--- name: "Bruno Ganz" canonical: "https://film.one/person/bruno-ganz" fi1m_id: "bruno-ganz" imdb_id: "nm0004486" tmdb_id: 2310 wikidata_id: "Q123206" roles: ["Actor"] born: "22 March 1941" died: "16 February 2019" reviewed_on_fi1m: 5 average_fi1m_score: 74 average_as: "actor" average_over: 5 updated: "2026-10-01T20:25:46.977411+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bruno Ganz ## Identity Bruno Ganz - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/bruno-ganz - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** bruno-ganz - **IMDb ID:** nm0004486 - **TMDB ID:** 2310 - **Wikidata ID:** Q123206 - **Same entity:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123206, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004486/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2310 Actor. Born 22 March 1941 in Zürich, Switzerland. Died 16 February 2019. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 22 March 1941, Zürich, Switzerland - **Died:** 16 February 2019 - **Active:** 1977–2019 - **Also known as:** برونو گانتس - **Frequently works with:** [Bernd Eichinger](https://film.one/person/bernd-eichinger.md), [Wim Wenders](https://film.one/person/wim-wenders.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 5 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 88 (1), 2000s 67 (3), 2010s 82 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 70 across 5 titles - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 2 of 5 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 5, History 3, Romance 2, War 2, Action 1, Crime 1 - **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $236m across 5 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123206, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004486/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2310 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Baader Meinhof Complex*](https://film.one/film/the-baader-meinhof-complex.md) (65), [*The Reader*](https://film.one/film/the-reader.md) (56) - **HBO Max:** [*Wings of Desire*](https://film.one/film/wings-of-desire.md) (88) - **Tubi:** [*Downfall*](https://film.one/film/downfall.md) (81) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Bruno Ganz > Bruno Ganz's precise movements and measured voice make difficult characters worth watching closely. His Hitler in *Downfall* is disturbing because he remains recognisably human, and we recommend the performance without reservation. In *Downfall* (2004), people carry on attending to Hitler while the regime collapses around them. Bruno Ganz makes their continued obedience harder to watch by playing someone whose presence they could have grown used to. He is diminished and paranoid, but never reduced to a caricature. We rate Ganz for this willingness to let ordinary human qualities remain visible in a character audiences might prefer to keep at a distance. His film breakthrough came with New German Cinema in the mid-1970s, after an established stage career. *The American Friend* (1977), in which he plays the picture framer Jonathan Zimmerman drawn into crime, gave his sensitivity and capacity for violence room to coexist. Collaborations with Wim Wenders helped bring wider recognition, while Werner Herzog cast him as Jonathan Harker opposite Klaus Kinski in *Nosferatu the Vampyre* (1979). In *Wings of Desire* (1987), his Damiel, an angel observing life in Berlin, offered a gentler use for that close attention to other people. His controlled physical expression and modulated voice suit figures who spend time watching and thinking, without leaving them inert. *Downfall* brought renewed international attention, and Ganz's preparation included studying Hitler's mannerisms. Oliver Hirschbiegel's bunker drama benefits from that precision, although mere resemblance would not have been enough. We were horrified by the routine business of serving his Hitler, because Ganz makes it possible to understand how those around him have become accustomed to his presence. Corinna Harfouch's Magda Goebbels and Ulrich Matthes's Joseph Goebbels give us other people worth studying, so our attention need not end with the leading performance. The film's weakness lies in how widely Bernd Eichinger's screenplay spreads its attention. Alexandra Maria Lara's Traudl Junge offers a way into the bunker company, but the writing will not stay with her, and the crowded storytelling gradually weakens our concentration. Ganz cannot solve that problem, however closely he holds us when he is present. Nor does admiration for his performance require us to find everyone else's predicament equally absorbing. Give *Downfall* an