R.I.P. Bruno Ganz (Wings of Desire, Downfall)

Bruno Ganz, Who Played an Angel and Hitler, Is Dead at 77

Very sad news to wake up to. The papers here in austria reported this morning that the very gifted actor Bruno Ganz has died yesterday at age 77 at his home in Zürich. Many - myself included - know him best for portraying Damiel in Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders as well as Adolf Hitler in Oliver Hirschbiegel's much acclaimed Downfall (2004). He will be missed by many movie and theatre fans, actors and directors alike.

His role in Wings of Desire was that of an angel longing for mortality in order to experience true love. Ganz also delivered a stunning performance in Werner Herzog's "Nosferatu the Vampyre" as the real estate dealer Jonathan Harker who travels to Transylvania in order to settle a contract with Klaus Kinski's Count Dracula. He also was a recurring stage actor, starring in such diverse plays as Shakespeare's Hamlet and Oedipus by Sophokles. In 1996, he became bearer of the Iffland Ring, a very prestigious ornament that was donated by stage director August Wilhelm Iffland in the 19th century.

 

Oh, that's sad news. Ruhe in Frieden, Bruno.

 

Sad news indeed. First saw him in My American Friend opposite the late Dennis Hopper.

 

Wings of Desire and American Friend are two of my all time favorite films. American Friend (based on Ripley’s Game) got me to read all the Tom Ripley books by Patricia Highsmith. It had several Kinks songs in it too.

 

Dans La Ville Blanche.

R.i.P Bruno Ganz.

 

His performance in Downfall was incredible. It set the bar.
RIP.

 

This guy showed range! Incredible presence that will leave a lasting mark on international cinema.

 

Great actor. Vila i frid Bruno!

 

My wife and I saw the restoration of Wings of Desire last month, and as usual fell in love with Bruno Ganz and Solveig Dommartin. Heartbreaking to realize that neither of them are around.

 

was a fan...great actor and I enjoyed his work...R,I,P,

 

Bruno...the real thing, a man who was an actor first and a 'star' second. The word "gravitas" comes to mind. He had that in spades. Like Welles and a handful of others, Ganz could hold the camera for as long as he pleased. R.I.P.

 

R.I.P. His performance in "Downfall" was magnificent.

BTW, there are already several "Hitler Finds Out Bruno Ganz Died" videos on YouTube. Not sure if it's appropriate to post them or not...

 

I had no problem with the Downfall parodies, though I understand it helps if you don't understand a word of German. I looked but the only one I found was a rather heartfelt one about Hitler finding out that Bruno Ganz had cancer.

 

Such a great actor. RIP.

 

Amazing that most Americans only know him for the Hilter Bunker scene parodies.

 

Also here in Finland local media seems to focus on him being what I'd call being "internet famous". I guess that passes for being "famous" nowadays. But I also think it's a sort of blindness a lot of journalists have, seeing the world in that bubble of clickbaits and memes. It's a world where Adolf Hitler is best remembered as the guy Bruno Ganz played in the memes.

 

Rest in Peace and thanks for all the memes.

 

KevinSmith‏Verified account @ThatKevinSmith
KevinSmith Retweeted Dharma Bhagalia

Farewell, Bruno Ganz! My movie Dogma never would’ve even occurred to me without seeing your angelic performance of Damiel in Wings of Desire. Your performance in Downfall was legendary, your vast career was enviable. Rest now, Thespian.

 

So are they going to award the Iffland Ring to another Greatest German Actor?

 

Damn good actor. A real loss.

RIP

 

And neither is Otto Sander, who played the other angel.

 

Damn.

 

RIP , what a great actor he was

 

In his will, Ganz had determined Gert Voss as his successor. Unfortunately, Voss died five years ago - in a few weeks' time, we'll know if another actor stood in Ganz's last will or if the 'union of german-language stage workers' will have to determine the next bearer of the Iffland ring.

 

Truly gets you...