Maximilian Schell Biography (1930-)

Born December 8, 1930, in Vienna, Austria; raised in Switzerland; son of Hermann Ferdinand (a pharmacy owner, writer, and poet) and Margarethe (an actress; maiden name, Noe von Nordberg) Schell; brother of Maria Schell and Immy Schell (both actresses), and Karl Schell (an actor); married Natasha Andreichenko (an actress; name sometimes cited as Natalya Andrejchenko or Natalia Andreichenko), 1985; children: Nastia (daughter). Addresses: Agent: The Blake Agency, 1327 Ocean Ave., Suite J, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

Nationality: Austrian
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor, director, producer, writer
Birth Details: December 8, 1930; Vienna, Austria

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
Deserter, Kinder, Muetter und ein General (also known as Children, Mother, and the General), 1955
Mitglied des Kreisauer Kreises, Der 20. Juli (also known as ThePlot to Assassinate Hitler), 1955
Reifende Jugend (also known as Ripening Youth), 1955
Dr. Hauser, Die Ehe des Dr. med. Danwitz (also known as Marriage of Dr. Danwitz), 1956
Wolfgang Thomas, Ein Herz kehrt heim, 1956
Lieutenant Alexander "Alex" Haller, Ein Maedchen aus Flandern (also known as The Girl from Flanders), 1956, released in United States, 1963
Lorenz Darrandt, Die Letzten werden die Ersten sein (also known asThe Last Ones Shall Be First), 1957
Toni Schellenberg, Taxichauffeur Baenz (also known as Taxi Driver Baenz), 1957
Der Meisterdieb, 1957
Captain Hardenberg, The Young Lions, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1958
Josef Ospel, Kinder der Berge (also known as Ein Wunderbarer Sommer), 1958
Die Sechste Frau, 1958
Eine Dummheit macht Auch der Gescheiteste, 1959
Hans Rolfe, Judgment at Nuremberg, United Artists, 1961
Walter, Five Finger Exercise, Columbia, 1961
Giuseppe Desa, The Reluctant Saint (also known as Joseph Desa and Cronache di un convento), Columbia, 1962
Franz, I sequestrati di Altona (also known as The Condemned ofAltona and Les sequestres d'Altona), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1963
Walter Harper, Topkapi, United Artists, 1964
Letters of Mozart, 1964
Stanislaus Pilgrin, Return from the Ashes, United Artists, 1965
Dieter Freey, The Deadly Affair, Columbia, 1967
General Schiller, Counterpoint, Universal, 1968
Himself, Flash 14 (short documentary film), Television Espanola, 1968
Captain Chris Hanson, Krakatoa, East of Java (also known as Volcano), Cinerama, 1969
"K," Das Schloss (also known as The Castle), Continental, 1969
Marek, The Desperate Ones (also known as Beyond the Mountains and Mas alla de las montanas), Commonwealth United, 1969
L'assoluto naturale, 1969
Simon Bolivar (also known as La epopeya de Bolivar), 1969
Father, Erste Liebe (also known as First Love and FirstLove--Die Geschichte einer Liebe), UMC Pictures, 1970
Brother Adrian, Pope Joan (also known as The Devil's Imposter), Columbia, 1972
Count Michel Cantarini, Paulina 1880, 1972
Trotta (also known as Trotta--Die Kapuzinergruft), 1972
Andreas Giese, Der Fussgaenger (also known as The Pedestrian), Cinerama, 1973
The Rehearsal (also known as I Dokimi), 1974
Arthur Goldman, The Man in the Glass Booth, American Film Theatre,1975
Djuro Sarac (some sources cite Shastar), Sarajevski atentat (alsoknown as Assassination in Sarajevo, The Day That Shook the World, Atentat u Sarajevu, Der Tag, der die Welt veraenderte, and Sarajevsky atentat), 1975
Eduard Roschmann, The Odessa File (also known as Der Fall Odessa and Die Akte Odessa), Columbia, 1975
Dr. John Constable, St. Ives, Warner Bros., 1976
Hauptmann Stransky, Cross of Iron (also known as Steiner--Das Eiserne Kreuz), Avco-Embassy, 1977
