---
name: "Peter Simonischek"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/peter-simonischek"
fi1m_id: "peter-simonischek"
imdb_id: "nm0800638"
tmdb_id: 49795
wikidata_id: "Q1300467"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "6 August 1946"
died: "29 May 2023"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 68
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-19T16:15:39.222880+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."
---

# Peter Simonischek

## Identity

Peter Simonischek

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/peter-simonischek
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** peter-simonischek
- **IMDb ID:** nm0800638
- **TMDB ID:** 49795
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1300467
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Simonischek, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1300467, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0800638/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/49795

Actor. Born 6 August 1946 in Graz, Austria. Died 29 May 2023.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 6 August 1946, Graz, Austria
- **Died:** 29 May 2023
- **Active:** 2016–2022
- **Average Fi1m score:** 68, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2010s 86 (1), 2020s 50 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Simonischek, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1300467, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0800638/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/49795

## Fi1m on Peter Simonischek

> Peter Simonischek's gift in *Toni Erdmann* is to make a father's clowning funny without excusing his interference. We value the physical comedy, but it is the uneasy affection beneath it that makes the performance worth returning to.

The false teeth in *Toni Erdmann* (2016) are an obvious invitation to laugh, but Peter Simonischek does not let them do all the work. As Winfried, the father who tries to reconnect with his daughter through pranks, he makes it difficult to separate concern from the pleasure of being noticed. His comic timing gives the intrusion its appeal. Then there is the question of what his daughter is supposed to do with him. We were touched by his efforts to reach her, because Simonischek lets the affection show through behaviour that remains awkward and intrusive.

For Simonischek, the film brought international recognition after decades of German-language stage and television work. He had played the title role in *Jedermann* at the Salzburg Festival from 2002 to 2009, a sustained exercise in physical presence and control of the voice. The pranks are played with a precision that makes sense after so much stage work. His later screen work includes Admiral Vyacheslav Grudzinsky in Thomas Vinterberg's *Kursk* (2018), as his international film career widened.

Maren Ade gives that performance a necessary check in Sandra Hüller's Ines. Her working life in Bucharest matters to the film, and Hüller makes the effort of concentrating on it legible even when she is impatient with her father. Simonischek's warmth is persuasive enough that an easier comedy might have treated her resistance as the problem. Here, his wish to get closer does not automatically make him right. The two actors keep us interested in both sides of an encounter, which is why we can enjoy his disruption and still want him to stop.

A few of Ade's extended exchanges test our patience, and even Simonischek's comic invention cannot make every extra minute necessary. The performance is worth that patience because he never makes the father so winning that we forget the demands he places on his daughter. Start with *Toni Erdmann*, and give Hüller as much attention as the man trying to interrupt her.

## Biography

Peter Simonischek was an Austrian actor. Born in Graz in 1946, he trained at the Graz University of Music and Performing Arts after initially studying architecture. He joined the Burgtheater ensemble in Vienna in 1999 and became an honorary member in 2019.

He appeared regularly at the Salzburg Festival, playing the title role in *Jedermann* from 2002 to 2009. Simonischek worked extensively in theatre, film and television from the 1980s onward, appearing in more than sixty films.

He was best known internationally for his leading role as Winfried Conradi / Toni Erdmann in the 2016 comedy-drama *Toni Erdmann*. Other film credits include the *Ruby Red* trilogy (2013–2016) as Graf von St. Germain, *Kursk* (2018) and *Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore* (2022). Simonischek died in Vienna in 2023.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, theguardian.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore* (2022), Fi1m 50, as Warder — [page](https://film.one/film/fantastic-beasts-the-secrets-of-dumbledore.md)
- *Toni Erdmann* (2016), Fi1m 86, as Winfried / Toni — [page](https://film.one/film/toni-erdmann.md)

