Mathias Gnädinger (25 March 1941 – 3 April 2015) was a Swiss stage and film actor.

Career

Initially a typesetter and typographer, Gnädinger began his acting training at the ''Bühnenstudio Zürich'' (now part of the

Zurich University of the Arts Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK, ) has approximately 2,500 students, which makes it the largest arts university in Switzerland. The university was established in 2007, following the merger between Zurich's School of Art and Design (HGKZ) and ...

) from 1962 to 1966. His first role in Swiss television was in 1968. He starred in ''

Leo Sonnyboy ''Leo Sonnyboy'' is a 1989 in film, 1989 Switzerland, Swiss film directed by Rolf Lyssy. The comedy was filmed in Zürich and at various locations in Switzerland, and produced in Switzerland. Plot Leo (Mathias Gnädinger) is about 40-year-old m ...

'', '' Das Boot ist voll'', '' Journey of Hope'' and the Austrian-German-Swiss co-production ''Kinder der Landstrasse''. Since 1988, he had worked as a freelance actor. Gnädinger starred in about 70 character roles in television and German-language cinema, as well as stage actor in about 130 theater productions, among them at the

Burgtheater The Burgtheater (; literally: "Castle Theater" but alternatively translated as "(Imperial) Court Theater", originally known as '' K.K. Theater an der Burg'', then until 1918 as the ''K.K. Hofburgtheater'', is the national theater of Austria in ...

in Vienna, the Schaubühne in Berlin, and the Schauspielhaus and

Theater am Neumarkt The Theater am Neumarkt () or by its present official name Theater Neumarkt is a Theater (structure), theatre in the Swiss German language, German-speaking Switzerland situated at Neumarkt, Zürich. It is part of the building complex ''Bilgeriturm' ...

in Zürich when latter was established in 1966. The Swiss drama film ''

Usfahrt Oerlike ''Usfahrt Oerlike'' () is a 2015 Swiss German-language film. It was filmed and produced at locations in Zürich in Switzerland, and is the second last film starring Mathias Gnädinger, and Jörg Schneider (actor), Jörg Schneider's last movie film. ...

'' was released in January 2015, and is the second last film starring Gnädinger alongside

Jörg Schneider Jörg Schneider may refer to: * Jörg Schneider (actor) (1935–2015), Swiss actor * Jörg Schneider (politician) Jörg Schneider (born 14 May 1964) is a German politician for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and since 2017 member of the Bunde ...

. According to the film's director Paul Riniker, a sequel was planned, but neither it nor another project focusing on the 74-year-old actor will be realized, as Gnädinger died on 3 April 2015. In Mathias Gnädinger's last film, '' Der grosse Sommer'', directed by Stefan Jäger, he plays ''Anton Sommer'', a former Swiss wrestling champion in the footsteps of a Sumo wrestler in Japan. The production works in Japan were documented by 10vor10, and Gnädiger was absolutely fascinated by the old Japanese tradition, and his ten years old co-star Loïc Sho of Swiss-Japanese origin. Gnädinger said he got in touch with Swiss wrestling only once, as a boy. Ursula Gnädinger assisted her husband at the production works as make-up artist. The comedy is scheduled for release in the second half of 2015.

Personal life

Born in Ramsen,

Schaffhausen Schaffhausen (; ; ; ; ), historically known in English as Shaffhouse, is a list of towns in Switzerland, town with historic roots, a municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in northern Switzerland, and the capital of the canton of Schaffh ...

, Gnädinger lived in

Stein am Rhein Stein am Rhein (abbreviated as Stein a. R.) is a historic town and a municipality in the canton of Schaffhausen in Switzerland. It is located at the outfall of Lower Lake Constance on the High Rhine river, about halfway between the town of Scha ...

. He had four brothers and was raised on a farm. His mother was of Sicilian-Appenzell origin; she was the daughter of a typesetter and was educated in St. Gallen. Gnädinger's father was a farmer and the town clerk of Ramsen. Gnädinger married his former childhood sweetheart, Ursula, in 2004. He organized his career as an actor without an agency and managed everything himself. His wife Ursula later became his manager and assisted him in all aspects. "For him, this late love was a godsend."

Death

Gnädinger died on 3 April 2015 in Zürich from cardiac complications and

acute respiratory distress syndrome Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath (dyspnea), rapid breathing (tachypnea), and bluish skin co ...

. The funeral took place within the family; a public acknowledgment was celebrated at Münster Schaffhausen on 16 April 2015.''Tagesschau Hauptausgabe'', SRF 1 on 16 April 2015

Awards (excerpt)

* 2014: Georg-Fischer Award for his lifetime work (''Lebenswerk'') * 2012: Lifetime Award by the Swiss Television SRF (''Lebenswerk'') * 2005: Swiss Film Prize, nominated'' Best Performance in a Leading Role'' (Bester Hauptdarsteller/Beste Hauptdarstellerin) for ''Ricordare Anna'' (2004) * 2003: Swiss Film Prize, won ''Best Actor'' (Bester Darsteller) for ''Big Deal'' (2002) * 2002: Swiss Film Prize nomination as ''Best Actor'' (Bester Darsteller) for ''Lieber Brad'' (2001) * 1996: Hans Reinhart-Ring * 1996:

Prix Walo The Prix Walo is a Swiss award given for showbusiness. Awards since 1994 Honorable - Walo - awards * 1983: Charly Fritsche * 1991: Eynar Grabowsky * 1992: Willi Schmidt, First Harmonic Brass Band * 1993: Caterina Valente, Ettore Cella * 1994: ...