Johann, Julia, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1977
Lieutenant general Wilhelm Bittrich, A Bridge Too Far, United Artists, 1977
Nikolai Bunin, Avalanche Express, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1978
Gesprache mit Jedermann, 1978
Dr. Hans Reinhardt, The Black Hole, Buena Vista, 1979
Giovanni, Amo non amo (also known as I Love You, I Love You Not and Together?), New Line Cinema, 1979
Marco, Players, Paramount, 1979
Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (also known as Tales from the Vienna Woods), 1979, subtitled version released in the United States by Cinema 5 Distributing
Fabrice, Les iles (also known as The Islands), 1982
Professor David Malter, The Chosen, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1982
The Great Hamlets, 1983
David Landau, Morgen in Alabama (also known as Man under Suspicion and Tomorrow in Alabama), Futura Film, c. 1983, subtitled version released in the United States by International Spectrafilm, c. 1984
Himself, Marlene (documentary; also known as Marlene Dietrich--Portraet eines Mythos), Futura Film, 1984, subtitled version, Alive Films, 1986
Colonel Mueller, The Assisi Underground, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1985
Aaron Reichenbacher, The Rose Garden (also known as Der Rosengarten), Cannon, 1989
Larry London, The Freshman, TriStar, 1990
Himself, Labyrinth, 1991
Colonel Mopani Theron, A Far Off Place, Buena Vista, 1993
Isaak Kohler, Justiz (also known as Justice), 1993
Arkady Shapira, Little Odessa, Fine Line Features, 1995
Rodan, The Vampyre Wars, 1996
Carl Stern, Zwischen Rosen, 1997
Dr. Istvan Jonas, Telling Lies in America, Banner Entertainment, 1997
Father Simeon, The Eighteenth Angel, Rysher Entertainment, 1997
Mr. Silberschmidt, Left Luggage (also known as 2 koffers vol), 1997, Castle Hill Productions, 2000
Cardinal Alba, Vampires (also known as John Carpenter's "Vampires" and Vampire$), Sony Pictures Releasing, 1998
Jason Lerner, Deep Impact, Paramount, 1998
Hochberg, Wer liebt, dem wachsen Fluegel ... (also known as Onthe Wings of Love), Concorde Filmverleih, 1999
Himself, Mein liebster Feind-Klaus Kinski (documentary; also knownas My Best Fiend, Mein liebster Feind, and 25. tunti: KlausKinski), 1999, subtitled version released in the United States by New Yorker Films
Himself, Hamlet in Hollywood (documentary), 2000
Poser, Fisimatenten (also known as Just Messing About), Next Film/Saarlaendischer Rundfunk, 2000
Walter Ekland, I Love You Baby, Warner Bros., 2000
Viktor Kovner, Festival in Cannes, Paramount Classics, 2001
Himself, Meine Schwester Maria (documentary; also known as My Sister Maria), 2002, subtitled version, Rainbow Releasing/Kirchmedia Entertainment, 2004
Himself, Ninth November Night (short documentary film), Lohneranger, 2004
(In archive footage) Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust (documentary), Anker Productions, 2004
Film Director
Erste Liebe (also known as First Love and First Love--Die Geschichte einer Liebe), UMC Pictures, 1970
Der Fussgaenger (also known as The Pedestrian), Cinerama, 1973
The Clown (also known as Ansichten eines Clowns), 1975
Der Richter und sein Henker (also known as Deception, The End of the Game, Getting Away with Murder, Murder on the Bridge, and Assassinio sul ponte), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1976
Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (also known as Tales from the Vienna Woods), 1979, subtitled version released in the United States by Cinema 5 Distributing
Marlene (documentary; also known as Marlene Dietrich--Portraeteines Mythos), Futura Film, 1984, subtitled version, Alive Films, 1986