## Complete filmography (86)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Das Beste kommt noch!* (2023), as Bernhard
- *Measures of Men* (2023), as Josef Ritter von Waldstätten
- *Dear Kurt* (2022), as Wolfgang
- *Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore* (2022), as Warder — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/fantastic-beasts-the-secrets-of-dumbledore.md)
- *Kranitz - Bei Trennung Geld zurück* (2021), series, as Lothar
- *An seiner Seite* (2021), as Walter Kler
- *Die Fledermaus - Wiener Staatsoper* (2020), as Frosch
- *Crescendo* (2020), as Eduard
- *Hermann Hesse - Blazing Summer* (2020), Actor
- *Silent Night: A Song for the World* (2018), as Narrator
- *Kursk* (2018), as Admiral Vyacheslav Grudzinsky
- *The Interpreter* (2018), as Georg Graubner
- *Only God Can Judge Me* (2018), as Vater
- *Hotel Sacher* (2016), series, as Josef von Traunstein
- *Wunderlich's World* (2016), as Walter
- *Bergfried* (2016), as Peter Simonischek
- *Toni Erdmann* (2016), as Winfried / Toni — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/toni-erdmann.md)
- *Emerald Green* (2016), as Graf von St. Germain
- *Lou Andreas-Salomé, The Audacity to be Free* (2016), as Lous Vater
- *Austria from Above: Jewels of the Country* (2016), series, as Narrator
- *Die Kanarischen Inseln* (2016), series, as Narrator
- *Das Konzert* (2015), as Gustav Heink
- *Forest of Fantasies* (2014), as Narrator
- *The Cellar Lanes of Lower Austria - Wine Culture and the Pleasures of Life* (2014), as Erzähler (German version)
- *Verhängnisvolle Nähe* (2014), as Hans Denning
- *Sapphire Blue* (2014), as Graf von St. Germain
- *Clara Immerwahr* (2014), as Rektor Engler
- *Biest* (2014), as Jäger
- *October November* (2014), as Vater
- *Der Kaktus* (2013), as Heinrich Bittner
- *Ruby Red* (2013), as Graf von St. Germain
- *Ludwig II* (2012), as Sophie in Bayern
- *Years of Love* (2011), as Uli
- *Jedermann Remixed* (2011), as Jedermann / Death (archive footage)
- *Tod in Istanbul* (2010), as Kurt Herder
- *Oh Shit* (2010), as General Bohlinger
- *Anna and the Prince* (2009), as Vater
- *Gott schützt die Liebenden* (2008), as Paul Holland
- *Mit einem Schlag* (2008), as Jakob Neumann
- *Mozart in China* (2008), as Peter - Danny's Father
- *Eine folgenschwere Affäre* (2007), as Ewald Feldmeier
- *Slnko v sieti* (2006), series, Actor
- *Daniel Käfer - Die Schattenuhr* (2006), as Daniel Käfer
- *Vienna's Forests - Jewels of Green* (2005), as Narrator
- *Wachau - Valley of Golden Magic* (2005), as Narrator (German Version)
- *Daniel Käfer - Die Villen der Frau Hürsch* (2005), as Daniel Käfer
- *Einmal so wie ich will* (2005), as Ferdinand Bauer
- *Jedermann* (2005), as Jedermann
- *Erlebnis Österreich* (2004), series, as (voice)
- *Alles Glück dieser Erde* (2003), as Dr. Sigi Fürstberger
- *A Birthday to Remember* (2003), as Goetz Hildebrand
- *Gebürtig* (2002), as Hermann Gebürtig
- *Blumen für Polt* (2001), as Karl Gappmayer
- *Einsatz in Hamburg* (2000), series, as Wolf Seeler
- *Liebst du mich* (2000), as Herbert Kranz
- *Vertrauen ist alles* (2000), as Dr. Ernst Blankenburg
- *Beresina* (1999), as Fritz Ochsenbein
- *Love Your Female Neighbor!* (1998), as Selbstmörder
- *HeliCops - Einsatz über Berlin* (1998), series, as Hagen Dahlberg
- *Assignment Berlin* (1998), as Manfred Brumm
- *Porträt eines Richters* (1998), as Kemp
- *Reise in die Dunkelheit* (1997), as Justus Vorbeck
- *Countdown für die Ewigkeit* (1997), as Narrator (voice)
- *Stockinger* (1996), series, as "Death" Actor (uncredited)
- *Der Blinde* (1996), as Harry Harper
- *Die Grube* (1995), as Karl Kretschmer
- *Tödliches Geld* (1995), as Bill Brodin
- *Ein starkes Team* (1994), series, as Berger
- *Deep Above* (1994), as Gasteiger
- *Bella Block* (1993), series, as Bernhard Hansen, Carlo Lenz
- *Krücke* (1993), as Ferdi
- *Success* (1991), as Dr. Martin Krüger
- *Der einsame Weg* (1991), as Wegrat
- *The Mountain* (1990), as Kreuzpointner
- *Der achte Tag* (1990), as Volker de Vries
- *Der veruntreute Himmel* (1990), Actor
- *Sukkubus* (1989), as Senn
- *Love and Fear* (1988), as Massimo
- *Lenz oder die Freiheit* (1986), series, as Andreas Lenz/Sgt. Andrew Lenz
- *The Lenz Papers* (1986), as Andreas Lenz/Sgt. Andrew Lenz
- *Drei Schwestern* (1986), as Andrej Sergejewitsch Prosorow
- *Geblendeter Augenblick - Anton Weberns Tod* (1986), as Alban Berg
- *Herrenjahre* (1983), Actor
- *The Old Fox* (1977), series, as Ferdinand Lamsen
- *Derrick* (1974), series, as Dr. Curtius
- *Scene of the Crime* (1970), series, as Bo Johansson