uninterrupted evening, with a tolerance for a script that is less disciplined than its leading actor. ## Biography Bruno Ganz (1941–2019) was a Swiss actor whose career spanned stage and screen for nearly six decades. He made his theatrical debut in 1961 and in 1970 co-founded the Berliner Schaubühne ensemble with director Peter Stein. Ganz appeared in films from the mid-1970s onwards, including *The American Friend* (1977), *Nosferatu the Vampyre* (1979) and *Wings of Desire* (1987), in which he played the angel Damiel. He received international recognition for his portrayal of Adolf Hitler in *Downfall* (2004). Other notable screen roles include Professor Rohl in *The Reader* (2008) and Verge in *The House That Jack Built* (2018). Ganz died at his home in Zurich on 16 February 2019. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, theguardian.com, bbc.co.uk, nytimes.com.* ## On Fi1m (5) - *A Hidden Life* (2019), Fi1m 82, as Richter — [page](https://film.one/film/a-hidden-life.md) - *The Baader Meinhof Complex* (2008), Fi1m 65, as Horst Herold — [page](https://film.one/film/the-baader-meinhof-complex.md) - *The Reader* (2008), Fi1m 56, as Professor Rohl — [page](https://film.one/film/the-reader.md) - *Downfall* (2004), Fi1m 81, as Adolf Hitler — [page](https://film.one/film/downfall.md) - *Wings of Desire* (1987), Fi1m 88, as Damiel — [page](https://film.one/film/wings-of-desire.md) ## Complete filmography (126) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Films to Die For* (2025), as (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Who the F... is Roger Rossmeisl* (2020), as Narrator (voice) - *Winter Journey* (2019), as George Goldsmith - *The Naked King - 18 Fragments on Revolution* (2019), as Narrator German (voice) - *A Hidden Life* (2019), as Richter — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/a-hidden-life.md) - *The Witness* (2019), as Nikola Radin - *The Tobacconist* (2018), as Sigmund Freud - *The House That Jack Built* (2018), as Verge - *Fortuna* (2018), as Brother Jean - *To Duration: A Tribute to Peter Handke* (2017), Actor - *The Party* (2017), as Godfried - *In Times of Fading Light* (2017), as Wilhelm Powileit - *A Jew Must Die* (2016), as Arthur Bloch - *Heidi* (2015), as Alpöhi - *Remember* (2015), as Rudy Kurlander #1 - *Amnesia* (2015), as Bruno - *Giovanni Segantini - Magie des Lichts* (2015), as Voice of Segantini - *Beethoven - Egmont, Mozart - Symphony 35 - Claudio Abbado, Lucerne Festival Orchestra* (2015), Actor - *In Order of Disappearance* (2014), as Papa - *The Counselor* (2013), as Diamond Dealer - *Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas* (2013), as The Governor - *Night Train to Lisbon* (2013), as Older Jorge O'Kelly - *Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen* (2012), as (archive footage) - *Of Women and Horses* (2012), as Franz Mann - *Das Geheimnis unseres Waldes* (2011), as Narrator (voice) - *Der Kleine Prinz* (2011), as Geograph - *Unknown* (2011), as Ernst Jürgen - *Colors in the Dark* (2011), as Fred - *The End Is My Beginning* (2010), as Tiziano Terzani - *Taxiphone* (2010), as Stranger - *The Day of the Cat* (2010), as Kater - *Julia's Disappearance* (2009), as John - *The Reader* (2008), as Professor Rohl — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/the-reader.md) - *The Dust of Time* (2008), as Jacob - *The Baader Meinhof Complex* (2008), as Horst Herold — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/the-baader-meinhof-complex.md) - *Ein starker Abgang* (2008), as Heinz Kilian - *Copacabana* (2008), as Herbert Schubert - *Youth Without Youth* (2007), as Professor Stanciulescu - *The Ode to Joy* (2006), as Kurt Heinrich - *Have No Fear: The Life of Pope John Paul II* (2006), as Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski - *Vitus* (2006), as Grandfather - *Pablo G. del Amo, un montador de ilusiones* (2005), as Peter (archive footage) - *Alias Kurban Saïd* (2005), as Narrator - *Downfall* (2004), as Adolf Hitler — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/downfall.md) - *The Manchurian Candidate* (2004), as Delp - *Luther* (2003), as Johann von Staupitz - *Epsteins Nacht* (2002), as Adam Rose - *The Power of the Past* (2002), as Bogliasco - *Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust II* (2001), as Faust - *Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust I* (2001), as Faust - *Bread and Tulips* (2000), as Fernando Girasoli - *WhoAfraidWolf* (2000), Actor - *Antipasto Umbro* (2000), Actor - *You Can't Go Home Again* (1999), as Narrator (voice) - *Eternity and a Day* (1998), as Alexandros - *Gegen Ende der Nacht* (1998), as Fehleisen - *St. Stephen's: The Living Cathedral* (1997), as Narrator (German voice) - *Deadly Silence* (1997), as Hans Plache - *Saint-Ex* (1996), as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - *Lumière & Company* (1995), as Damiel (segment "Wim Wenders") - *Il Grande Fausto* (1995), as Biagio Cavanna - *Diario senza date* (1995), Actor - *Faraway, So Close!