Benjamin Sadler
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Sadler is a German actor
who was born in Toronto
, Canada
, the son of a German graphic designer and a British teacher. He lived in Canada until he was five. In 1976 he moved with his parents to Germany
.
After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
in London
, his career as actor started in 1994 with roles in German thrillers such as Wolffs Revier and SK-Babies. In 2001 he appeared in the German-Italian film Maria Magdalena in the role as John the Baptist
beside Maria Grazia Cucinotta
and Danny Quinn. In 2002 he worked on two further religious films: The Bible - The Apocalypse with Richard Harris
and Luther
with Joseph Fiennes
and Sir Peter Ustinov. He also appeared as the young emperor Augustus
(Peter O'Toole
was the emperor in later life).
In 2006 he played the part of a physician in the film Dresden
. In 2007 he starred as a lawyer
and father of a thalidomide
-handicapped daughter, for which he received a Bambi
Award in 2007. He explained in an interview that he was proud to be a part of the film, which influenced the German parliament to pass a law giving greater financial compensation for victims of thalidomide.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
who was born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the son of a German graphic designer and a British teacher. He lived in Canada until he was five. In 1976 he moved with his parents to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a drama school located in London, United Kingdom. It is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, having been founded in 1904.RADA is an affiliate school of the...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, his career as actor started in 1994 with roles in German thrillers such as Wolffs Revier and SK-Babies. In 2001 he appeared in the German-Italian film Maria Magdalena in the role as John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
beside Maria Grazia Cucinotta
Maria Grazia Cucinotta
Maria Grazia Cucinotta is an Siciian/Italian actress who has featured in many films and television series since 1990, she has also worked as a producer, screenwriter and model....
and Danny Quinn. In 2002 he worked on two further religious films: The Bible - The Apocalypse with Richard Harris
Richard Harris
Richard St John Harris was an Irish actor, singer-songwriter, theatrical producer, film director and writer....
and Luther
Luther (2003 film)
Luther is a 2003 biopic about the life of Martin Luther . It was an independent biopic and was partially funded by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, starring Joseph Fiennes....
with Joseph Fiennes
Joseph Fiennes
Joseph Fiennes is an English film and stage actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayals of William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love, Sir Robert Dudley in Elizabeth, Commisar Danilov in Enemy at the Gates, Martin Luther in Luther, Merlin in Camelot, and his portrayal of Mark Benford in the...
and Sir Peter Ustinov. He also appeared as the young emperor Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
(Peter O'Toole
Peter O'Toole
Peter Seamus Lorcan O'Toole is an Irish actor of stage and screen. O'Toole achieved stardom in 1962 playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, and then went on to become a highly-honoured film and stage actor. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and holds the record for most...
was the emperor in later life).
In 2006 he played the part of a physician in the film Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
. In 2007 he starred as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and father of a thalidomide
Thalidomide
Thalidomide was introduced as a sedative drug in the late 1950s that was typically used to cure morning sickness. In 1961, it was withdrawn due to teratogenicity and neuropathy. There is now a growing clinical interest in thalidomide, and it is introduced as an immunomodulatory agent used...
-handicapped daughter, for which he received a Bambi
Bambi
Bambi is a 1942 American animated film directed by David Hand , produced by Walt Disney and based on the book Bambi, A Life in the Woods by Austrian author Felix Salten...
Award in 2007. He explained in an interview that he was proud to be a part of the film, which influenced the German parliament to pass a law giving greater financial compensation for victims of thalidomide.
Filmography
- 1998: Spuk aus der Gruft ("Spook from the Grave" - adaptation of one of a trilogy of books)
- 2000: Spuk im Reich der Schatten ("Spook in the Kingdom of Shadows" - adaptation of one of a trilogy of books)
- 2001: Maria Magdalena ("Maria Magdalena")
- 2001: Antonia - Zwischen Liebe und Macht ("Antonia - Love and Power")
- 2001: Jonathans Liebe ("Jonathan's Love")
- 2002: Die Bibel – Die Apokalypse ("The Bible - The Apocalypse")
- 2002: Spuk am Tor der Zeit ("Spook at the Gate of Time" - adaptation of one of a trilogy of books)
- 2003: Augustus – Mein Vater der KaiserImperium: AugustusImperium: Augustus is a 2003 joint British-Italian production, and part of the Imperium series. It tells of the life story of Octavian and how he became Augustus...
("Augustus - My Father the Emperor") - 2003: Auftrag Schutzengel ("Operation Guardian Angel")
- 2003: Nur Anfänger heiraten ("Only Beginners Marry")
- 2004: Italiener und andere Süßigkeiten ("Italians and Other Sweet Things")
- 2005: Dresden ("Dresden")
- 2007: Krieg und Frieden ("War and Peace")
- 2007: Sehnsucht nach Liebe ("Waiting for Love")
- 2007: Contergan ("Contergan")
- 2008: Die Jagd nach dem Schatz der Nibelungen ("The Hunt for the Nibelung's Treasure")
- 2008: Impact
- 2009: Krupp – Eine deutsche Familie ("Krupp - A German Family")