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, german: Zürcher Hochschule der Künste) 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' ...

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

Leo Sonnyboy Leo or Léo may refer to: Acronyms * Law enforcement officer * Law enforcement organisation * ''Louisville Eccentric Observer'', a free weekly newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky * Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Arts an ...

'', ''

Das Boot ist voll ''The Boat Is Full'' (german: Das Boot ist voll) is a 1981 German-language Swiss film directed by Markus Imhoof. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film as a Swiss submission. It was also entered into the 31st Be ...

'', ''

Journey of Hope ''Journey of Hope'' (german: Reise der Hoffnung; tr, Umuda yolculuk) is a 1990 film directed by Xavier Koller. It tells the story of a Kurdish Alevi family from Turkey trying to illegally emigrate to Switzerland, a country they know only from a ...

'' 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 Vi ...

in Vienna, the

Schaubühne The Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz (Theatre on Lehniner Square) is a famous theatre in the Wilmersdorf district of Berlin, located on the Kurfürstendamm boulevard. It is a conversion of the ''Universum'' cinema, built according to plans designe ...

in Berlin, and the Schauspielhaus and

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

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

Usfahrt Oerlike ''Usfahrt Oerlike'' (german: Ausfahrt Oerlikon) 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's last movie film ...

'' was released in January 2015, and is the second last film starring Gnädinger alongside Jörg Schneider. 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 ''Der grosse Sommer'' ( en, The great Sommer) is a Swiss-German language film that was released in Switzerland on 28 January 2016. Produced partly in Japan, it is the last film starring Mathias Gnädinger. Cast * Mathias Gnädinger as Anton Som ...

'', 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 ''10vor10'' (''10 to 10'') is a current affairs programme broadcast at 21.50 every Monday to Friday evening on the German-language Swiss public television channel SRF 1. Profile According to Christian Dütschler, editorial director of ''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 (; gsw, Schafuuse; french: Schaffhouse; it, Sciaffusa; rm, Schaffusa; en, Shaffhouse) is a list of towns in Switzerland, town with historic roots, a municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in northern Switzerland, and the ...

, 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. The town's medieval centre retains the ancient street plan. The site of the city wall, and the city gates are preserve ...

. 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 colo ...

. The funeral took place within the family; a public acknowledgment was celebrated at

Münster Schaffhausen Münster is one of the two main churches of the old town of the Swiss city of Schaffhausen. First built in 1064 AD as a Romanesque Basilica of the then Benecdictine ''Kloster Allerheiligen'', it was rebuilt several times, and became in 1524 the R ...

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 The ''Swiss Film Award'' (formerly ''Swiss Film Prize'', also called ''Quartz'') (french: Prix du cinéma suisse, german: Schweizer Filmpreis, it, Premio del cinema svizzero, rm, Premi dal film svizzer) is the national film award of Switzerland, ...

nomination as ''Best Actor'' (Bester Darsteller) for ''Lieber Brad'' (2001) * 1996:

Hans Reinhart-Ring The Hans-Reinhart-Ring (in French: ''Anneau Hans-Reinhart''; in Italian: ''Anello Hans Reinhart''; in Romansh: ''Anè da Hans Reinhart'') is a prestigious Swiss award in theatre. Since 2014 it is part of the Swiss Theater Awards as the Grand Awa ...

* 1996:

Prix Walo The Prix Walo is the most important award in Swiss show business. It is known as the " Swiss Oscar". Awards since 1994 Honorable - Walo - awards * 1983: Charly Fritsche * 1991: Eynar Grabowsky * 1992: Willi Schmidt, First Harmonic Brass Ba ...

, 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: ''Die plötzliche Einsamkeit des Konrad Steiner'' - Sanitäter * 1977: ''San Gottardo'' - Shop keeper * 1977: ''Em Lehme si Letscht'' - Willi * 1978: ''Trilogie 1848 - Der Galgensteiger'' (TV) - Johannes Gross * 1978: ''Heidi'' (TV series, 5 episodes) - Miller / Meunier * 1979: ''Der Chinese'' (TV) - Kaltenegger * 1980: ' (TV) * 1980: ''

The Boat Is Full ''The Boat Is Full'' (german: Das Boot ist voll) is a 1981 German-language Swiss film directed by Markus Imhoof. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film as a Cinema of Switzerland, Swiss submission. It was also e ...

