoppe also worked in other countries, including Switzerland, Italy, Poland, and China.
Famous Roles in Movies
In movies made in East Germany by DEFA, Hoppe often played bad guys. He was in many "Red Westerns" during the 1960s and 1970s. These were like Western movies but made in Eastern Europe.
One of his most famous roles was in the 1973 fairytale movie Tři oříšky pro Popelku / Drei Haselnüße für Aschenbrödel. This film is known in English as "Three Wishes for Cinderella." In it, he played the King.
Another very important role was "the General" in the drama Mephisto. This character was based on a real historical figure, Hermann Göring. The movie won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1981. In the historical drama Spring Symphony, he played Friedrich Wieck. Wieck was a strict piano teacher and the father of the famous musician Clara Wieck.
Besides movies and TV, Rolf Hoppe also used his voice for children's radio plays and audiobooks. He was the voice of the White Rabbit in the German version of Alice in Wonderland.
Life and Family
Rolf Hoppe passed away on November 14, 2018, in Dresden. He lived in a part of Dresden called Weißig. He was buried in the Waldfriedhof Weisser Hirsch cemetery in Dresden.
He was married to Friederike, and they had two daughters. Their daughters are named Josephine and Christine. Christine Hoppe also became an actress. His grandson, Oscar Hoppe, is also an actor.
Awards and Recognition
Rolf Hoppe received many awards for his acting:
- 1971: He won the National Prize of East Germany for art and literature.
- 1981: He received the Critics Award from the Hungarian Journalist Association for his role in Mephisto.
- 1995: He was given the Lessing Prize of the Free State of Saxony.
- 1998: He won the Grimme-Preis for his role in the TV show Sardsch.
- 2005: He received the Goldene Henne award for his achievements over his lifetime.
- 2007: He was honored with the Art Award from the City of Dresden.
- 2010: He received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, which is a very high honor.
