Friedrich Schoenfelder
Actor
- Born
- October 17, 1916 · Sorau, Germany [now Zary, Lubuskie, Poland]
- Died
- August 14, 2011 (age 94)
Friedrich Wilhelm Schoenfelder (born October 17, 1916, in Sorau, Lower Lusatia; died August 14, 2011, in Berlin) was a German actor and voice-over artist.
Friedrich Schoenfelder received his acting training under Gustaf Gründgens at the Prussian State Theater in Berlin, where he made his stage debut in 1936. After World War II, he performed at major theaters in Stuttgart, Frankfurt am Main, and Berlin, later working as a freelance actor at numerous German-language theaters. He became particularly well known for his elegant stage presence in boulevard plays and musicals. Among his greatest theatrical successes was *My Fair Lady*, in which he appeared approximately 1,200 times over the course of many years.
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From the late 1940s onward, Schoenfelder also appeared regularly in film and television productions. He acted in numerous light entertainment films, Edgar Wallace adaptations, and TV series, and participated in projects such as *Otto – Der neue Film* and, as the narrator, *Der Schuh des Manitu*. With over 140 film and television roles to his name, he remained one of the defining character actors of German popular cinema and television for decades.
His work as a voice-over artist was also of particular significance. In more than 400 productions, Schoenfelder lent his distinctive voice to international actors such as David Niven, John Gielgud, Rex Harrison, Vincent Price, and Alec Guinness. He also enjoyed a successful career as a radio drama actor, narrator, and radio host, working on projects including *Sesame Street*, *Little Britain*, and numerous audio drama productions for the labels Europa and Titania Medien.
Even in his advanced years, Schoenfelder continued to appear regularly on stage; in 1996, he published his memoirs, titled *Ich war doch immer ich* ("I Was Always Just Me"). He passed away in Berlin in 2011 at the age of 94.
Known for
Acting84
- 2007Little King Macius as King Friedewald (voice)
- 2006Das unreine Mal as Herr Schröder
- 2006The Trip to Panama as Paradies Vogel
- 2004A Journey Into Bliss as voice
- 2004Back to Gaya as Albert Drollinger
- 2002Das Schloss des Grauens as Sir Douglas
- 2001Manitou's Shoe as Narrator (voice)
- 1999Das Mädchen aus der Torte as Uncle
- 1998A Rat's Tale as Walter Demokratz
- 1997Pension Schöller
