Hartmut Becker († 83)

… in dozens of plays and has been featured in many international and national film and television productions.

After university where Hartmut Becker studied theatres and philosophy, he went to one of Berlin’s top acting schools: the UFA Academy of Drama. After completing his studies, he first start a theatre career playing leading parts at the state theatres of Braunschweig, Munich, Vienna, Berlin and others.

His film debut he made in 1970 with the main role Clark in Michael Verhoeven’s feature film „O.K.“. The film was the official German contribution at the International Film Festival Berlin 1970 and it’s hot political expressiveness was the sensation of Berlin and ‚killed‘ the festival. Hartmut’s performing in this film earned several prices and a great praise in the German feature articles. After „O.K.“ Hartmut Becker was one of Germany’s busiest actors in film and theatre.

More important main parts in films followed like in Verhoeven’s „Der Graben“ (International Film Festival Berlin 1971), „Als Mutter streikte“, „John Ralling“ (TV), „Mitgift“, „Audienz“ (TV), „Sonntagskinder“.

His first leading part in an English language production Mr. Becker performed in the BBC-film „Forgive our foolish ways“, where he played the role of an German prisoner of war next to Kate Nelligan. The television film became a very big success all over the world. Hartmut’s following international film was the American-English production „Jenny’s War“ (Columbia Pictures). His partners in this film where Dyan Cannon, Elke Sommer and Trevor Howard. For his widely praised performance in the following American production „Escape from Sobibor“ (director: Jack Gold, also starring Alan Arkin and Rutger Hauer) Hartmut had been nominated for an Emmy Award 1988. In his next ‚Festival-Film‘ („Il decimo clandestino“/Festival International du Film Cannes 1989) Hartmut Becker worked together with admirable director Lina Wertmüller. His female partner in this feature film was Dominique Sanda.

Several dream parts followed after the success of „Il decimo clandestino“, for example the characters Niels Jost in „A silent conspiracy“ (Channel 4; director: John Gorrie; also starring Joss Ackland), Rauscher in the American Film „Triumph of the Spirit“ (director: Robert M. Young; with Willem Dafoe, Robert Loggia), Lutz in the English-French Television Film „Free Frenchmen“ (also starring Derek de Lint, Agnes Soral), Moritz in the English-Austrian feature film „Gavre Princip“ by Peter Patzak, King Christian in „Young Catherine“ (American TV; with a.o. Venessa Redgrave, Julia Ormond, Marthe Keller, Maximilian Schell; director: Michael Anderson), Rusty in the Italian TV-film „Requiem per Voce e Pianoforte“ (RAI DUE), and last not least Dieter Krause in the English TV-thriller „The Waiting Time“ (ITV 1999; director: Stuart Orme). His last leading in a German feature film was the part of Goran in „The Unforgotten“ produced in 2005.

Hartmut Becker is a member in the committee of the German Academy of Film (Deutsche Filmakademie).

Vita in engl. Fassung / Quelle: Hartmut Becker