Erna Baumbauer
Encyclopedia
Erma Baumbauer was a German
casting agent. She has been called the "grand dame of German casting agents" by The Hollywood Reporter
for her long career in the German film industry
, which spanned decades. She was nicknamed "the Queen of Bavaria
" by one of her clients, actor Ulrich Mühe
.
Bambauer was born in Munich
in 1919, and stood 5'1" tall during her life. She began her career by working as a bookdealer and journalist
. She founded her eponymous Munich-based talent agency, Erna Baunbauer Management, following the end of World War II
, where she worked until her death in 2010. The Hollywood Reporter described her as knowing everyone with the German film industry. In one instance, film director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
sent Baumbauer a script for his 2006 film, The Lives of Others
, for her to cast directly. Baumbauer directly chose three actors from her agency to become the male leads for the film - Ulrich Muehe, Sebastian Koch
und Ulrich Tukur
.
Bambauer's client included Sebastian Koch
, Maximilian Schell
, Bruno Ganz
, Katja Riemann
, Susanne Lothar
and Bruno Ganz
.
The German Film Academy awarded Baumbauer the lifetime achievement award in 2006. This marked the first time in the academy's history that a woman who was not a film director
or actress by profession had received the honor.
, a theater director.
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...
casting agent. She has been called the "grand dame of German casting agents" by The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
for her long career in the German film industry
Film industry
The film industry consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking: i.e. film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, film festivals, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film crew...
, which spanned decades. She was nicknamed "the Queen of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
" by one of her clients, actor Ulrich Mühe
Ulrich Mühe
Friedrich Hans Ulrich Mühe was a German film, television and theatre actor. He played the role of Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler in the Oscar-winning film Das Leben der Anderen , for which he received the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Gold, at Germany's most prestigious film...
.
Bambauer was born in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in 1919, and stood 5'1" tall during her life. She began her career by working as a bookdealer and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. She founded her eponymous Munich-based talent agency, Erna Baunbauer Management, following the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where she worked until her death in 2010. The Hollywood Reporter described her as knowing everyone with the German film industry. In one instance, film director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Florian Maria Georg Christian, Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck is a German film director, best known for writing and directing the 2007 Oscar-winning film The Lives of Others and the 2010 film The Tourist.-Personal life and family:...
sent Baumbauer a script for his 2006 film, The Lives of Others
The Lives of Others
The Lives of Others is a 2006 German drama film, marking the feature film debut of filmmaker Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. The film involves the monitoring of the cultural scene of East Berlin by agents of the Stasi, the GDR's secret police...
, for her to cast directly. Baumbauer directly chose three actors from her agency to become the male leads for the film - Ulrich Muehe, Sebastian Koch
Sebastian Koch
-Life and career:Koch was born in Karlsruhe and grew up in Stuttgart. His mother raised him alone, and he spent some time in the children's home where she worked...
und Ulrich Tukur
Ulrich Tukur
Ulrich Tukur is a German actor and musician.-Biography:Tukur spent his youth near Hanover where he finished his final secondary-school examinations in 1977. He also achieved a high school degree in Boston during an exchange of students where he met his first wife, Amber Wood. With her, he had two...
.
Bambauer's client included Sebastian Koch
Sebastian Koch
-Life and career:Koch was born in Karlsruhe and grew up in Stuttgart. His mother raised him alone, and he spent some time in the children's home where she worked...
, Maximilian Schell
Maximilian Schell
Maximilian Schell is an Austrian-born Swiss actor who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Judgment at Nuremberg in 1961...
, Bruno Ganz
Bruno Ganz
Bruno Ganz is a Swiss actor, known for his roles as Damiel in Wings of Desire and Adolf Hitler in Downfall.- Early life :Bruno Ganz was born in Zürich to a Swiss mechanic father and a northern Italian mother. He had decided to pursue an acting career by the time he entered university...
, Katja Riemann
Katja Riemann
Katja Hannchen Leni Riemann is a German actress.- Life and work :Born as the daughter of two teachers, Katja Riemann spent her childhood in Weyhe, near Bremen. After high school she went to Hamburg to study music and theater...
, Susanne Lothar
Susanne Lothar
Susanne Lothar is a German actress.Lothar studied at the Schauspiel an der Hochschule für Theater und Musik in Hamburg...
and Bruno Ganz
Bruno Ganz
Bruno Ganz is a Swiss actor, known for his roles as Damiel in Wings of Desire and Adolf Hitler in Downfall.- Early life :Bruno Ganz was born in Zürich to a Swiss mechanic father and a northern Italian mother. He had decided to pursue an acting career by the time he entered university...
.
The German Film Academy awarded Baumbauer the lifetime achievement award in 2006. This marked the first time in the academy's history that a woman who was not a film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
or actress by profession had received the honor.
Death
Erna Baumbauer died on 31 January 2010, aged 91. She was survived by her daughter, Patricia, a talent agent, her granddaughters, Antonia and Franziska, and son, Frank BaumbauerFrank Baumbauer
Frank Baumbauer is an award-winning German theater director and artistic director active in the German theater community. He is the son of German casting agent Erna Baumbauer. Baumbauer was from 2001 - 2009 the director of the Munich Kammerspiele.-External links:...
, a theater director.