Walter Sedlmayr
Encyclopedia
Walter Sedlmayr was a Bavaria
n stage, television, and movie actor
.
, Sedlmayr served as a Flakhelfer towards the end of World War II
. His acting career began with minor roles with the Münchner Kammerspiele
, for which he played more than 25 years, and in numerous Heimatfilm
e during the 1940s and 1950s.
In 1971, by now an associate of Rainer Werner Fassbinder
, Sedlmayr was briefly arrested because a stolen artwork, the Blutenburger Madonna, was found in his house. He was later acquitted of all charges, and the media attention given to his trial helped him gain major roles. His breakthrough came with the leading role in Hans-Jürgen Syberberg
's movie Theodor Hierneis oder Wie man ehem. Hofkoch wird (1973). Afterwards, Sedlmayr was cast in numerous popular German TV shows, including Münchner Geschichten, Der Herr Kottnik, Der Millionenbauer
, and Polizeiinspektion 1
; he also frequently appeared on stage and in other media.
apartment. He had been tied up, stabbed in the stomach with a knife and beaten about the head with a hammer. On 21 May 1993, two brothers, Wolfgang Werlé and Manfred Lauber
, former business associates of Sedlmayr, were found guilty of his murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Sedlmayr's life and murder were the subject of the 2001 biopic Wambo by Jo Baier, where he was played by Jürgen Tarrach, and of an episode of the ARD
TV series Die großen Kriminalfälle
.
award for his role in Theodor Hierneis oder Wie man ehemaliger Hofkoch wird.
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...
n stage, television, and movie actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Career
After his 1945 wartime AbiturAbitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
, Sedlmayr served as a Flakhelfer towards 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...
. His acting career began with minor roles with the Münchner Kammerspiele
Munich Kammerspiele
The Munich Kammerspiele is a successful German language theatre in Munich. The Schauspielhaus in the Maximilianstrasse is the major stage.-History:...
, for which he played more than 25 years, and in numerous Heimatfilm
Heimatfilm
Heimatfilm is the name given to a film genre that was popular in Germany, Switzerland and Austria from the late 40s to the early 70s. They were usually shot in the Alps, the Black Forest or the Lüneburg Heath and always involved the outdoors...
e during the 1940s and 1950s.
In 1971, by now an associate of Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Rainer Werner Maria Fassbinder was a German movie director, screenwriter and actor. He is considered one of the most important representatives of the New German Cinema.He maintained a frenetic pace in film-making...
, Sedlmayr was briefly arrested because a stolen artwork, the Blutenburger Madonna, was found in his house. He was later acquitted of all charges, and the media attention given to his trial helped him gain major roles. His breakthrough came with the leading role in Hans-Jürgen Syberberg
Hans-Jürgen Syberberg
Hans-Jürgen Syberberg is a German film director, whose best known film is his lengthy feature, Hitler: A Film from Germany.- Early life :...
's movie Theodor Hierneis oder Wie man ehem. Hofkoch wird (1973). Afterwards, Sedlmayr was cast in numerous popular German TV shows, including Münchner Geschichten, Der Herr Kottnik, Der Millionenbauer
Der Millionenbauer
Der Millionenbauer is a German television series....
, and Polizeiinspektion 1
Polizeiinspektion 1
Polizeiinspektion 1 is a German television series....
; he also frequently appeared on stage and in other media.
Murder
On 15 July 1990, Sedlmayr was found dead in the bedroom of his MunichMunich
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...
apartment. He had been tied up, stabbed in the stomach with a knife and beaten about the head with a hammer. On 21 May 1993, two brothers, Wolfgang Werlé and Manfred Lauber
Wolfgang Werlé and Manfred Lauber
Wolfgang Werlé and Manfred Lauber are German half-brothers who were convicted of the 1990 murder of actor Walter Sedlmayr. The murder, and subsequent trial and conviction of Werlé and Lauber in 1993, received extensive media coverage in Germany and elsewhere.In 2009, Werlé and Lauber again received...
, former business associates of Sedlmayr, were found guilty of his murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Sedlmayr's life and murder were the subject of the 2001 biopic Wambo by Jo Baier, where he was played by Jürgen Tarrach, and of an episode of the ARD
ARD (broadcaster)
ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
TV series Die großen Kriminalfälle
Die großen Kriminalfälle
Die großen Kriminalfälle is a German television series....
.
Filmography
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TV appearances
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Derrick (TV series) Derrick is a German TV series produced by Telenova Film und Fernsehproduktion in association with ZDF, ORF and SRG between 1974 and 1998 about Detective Chief Inspector Stephan Derrick and his loyal assistant Inspector Harry Klein , who solve murder cases in Munich and surroundings Derrick is a... - Season 2, Episode 12: "Alarm auf Revier 12" (1975) Polizeiinspektion 1 Polizeiinspektion 1 is a German television series.... Der Millionenbauer Der Millionenbauer is a German television series.... Unsere schönsten Jahre Unsere schönsten Jahre is a German television series.... Der Schwammerlkönig Der Schwammerlkönig is a German television series.... The Old Fox The Old Fox is a German television series created in 1976, but first on the air in 1977, now running for over three decades.... |
Award
In 1973, Sedlmayr won the Outstanding Individual Achievement: Actor Deutscher FilmpreisDeutscher Filmpreis
The Deutscher Filmpreis is the highest German movie award. From 1951 to 2004 it was awarded by a commission, since 2005 the award has been given by the Deutsche Filmakademie...
award for his role in Theodor Hierneis oder Wie man ehemaliger Hofkoch wird.