* (1993), as Damiel - *The Absence* (1993), as Player - *Night on Fire* (1992), as Peter Keller - *The Last Days of Chez Nous* (1992), as J.P. - *Prague* (1992), as Josef - *Le Quatuor des possibles* (1992), as Narrateur - *Especially on Sunday* (1991), as Vittorio - *Children of Nature* (1991), as Engill - *Success* (1991), as Jacques Tüverlin - *Tassilo - Ein Fall für sich* (1991), series, as Tassilo - *The Architecture of Doom* (1989), as German narrator (voice) - *Strapless* (1989), as Raymond Forbes - *Bankomatt* (1989), as Bruno - *Anwalt Abel* (1988), series, as Crusius - *Love of a Woman* (1988), as Franco Bassani - *The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway* (1988), as Ezra Pound - *Wings of Desire* (1987), as Damiel — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/wings-of-desire.md) - *Fathers and Sons: A German Tragedy* (1986), series, as Heinrich Beck - *Thomas Bernhard – Ein Widerspruch. »Die Ursache bin ich selbst«* (1986), as Narrator - *El río de oro* (1986), as Peter - *Private Resistance* (1985), as Gustav - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Josef - *Closed Circuit* (1983), as Faber - *Killer aus Florida* (1983), Actor - *In the White City* (1983), as Paul - *Logik des Gefühls* (1982), Actor - *War and Peace* (1982), Actor - *Remembrance: Film for Curt Bois* (1982), Director - *Before Your Eyes - Vietnam* (1982), Actor - *Circle of Deceit* (1981), as Georg Laschen - *Lady of the Camelias* (1981), as Count Perregaux - *La Storia Vera Della Signora Dalle Camelie* (1981), series, as Count Perregaux - *La provinciale* (1981), as Rémy Muller - *The Inventor* (1980), as Jakob Nüssli - *Polenta* (1980), Actor - *5% de risque* (1980), as David - *Lost and Found* (1980), as Werner - *Return to the Beloved* (1979), as Dr. Stephan Kern - *Nosferatu the Vampyre* (1979), as Jonathan Harker - *Knife in the Head* (1978), as Hoffmann - *Black and White Like Day and Night* (1978), as Thomas Rosemund - *The Boys from Brazil* (1978), as Professor Bruckner - *The Left-Handed Woman* (1978), as Bruno - *The American Friend* (1977), as Jonathan Zimmermann - *The Wild Duck* (1976), as Gregers Werle - *The Marquise of O* (1976), as Der Graf - *Lumière* (1976), as Heinrich Grun - *Summer Guests* (1976), as Jakov Shalimov - *Die Bakchen* (1974), as Pentheus - *Prinz Friedrich von Homburg* (1973), as Prinz Friedrich Arthur von Homburg - *The Ignoramus and the Madman* (1972), Actor - *Die Mutter* (1971), Actor - *Scene of the Crime* (1970), series, as Bombadil - *Eine große Familie* (1970), as Heinz Hallasch - *Torquato Tasso* (1969), as Torquato Tasso - *Im Dickicht der Städte* (1968), as George Garga - *Die Schlacht bei Lobositz* (1968), as Ulrich Braeker - *The Soft Course* (1967), as Bernhard Krahl - *Die Unberatenen* (1966), Actor - *Frühlings Erwachen* (1966), as Moritz Stiefel - *Der Spaßvogel* (1964), as Johnny - *Chikita* (1962), as Jazzfan - *A Roof Over Your Head* (1962), as Fred Weber - *Der Herr mit der schwarzen Melone* (1960), as Kammerdiener ## Awards ### Other awards — 10 won, 2 nominated - Carl Zuckmayer Medal 2015: Carl Zuckmayer Medal (won) - European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award 2010: European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award (won) - Knight of the Legion of Honour 2007: Knight of the Legion of Honour (won) - Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 2006: Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (won) - Austrian Decoration for Science and Art 2005: Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (won) - Bambi Award 2004: Bambi Award (won) - European Film Award for Best Actor 2004: European Film Award for Best Actor (nominated), for *Downfall* - Cross of Merit First Class of the Lower Saxony Order of Merit 2001: Cross of Merit First Class of the Lower Saxony Order of Merit (won) - Theaterpreis Berlin 2001: Theaterpreis Berlin (won) - European Film Award for Best Actor 2000: European Film Award for Best Actor (nominated), for *Bread and Tulips* - Iffland-Ring 1996: Iffland-Ring (won) - Swiss Grand Prix for performing arts / Hans Reinhart Ring 1991: Swiss Grand Prix for performing arts / Hans Reinhart Ring (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/bruno-ganz