Bruno Ganz, a renowned Swiss actor, made a significant impact on the German language film and television industry for over five decades. He is globally recognized for his portrayal of Adolf Hitler in the Academy Award-nominated film Downfall, released in 2004.
Born in Zürich to a Swiss mechanic father and a northern Italian mother, Ganz decided to pursue an acting career early on. He began his journey on stage, making his debut in 1961, and quickly gained a reputation as a reflective, charismatic, and technically brilliant stage actor.
In 1970, Ganz co-founded the theatre company 'Schaubühne' in Berlin, Germany, alongside Peter Stein. He took on the role of Dr. Heinrich Faust in Peter Stein's staging of Faust, Part One and Faust, Part Two in 2000.
Throughout his illustrious career, Ganz became one of the most acclaimed and well-known actors in the German language, collaborating with many esteemed European actors and directors. He also appeared in international features that reached a global audience. His film debut was The Gentleman in the Black Derby, released in 1960. He went on to star in Unknown (2011),The Counselor (2013),and The Party (2017).
Sadly, Ganz passed away from cancer on February 16, 2019, at his home in the village of Au, in Wädenswil, Switzerland.