## Gallery

- ![Peter Simonischek](https://film.one/media/person/124705/gallery-f3245172ac27.jpg) Peter Simonischek — Manfred Werner (Tsui), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/%C3%96sterreichischer_Filmpreis_2017_photo_call_Peter_Simonischek_1.jpg/1280px-%C3%96sterreichischer_Filmpreis_2017_photo_call_Peter_Simonischek_1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Brigitte Karner and Peter Simonischek on the red carpet of the Romy TV awards 2017 at Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria.](https://film.one/media/person/124705/gallery-76d73b623fce.jpg) Brigitte Karner and Peter Simonischek on the red carpet of the Romy TV awards 2017 at Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. — Manfred Werner - Tsui, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Brigitte_Karner_Peter_Simonischek_ROMY_2017.jpg/1280px-Brigitte_Karner_Peter_Simonischek_ROMY_2017.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Foyer und Bühnenhaus des Kleinen Festspielhauses sowie Winterreitschule:Personalisierter Sitz im Haus für Mozart (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/124705/gallery-cffbe8ed1a1e.jpg) Foyer und Bühnenhaus des Kleinen Festspielhauses sowie Winterreitschule:Personalisierter Sitz im Haus für Mozart (2018) — Geolina163, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Haus_f%C3%BCr_Mozart_Personalisierter_Sitz_01.jpg/1280px-Haus_f%C3%BCr_Mozart_Personalisierter_Sitz_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Peter Simonischek and en:Daniel Donskoy on the red carpet of the Hessian Film and Cinema Prize 2019 in the Alte Oper Frankfurt.](https://film.one/media/person/124705/gallery-fa6d68a43975.jpg) Peter Simonischek and en:Daniel Donskoy on the red carpet of the Hessian Film and Cinema Prize 2019 in the Alte Oper Frankfurt. — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/MJK_60967_Peter_Simonischek_und_Daniel_Donskoy_%28Hessischer_Film-_und_Kinopreis_2019%29.jpg/1280px-MJK_60967_Peter_Simonischek_und_Daniel_Donskoy_%28Hessischer_Film-_und_Kinopreis_2019%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Peter Simonischek and en:Daniel Donskoy on the red carpet of the Hessian Film and Cinema Prize 2019 in the Alte Oper Frankfurt.](https://film.one/media/person/124705/gallery-7a19b3e709d8.jpg) Peter Simonischek and en:Daniel Donskoy on the red carpet of the Hessian Film and Cinema Prize 2019 in the Alte Oper Frankfurt. — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/MJK_60980_Peter_Simonischek_und_Daniel_Donskoy_%28Hessischer_Film-_und_Kinopreis_2019%29.jpg/1280px-MJK_60980_Peter_Simonischek_und_Daniel_Donskoy_%28Hessischer_Film-_und_Kinopreis_2019%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Peter Simonischek at the party of the Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg, Berlinale 2020](https://film.one/media/person/124705/gallery-0f74d6cffc47.jpg) Peter Simonischek at the party of the Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg, Berlinale 2020 — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/MJKr01303_Peter_Simonischek_%28Medienboard-Party_2020%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- European Film Award for Best Actor 2016: European Film Award for Best Actor (won), for *Toni Erdmann*

*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/peter-simonischek