Gottfried John

Gottfried John
Gottfried John
	Gottfried John at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival
Born	29 August 1942; Berlin, Germany
Died	1 September 2014 (aged 72); Utting am Ammersee, Germany
Occupation	Actor
Spouse	Brigitte John (2004–2014; his death)

Gottfried John (German: [ˈjoːn];^[1] 29 August 1942 – 1 September 2014) was a German stage, screen, and voice actor. A long-time collaborator of Rainer Werner Fassbinder, John appeared in nine of the filmmaker's projects between 1975 and 1981, the year before Fassbinder's death, including Eight Hours Don't Make a Day, Mother Küsters Goes to Heaven, Despair, The Marriage of Maria Braun, and Berlin Alexanderplatz. His distinctive, gaunt appearance saw him frequently cast as villains, and he is best known to audiences for his role as the corrupt General Arkady Ourumov in the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye, and for his comedic turn as Julius Caesar in Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar, the latter for which he won the Bavarian Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.

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John was born in Berlin, Germany, on 29 August 1942.^{[citation needed]} In World War II, he and his mother were evacuated to East Prussia; his father, whom he never met, was married to another woman.^{[citation needed]} He grew up with his single-parent mother and in several protectories; John fled from one when he was 15 years old and returned to his mother, who was living in Paris.^{[citation needed]}

In Paris, he earned a living as a pavement artist and construction worker, returning to Berlin in 1960.^[2]^[3]^[4]

During the 1970s and early 1980s, John was cast by director Rainer Werner Fassbinder in several of his projects, in particular as Reinhold in the Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) mini-series.^{[citation needed]}

He was internationally known for his portrayal of General Arkady Ourumov in the James Bond film GoldenEye and Julius Caesar in Asterix and Obelix take on Caesar.^{[citation needed]}

For many years, he lived in Kelmis, Belgium, just over the border from Aachen, until 2008. John then lived with his wife, Brigitte, in Utting am Ammersee, near Munich, Germany, from 2008 until his death.^[5]

On 1 September 2014, it was announced that John had died in Utting am Ammersee of cancer aged 72.^[6]

