Wolfgang Petersen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wolfgang Petersen
Petersen in 2006
Born	(1941-03-14)14 March 1941 Emden, Germany
Died	12 August 2022(2022-08-12) (aged 81) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Film director producer screenwriter
Years active	1961–2016
Spouse(s)	Ursula Sieg ​ ​ (m. 1970; div. 1978)​ Maria Borgel-Petersen ​ (m. 1978)​
Children	1

Wolfgang Petersen (born March 14, 1941 – died August 12, 2022) was a famous German film director, producer, and writer. He was known for making exciting action movies and thrilling adventures.

He was nominated for two Academy Awards (also known as the Oscars) for his World War II submarine film Das Boot (1981). Some of his other well-known films include The NeverEnding Story (1984), In the Line of Fire (1993), Outbreak (1995), Air Force One (1997), The Perfect Storm (2000), and Troy (2004).

Early Life and Learning

Wolfgang Petersen was born in Emden, Germany, on March 14, 1941. His father was a naval officer. From 1953 to 1960, Petersen went to a school called Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums in Hamburg.

He started making his own films with a small 8 mm camera when he was still in school. In the 1960s, he directed plays at a theater in Hamburg. After studying theater in Berlin and Hamburg, Petersen went to the Film and Television Academy in Berlin from 1966 to 1970.

Making Movies and TV Shows

Petersen began his career making shows for German television. He worked on a popular German TV series called Tatort (which means Crime Scene). While working on this show, he met actor Jürgen Prochnow. Prochnow later starred as the U-boat captain in Petersen's famous movie Das Boot. One of his most famous Tatort episodes was Reifezeugnis (Maturity Certificate) in 1977, which featured a young Nastassja Kinski. He directed six episodes of Tatort.

In 1974, Petersen made his first movie for cinemas, a thriller called One or the Other of Us. His next film, Die Konsequenz (1977), was a black-and-white movie about love. It was considered very bold at the time.

Das Boot and Hollywood Success

Petersen's big breakthrough film was the World War II movie Das Boot, released in 1982. This film tells the story of a German submarine crew during the "Battle of the Atlantic". The movie received excellent reviews and was nominated for six Academy Awards. Petersen himself was nominated for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film starred Jürgen Prochnow as the U-boat Captain. This character became a great example of Petersen's action heroes: a brave man facing danger at sea.

From left to right: Stanley O'Toole, Dennis Quaid and Petersen in 1984

After Das Boot, Petersen directed The NeverEnding Story (1984). This was his first film made in English. He then directed Enemy Mine (1985).

In 1993, he had a big hit with the thriller In the Line of Fire, starring Clint Eastwood. This movie gave Petersen the chance to direct more exciting thrillers. He then made Outbreak (1995), starring Dustin Hoffman. In 1997, Petersen directed the blockbuster Air Force One, which was very popular and received good reviews. For both Air Force One and Outbreak, Petersen worked with the German cameraman Michael Ballhaus.

Petersen on the set of Air Force One

By 1998, Petersen was a well-known director in Hollywood. He even re-released his classic film Das Boot with a new "director's cut." He was considered to direct the first Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but he decided not to in March 2000.

In the 2000s, Petersen continued to direct big summer movies. These included The Perfect Storm (2000) and Troy (2004). The success of The Perfect Storm helped his company, Radiant Productions, sign a deal with Warner Bros..

Petersen at the Boulevard der Stars in Berlin

In May 2006, Warner Bros. released Petersen's large-budget film Poseidon. This movie was a new version of the 1969 novel The Poseidon Adventure. While it didn't do as well in the U.S., it made a lot of money internationally.

After a break of ten years, Petersen returned to directing in 2016. He made the comedy Vier gegen die Bank. This was his first German-language film since Das Boot in 1981.

Personal Life

Petersen's first wife was actress Ursula Sieg. They had one son. In 1978, he married his assistant, Maria Borgel. Petersen moved to Los Angeles in 1986 and later became an American citizen.

Death

Wolfgang Petersen passed away on August 12, 2022, at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles. He was 81 years old.

Filmography

Film

Television

TV movies

TV series

See also

In Spanish: Wolfgang Petersen para niños