'' - 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 ''Pestalozzi's Mountain'' (german: Pestalozzis Berg) is a 1989 East German–Swiss drama film directed by Peter von Gunten. The film is a biopic about the life of Swiss educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi. It was entered into the 39th Berlin I ...

'' - Büttel * 1989: ''Gekauftes Glück'' - 'Hirschen'-Wirt * 1989: ''

'' - Leo Mangold * 1990–2002: ''

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

'' (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: ''Winckelmanns Reisen'' - Berner * 1991: ''Tassilo - Ein Fall für sich'' (TV series) - Archivar * 1992: ''

Kinder der Landstrasse Kinder der Landstrasse (literally: Children of the Country Road) was a project of the Swiss foundation Pro Juventute, active from 1926 to 1973. The focus of the project was the assimilation of the itinerant Yenish people in Switzerland by forcib ...

'' - Roger Kessel * 1992: ''

Eurocops ''Eurocops'' is a European television crime TV-series produced between 1988 and 1992. It is a co-production between seven European TV stations in which each station produced a number of episodes which were then pooled, dubbed and otherwise adapt ...

'' (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 ''Magic Hunter'' ( hu, Bűvös vadász, ger, Freischütz) is a 1994 Hungarian-Swiss-French fantasy film written and directed by Ildikó Enyedi and loosely inspired to the opera Der Freischütz. The film was entered into the main competition at ...

'' - Police Chief * 1994: ''Tschäss'' * 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: ''Andreas Hofer - Die Freiheit des Adlers'' (TV) - Maréchal François Joseph Lefebvre - duc de Dantzig * 2003: ''Spital in Angst'' (TV) - Kommandant Bertschinger * 2003–2006: ''

Lüthi und Blanc '' Lüthi und Blanc'' is a Swiss German language television drama serial (soap opera) of the 1990s and 2000s. It was filmed and produced at locations in Switzerland by Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen SRF. Cast and characters (inclompete) Plot ...

'' (TV series, 169 episodes) - Ruedi Egger * 2004: '' Sternenberg'' * 2004: '' Der Untergang'' - Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring * 2004: '' Hunkeler: Das Paar im Kahn'' - Peter Hunkeler * 2004: ''

Ricordare Anna ''Ricordare Anna'' is a 2004 Swiss German and Italian language drama film. It was filmed and produced at locations in Sicily and in Switzerland, and is starring Bibiana Beglau and Mathias Gnädinger. Cast * Bibiana Beglau as Anna Looser * Giusep ...

'' - Viktor Looser * 2005: ''Hunkeler: Tod einer Ärztin'' - Peter Hunkeler * 2005: ''Die Vogelpredigt'' * 2005: ''Steinschlag'' (TV) * 2007: '' Marmorera'' - Gregor Sonderegger * 2008: ''

Hunkeler macht Sachen ''Hunkeler macht Sachen'' is a 2008 Swiss German language television film that was filmed and produced at locations in Switzerland and in France. It is the third film in the hexalogy starring Mathias Gnädinger as Swiss police detective Peter Hunke ...

'' (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 ''Hunkeler und die Augen des Ödipus'' () is a 2012 Swiss German language television film that was filmed and produced at locations in Basel respectively in Switzerland. It is the last film of the six-episode serial starring Mathias Gnädinger as ' ...

'' (TV) - Peter Hunkeler * 2014–2015: ''Der Bestatter'' (TV series, 8 episodes) - Louis Lauener * 2015: ''

'' - Willi Keller * 2015: ''

'' - 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 Burials in Switzerland Deaths from pneumonia in Switzerland Male actors from Zürich People from the canton of Schaffhausen Swiss male film actors Swiss male stage actors Swiss male television actors