Filmography

Café Oriental (1962) (uncredited)
Das Mädchen und der Staatsanwalt (1962), as Train passenger (uncredited)
Jaider, der einsame Jäger (1971), as Jaider
Carlos (1971, TV Movie), as Carlos
Eight Hours Don't Make a Day (1972–1973, TV Series), as Jochen
World on a Wire (1973, TV Movie), as Einstein
Mother Küsters' Trip to Heaven (1975), as Niemeyer
Der Kommissar: Der Held des Tages (1976, TV series episode), as Werner Stimmel
Derrick: Das Superding (1976, TV series episode), as Krummbach
Und Rosa und Marilyn und ... (1977, TV Movie)
The Stationmaster's Wife (1977, TV Movie), as Divorce lawyer
Edwards Film (1977, TV Movie)
Despair (1978), as Perebrodov
Fedora (1978), as Kritos
Marija (1978, TV Movie), as Filipp
1982: Gutenbach (1978, TV Movie), as Peter Kessel
In a Year of 13 Moons (1978), as Anton Saitz
Die Ratten (1979, TV Movie), as Bruno Mechelke
Wo die Liebe hinfällt (1979, anthology film, TV Movie)
The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979), as Willi Klenze
Theodor Chindler [de] (1979, TV miniseries), as Clemens Koch
The Great Runaway [de] (1979, TV miniseries), as Mr. Adam
Reiseabrechnung (1980, TV Movie)
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980, TV miniseries), as Reinhold
Lili Marleen (1981), as Aaron
Ente oder Trente (1982)
Privalov's Millions [bg] (1982, TV miniseries), as Loskutow
Die Matrosen von Kronstadt (1983, TV Movie), as Petritschenko
Super (1984), as Police Officer Hilpert
Chinese Boxes (1984), as Zwemmer
Bartolome oder Die Rückkehr der weißen Götter (1985, TV Movie), as Bartolomé de las Casas
Mata Hari (1985), as Wolff
Verworrene Bilanzen (1985, TV Movie), as Karl M. Kronen
Ein Fall für zwei: Fluchtgeld (1985, TV series episode), as Hans Beckers
Die Mitläufer (1985)
Otto – Der Film (1985), as Sonnemann
Die Schwärmer (1985, TV Movie), as Stader
Das Gehirn zu Pferde (1986, TV Movie), as The Playwright
Of Pure Blood (1986, TV Movie), as Paul Bergmann
Franza (1986, TV Movie), as Captain
The Winner Takes All (1987, TV Movie), as Ulrich Vogtmann
Game, Set and Match (1988, TV series), as Eric Stinnes
Schön war die Zeit (1988), as Franz Bauer
Ein Fall für zwei: Seitensprung (1989, TV series episode), as Markus Meyer
Blaues Blut [fr]: Tödliches Wochenende (1990, TV series episode), as Mr. Mannheim
Wings of Fame (1990), as Zlatogorski
Drehort Pfarrhaus (1990, TV miniseries), as Pfarrer Achim Hollweg
La piovra, season 5 [it] (1990, TV miniseries), as Friar Gillo
Frederick Forsyth Presents: Death Has a Bad Reputation (1990, TV Movie), as Rodimstev
Night of the Fox (1990, TV Movie), as Hofer
Elfenbein (1991, TV Movie), as Nicholas Messier
Ich schenk dir die Sterne (1991), as Robert Dallburg
The Mistake (1992), as Jacob Alain
Die Zeit danach (1992)
Space Rangers (1993, TV Series, 6 episodes), as Colonel Erich Weiss
Colpo di coda (1993, TV miniseries), as Pierre
Novalis: The Blue Flower [de] (1993), as Sophie's Father
Das Sahara-Projekt [de] (1993, TV miniseries), as Collani
Abraham (1993, TV miniseries), as Eliezer
Polizeiruf 110: Arme Schweine (1994, TV Series episode), as Hannes Hellwig
Beckmann und Markowski (1994–1999, TV Series, 3 episodes), as Beckmann
Baldipata [fr] (1995, TV Movie), as Alexander
Die Falle (1995, TV Movie), as Hasso
Wolffs Revier: Taekwon-Do (1995, TV Series episode), as Johnny Reschke
Ein letzter Wille (1995, TV Movie), as Paul Elling
Institute Benjamenta (1995), as Johannes Benjamenta
Tatort: Der König kehrt zurück (1995, TV Series episode), as Harry Mucher
GoldenEye (1995), as General Arkady Ourumov
Brüder auf Leben und Tod (1996, TV Movie), as Renato Calvi
The Ogre (1996), as Chief Forester
La casa dove abitava Corinne (1996, TV Movie), as Michele Wolf
Millennium: The Hand of St. Sebastian (1997, TV Series episode), as Josef Heim
Tales of the South Seas: Paradise Regained (1998, TV Series episode), as Gunter
Am I Beautiful? (1998), as Herbert
Die Fremde in meiner Brust (1998, TV Movie), as Richard Keller
Black Ice (1998, TV Movie), as Kurt Wallmann
Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar (1999), as Julius Caesar
Balzac [fr] (1999, TV Movie), as Count Hanski
Teuflischer Engel (2000, TV Movie), as Henry Martens
Mary Magdalene [it] (2000, TV Movie), as Herod Antipas
Proof of Life (2000), as Eric Kessler
Die Cleveren: Arzt und Dämon (2002, TV Series episode), as Dr. Brendel
Der Solist: In eigener Sache (2002, TV Series episode), as Martin Krohn
The Gathering Storm (2002, TV Movie), as Friedrich von Schroder
Nancy & Frank – A Manhattan Love Story (2002), as Paul von Bernwarth
Entrusted (2003, TV Movie), as Thomas von Gall
Imperium: Augustus (2003, TV Movie), as Cicero
Sams in Gefahr [de] (2003), as Schulrat Aschenbrenner
Renzo e Lucia [it] (2004, TV miniseries), as Count Sagrato
Die schöne Braut in Schwarz [de] (2004, TV Movie), as Aldo Caldini
Julie, chevalier de Maupin [fr] (2004, TV Movie), as Duc d'Armagnac
Donna Leon: Acqua Alta (2004, TV series episode), as Carmello La Capra
Cowgirl (2004), as Hans Krahl
The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes (2005), as Dr. Emmanuel Droz
A Pirate's Heart [de] (2006, TV Movie), as Konrad von Wallenrod
Flood (2007), as Arthur Moyes
Das zweite Leben [de] (2007, TV Movie), as Robert Kreutzer
Final Proclamation [de] (2008, TV Movie), as Paolo Naldini
John Rabe (2009), as Oskar Trautmann
Flores negras (2009), as Curtis
Rumpelstiltskin [de] (2009, TV Movie), as King Gustav
Aghet – Ein Völkermord (2010, docudrama, TV Movie), as General Kress von Kressenstein
Life Is Too Long [de] (2010), as Georg Maria Stahl
Die Löwin (2012, TV Movie), as Jo
A World Beyond [de] (2013, TV Movie), as Dr. Jan Kersebohm
Ruby Red (2013), as Dr. White (final film role)