Meine Schwester Maria (documentary; also known as My Sister Maria), 2002, subtitled version, Rainbow Releasing/Kirchmedia Entertainment,2004
Film Producer
(With Rudolf Noelte) Das Schloss (also known as The Castle), Continental, 1969
Erste Liebe (also known as First Love and First Love--Die Geschichte einer Liebe), UMC Pictures, 1970
Der Fussgaenger (also known as The Pedestrian), Cinerama, 1973
The Clown (also known as Ansichten eines Clowns), 1975
(With Arlene Sellers) Der Richter und sein Henker (also known as Deception, The End of the Game, Getting Away with Murder, Murder on the Bridge, and Assassinio sul ponte), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1976
Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (also known as Tales from the Vienna Woods), 1979, subtitled version released in the United States by Cinema 5 Distributing
Morgen in Alabama (also known as Man under Suspicion and Tomorrow in Alabama), Futura Film, c. 1983, subtitled version released in the United States by International Spectrafilm, c. 1984
Marlene (documentary; also known as Marlene Dietrich--Portraeteines Mythos), Futura Film, 1984, subtitled version, Alive Films, 1986
Executive producer, Meine Schwester Maria (documentary; also knownas My Sister Maria), 2002, subtitled version, Rainbow Releasing/Kirchmedia Entertainment, 2004
Television Appearances
Series
Amado Guzman, Wiseguy, CBS, 1990
Fuerst Thorwald, Der Fuerst und das Maedchen, [Germany], beginning2003
Miniseries
Don Rodrigo, Der Seidene Schuh, 1965
Commentator, Bernstein/Beethoven, PBS, 1981
Title role, Peter the Great, NBC, 1986
Frederick the Great, Young Catherine, TNT, 1991
Vladimir Lenin, Stalin (also known as Sztalin), HBO, 1992
Pharaoh, Abraham (also known as The Bible: Abraham, DieBibel--Abraham, and La Bible: Abraham), TNT, 1994
Cardinal Vittorio, The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years, CBS, 1996
Narrator, Sex and the Silver Screen, Showtime, 1996
Brother John Le'Maitre, Joan of Arc (also known as Jeanne d'Arc), CBS, 1999
Franz Steininger, Liebe, Luegen, Leidenschaft (also known as Love, Lies, Passions), 2002
Movies
Herzog Albrecht von Bayern, Die Bernauerin, 1958
The Fifth Column, 1959
Herr Richard Sessemann, Heidi (also known as Heide kehrt heim), 1968
Sandor Korvin (title role), The Phantom of the Opera, CBS, 1983
Colonel Arkush, Candles in the Dark, The Family Channel, 1993
Wunsch, "The Song of the Lark," Masterpiece Theatre, PBS, 2000
Casimir Michaelstadt, Coast to Coast, Showtime, 2004
Pater Christoph, Die Liebe eines Priesters, ARD (Germany), 2005
Specials
D'Artagnan, The Three Musketeers, 1960
Title role, Hamlet (also known as Hamlet, Prinz von Daenemark), Germany, 1960, then United States, 1962
Narrator, The Beautiful Blue and Red Danube (documentary), ABC, 1967
Hamlet, 1970
Otto Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank, NBC, 1980
Mordecai Weiss, "Miss Rose White," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1992
Claudio Abbado: The Silence That Follows the Music, 1996
Awards Presentations
The 34th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1962
Presenter, The 35th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1963
50th Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1993
51st Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1994
The 70th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1998
The 75th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2003
Episodic
Hans Rolfe, "Judgment at Nuremberg," Playhouse 90, CBS, 1959
Hans, "Perilous," Desilu Playhouse (also known as WestinghouseDesilu Playhouse), CBS, 1959
"Child of Our Time," Playhouse 90, CBS, 1959
Peter Gerard, "Turn the Key Deftly," Sunday Showcase, NBC, 1960
Sarrail, "The Observer," Alcoa Theatre, NBC, 1960
Himself, Here's Hollywood, NBC, 1961, 1962
Hans Rolfe, scene from Judgment at Nuremberg, The Ed Sullivan Show (also known as Toast of the Town), CBS, 1962
August Holland, "A Time to Love," Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater, NBC, 1967
Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1970
Himself, V.I.P.--Schaukel, 1978
Himself, "Festival de Berlin 1984," Etoiles et toiles, 1984
Guest, "Wetten, dass ... ? aus Dresden," Wetten, dass ... ?, 2001