, won ''Actors on TV and film'' (Schauspieler)

Filmography

* 1968: ''Die vier Brüder'' (Ich, TV) - Die vier Brüder #2 * 1970: ''Das Verhör von Habana - Ein Selbstbildnis der Konterrevolution'' (TV) - Pablo Prganvides Parada * 1976: '' The Sudden Loneliness of Konrad Steiner'' - Sanitäter * 1977: ''San Gottardo'' - Shop keeper * 1977: ''Em Lehme si Letscht'' - Willi * 1978: ''Heidi'' (TV series, 5 episodes) - Miller / Meunier * 1979: ''Trilogie 1848: Der Galgensteiger'' (TV) - Johannes Gross * 1979: ''Der Chinese'' (TV) - Kaltenegger * 1980: ' (TV) * 1980: '' The Boat Is Full'' - Franz Flueckiger * 1981: ''Der Erfinder'' - Spekulant * 1982: ' - Nachtclubbesitzer * 1983: ''Der Gemeindepräsident'' - Hans Sturzenegger * 1986: ''Triumph der Liebe'' (TV) * 1986: '' Du mich auch'' - Romeos Vater * 1987: ''The Winner Takes All'' (TV) - Lirchmair * 1987: ''Der elegante Hund'' (TV series) * 1988: ''Spielergeschichten'' (TV series) * 1988: ''Arbeitersaga'' (TV series) - Dr. Guido M. Lizenti * 1989: ''La nuit de l'eclusier'' - Koebi * 1989: '' Pestalozzi's Mountain'' - Büttel * 1989: ''Gekauftes Glück'' - 'Hirschen'-Wirt * 1989: ''

'' - Leo Mangold * 1990–2002: ''

Tatort ("Crime Scene") is a German-language police procedural television series that has been running continuously since 1970 with 30 feature-length episodes per year, making it the longest-running German TV drama. Developed by the German public-se ...

'' (TV series, 4 episodes) - Heinz Osburg / Alex Kerger / Schneider / Walter Howald * 1990: ''Klassäzämekunft'' - Emil Brandenberger * 1990: ''Bingo'' - Bingo * 1990: '' Reise der Hoffnung'' - Truckdriver Ramser * 1990: '' Der Berg'' - Manser * 1990: ' - Berner * 1991: ''Tassilo - Ein Fall für sich'' (TV series) - Archivar * 1992: ''

Kinder der Landstrasse (literally: "the aid organization for the children of the country road"), more commonly known as , was a project implemented by the Swiss foundation Pro Juventute from 1926 to 1973. The project aimed to assimilate the Itinerant groups in Europe, ...

'' - Roger Kessel * 1992: '' Eurocops'' (TV series) - Armin Luchsinger * 1993: ''Probefahrt ins Paradies'' - Freddie * 1993: ''Der grüne Heinrich'' - L'oncle * 1993: '' Justiz'' - Police Chief * 1994: ''Joe & Marie'' - Marie's father * 1994: '' Magic Hunter'' - Police Chief * 1994: ''

Jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

'' * 1996: ''Tresko - Der Maulwurf'' (TV) * 1996: ''Deutschlandlied'' (TV miniseries) - Hermann Sternke * 2000: ''WerAngstWolf'' * 2000: ''Comedian'' - Stephan Ernst * 2001: ''Lieber Brad'' - Urs * 2001: ''Im Namen der Gerechtigkeit'' (TV) - Adalbert Jentsch * 2002: ''Big Deal'' (TV) - Walter Oberholzer * 2002: ' (TV) - Marshal

François Joseph Lefebvre François Joseph Lefebvre, Duke of Danzig ( , ; 25 October 1755 – 14 September 1820) was a French military commander of the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, and one of the original eighteen Marshals of the Empire created by N ...

* 2003: ''Spital in Angst'' (TV) - Kommandant Bertschinger * 2003–2006: '' Lüthi und Blanc'' (TV series, 169 episodes) - Ruedi Egger * 2004: '' Sternenberg'' * 2004: '' Der Untergang'' - Reichsmarschall

Hermann Göring Hermann Wilhelm Göring (or Goering; ; 12 January 1893 – 15 October 1946) was a German Nazism, Nazi politician, aviator, military leader, and convicted war criminal. He was one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party, which gov ...

* 2004: '' Hunkeler: Das Paar im Kahn'' - Peter Hunkeler * 2004: '' Ricordare Anna'' - Viktor Looser * 2005: ''Hunkeler: Tod einer Ärztin'' - Peter Hunkeler * 2005: ''Die Vogelpredigt'' * 2005: ''Steinschlag'' (TV) * 2007: '' Marmorera'' - Gregor Sonderegger * 2008: '' Hunkeler macht Sachen'' (TV) - Peter Hunkeler * 2009: ''Hunkeler und der Fall Livius'' (TV) - Peter Hunkeler * 2010: ''Länger leben'' - Max Wanner * 2011: ''Silberkiesel - Hunkeler tritt ab'' - Kommissar Hunkeler * 2012: '' Hunkeler und die Augen des Ödipus'' (TV) - Peter Hunkeler * 2014–2015: ''Der Bestatter'' (TV series, 8 episodes) - Louis Lauener * 2015: ''

'' - Willi Keller * 2015: '' Der grosse Sommer'' - Anton Sommer (final film role)

External links

*
''Mathias Gnädinger'' on the website of the Swiss television SRF

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gnadinger, Mathias 1941 births 2015 deaths 20th-century Swiss male actors 21st-century Swiss male actors Deaths from pneumonia in Switzerland Deaths from respiratory failure Male actors from Zurich People from the canton of Schaffhausen Swiss male film actors Swiss male stage actors Swiss male television actors