Audiobooks

Gottfried John reads: Die toten Seelen by Nikolai Gogol. 2006, ISBN 978-3-7831-2794-2.
Gottfried John reads: Die Stunden by Michael Cunningham. 2007, ISBN 978-3-86604-759-4.

Written works

Bekenntnisse eines Unerzogenen, autobiography, publisher: Econ, Berlin 2000, ISBN 978-3430151092.
Das fünfte Wort, novel, publisher: Ullstein, Berlin 2003, ISBN 978-3550084270.

1982: Großer Hersfeld-Preis for his role as Jago in Othello
1999: Bavarian Film Awards, Best Actor
2000: Bavarian Film Awards for Asterix & Obelix Take on Caesar (Bester Nebendarsteller)
2004: Euregio Filmball – Best Euregio-Actor
2006: DIVA-Award – European Award (Hall of Fame)
2017: RF Hall of Fame

[1]
Unlike the common English name John, the German pronunciation begins with a "y" sound.
[2]
Frank, Arno (3 September 2014). "Nachruf auf Gottfried John: Mit "Schlägervisage" zum Fassbinder-Gesicht". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 19 November 2018 – via Spiegel Online.
[3]
""James Bond"-Bösewicht: Schauspieler Gottfried John ist tot". Der Spiegel (in German). 2 September 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2018 – via Spiegel Online.
[4]
Ravensburg, Munzinger-Archiv GmbH. "Gottfried John – Munzinger Biographie". www.munzinger.de (in German). Retrieved 19 November 2018.
[5]
Frank, Arno (3 September 2014). "Nachruf auf Gottfried John: Mit "Schlägervisage" zum Fassbinder-Gesicht". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 19 November 2018 – via Spiegel Online.
[6]
"Panorama". Die Welt (in German). Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2018.^{[dead link‍]}

Gottfried John at IMDb
Gottfried John at the German Dubbing Card Index

[1] [1]
Unlike the common English name John, the German pronunciation begins with a "y" sound.

[2] [2]
Frank, Arno (3 September 2014). "Nachruf auf Gottfried John: Mit "Schlägervisage" zum Fassbinder-Gesicht". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 19 November 2018 – via Spiegel Online.

[3] [3]
""James Bond"-Bösewicht: Schauspieler Gottfried John ist tot". Der Spiegel (in German). 2 September 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2018 – via Spiegel Online.

[4] [4]
Ravensburg, Munzinger-Archiv GmbH. "Gottfried John – Munzinger Biographie". www.munzinger.de (in German). Retrieved 19 November 2018.

[5] [5]
Frank, Arno (3 September 2014). "Nachruf auf Gottfried John: Mit "Schlägervisage" zum Fassbinder-Gesicht". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 19 November 2018 – via Spiegel Online.

[6] [6]
"Panorama". Die Welt (in German). Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2018.^{[dead link‍]}

[1]

[2]

[3]

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[5]

[6]

Filmography

Audiobooks

Written works

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Gottfried John

Filmography

Audiobooks

Written works

Wikiwand in your browser!

Early life

Career

Personal life

Works

Nominations and awards

References

External links

Gottfried John
Gottfried John at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival
Born	(1942-08-29)29 August 1942 Berlin, Germany
Died	1 September 2014(2014-09-01) (aged 72) Utting am Ammersee, Germany
Occupation	Actor
Spouse	Brigitte John (2004–2014; his death)