Himself, "An Interview with Maximilian Schell," Leute heute, 2002
Himself, "Aus Cannes," Leute heute, 2002
Himself, "Premiere: Meine Schwester Maria," Seitenblicke, 2002
Himself, Beckmann, 2003
Himself, Die Johannes B. Kerner Show, 2003
Himself, Menschen bei Maischberger, 2004
Himself, Tavis Smiley, PBS, 2005
Also appeared in Willemsens Woche, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen.
Other
Karl Steingraf, Der Bestseller--Mord auf italienisch, [Austria andGermany], 2002
Xaver Schoenborn, Alles Glueck dieser Erde, [Austria], 2003
Fernando Hereira, The Return of the Dancing Master (also known asDie Rueckkehr des Tanzlehrers), [Austria and Germany], 2004
Television Director
Movies
Candles in the Dark, The Family Channel, 1993
Stage Appearances
Leonce, Berlin Theatre am Kurfurstendamn, Berlin, Germany, 1957
Philotas, Berlin Theatre am Kurfurstendamn, 1957
Paul, Interlock, American National Theatre and Academy, New York City, 1958
Der Turn, Salzburg Festival, Salzburg, Austria, 1959
Sappho, Hamburg, West Germany (now Germany), 1959
Hamlet, 1961
A Patriot for Me, Royal Court Theatre, London, 1965, then Bremen,West Germany (now Germany), 1966
Herostrat, Bochum, West Germany (now Germany), 1966
The Venetian Twins, Josefstadt, Vienna, Austria, 1966
Title role, Hamlet, Munich, West Germany (now Germany), 1968
Alfred Redl, A Patriot for Me, Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1969
Old Times, Vienna, Austria, 1973
Everyman, Salzburg Festival, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1982
Der seidene Schuh, 1982
Poor Murderer, Berlin, Germany, 1982
Ernst Janning, Judgment at Nuremberg, Longacre Theatre, New York City, 2001
Appeared in productions of Don Carlos, Mannerhouse, and The Prince of Homburg.
Stage Director
All the Best, Bremen, West Germany (now Germany), then Vienna, Austria, both 1966
Hamlet, Munich, West Germany (now Germany), 1968
Pygmalion, Dusseldorf, West Germany (now Germany), 1970
La Traviata (opera), 1975
Tales from the Vienna Woods, National Theatre, Olivier Theatre, London, 1977
The Undiscovered Country, Salzburg Festival, Salzburg, Austria, 1979 and 1980
Coronet, Deutsche Opera, Berlin, Germany, 1985
Der seidene Schuh, Salzburg Festival, 1985
Lohengrin (opera), Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Music Center, Los Angeles, 2001
Der Rosenkavalier (opera), Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Music Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, 2005
RECORDINGS
Videos
(As Maximillian Schell) Himself, In Conversation: Abby Mann and Maximillian Schell (short documentary), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment,2004
WRITINGS
Screenplays
Das Schloss (also known as The Castle), Continental, 1969
(With John Gould) Erste Liebe (also known as First Love andFirst Love--Die Geschichte einer Liebe), UMC Pictures, 1970
Trotta (also known as Trotta-Die Kapuzinergruft), 1972
Der Fussgaenger (also known as The Pedestrian), Cinerama, 1973
(With Friedrich Duerrenmatt) Der Richter und sein Henker (also known as Deception, The End of the Game, Getting Away with Murder, Murder on the Bridge, and Assassinio sul ponte), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1976
Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (also known as Tales from the Vienna Woods), 1979, subtitled version released in the United States by Cinema 5 Distributing
Marlene (documentary; also known as Marlene Dietrich--Portraeteines Mythos), Futura Film, 1984, subtitled version, Alive Films, 1986
Meine Schwester Maria (documentary; also known as My Sister Maria), 2002, subtitled version, Rainbow Releasing/Kirchmedia Entertainment,2004
Writings for the Stage
Murder on the Bridge, 1975
(With Christopher Hampton) Tales from the Vienna Woods, National Theatre, Olivier Theatre, London, 1977
Nonfiction
Anni und Josef Albers: Eine Retrospektive, Stuck-Jugendstil-Verein, 1989

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

Contemporary Authors, Volume 116, Gale, 1986
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 3: Actors and Actresses, fourth edition, St. James Press, 2000

Periodicals

Starlog, April, 1980, pp. 43-47

Electronic

Playbill Online, http://www.playbill.com, August 31, 2000; March 1, 2001

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