Benno Sterzenbach

Benno Sterzenbach (born 3 March 1916 Osnabrück - died 13 September 1985 Feldafing) was a German cinema and theatre actor and director.

Biography

His first major role on stage was Götz von Berlichingen at which he played next to Ellen Schwiers as Adelheid at the Jagsthausen festival. On television, he is mostly known for his roles in filmed theatrical adaptations: Der Richter und sein Henker (1957) by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Der Schlaf der Gerechten (1962) by Albrecht Goes and Mirandolina (1963) by Carlo Goldoni.

Suspected of espionage due to his editorial relations, he was arrested by the Gestapo in 1941, and imprisoned for a month, during which time he protested his innocence. He was eventually freed after his case was expedited. This episode was repeated in a number of his plays.

With Paths in Twilight in 1948, he made his cinematic debut under the direction of Gustav Fröhlich. In 1960, he was in one of the first films by Edgar Wallace after the war: Der Rächer. In the same year, he was in Es ist soweit. In 1966, he acted alongside Heinz Reincke in one of the first German colour television series, Adrian der Tulpendieb.

After acting in 1962 in Max the Pickpocket with Heinz Rühmann, in 1964 he played the role of a doctor in , a film which started a long series of films based on plane crashes.

Benno Sterzenbach found most success in the role of General Winston Woodrov Wamsler in Raumpatrouille – Die phantastischen Abenteuer des Raumschiffes Orion. After this, he was invited to series such as , Derrick and The Old Fox.

In France, he is best known for his role as Major Achbach in La Grande Vadrouille with Louis de Funès and Bourvil. It was released under the title Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At! in the United Kingdom and United States.

Benno Sterzenbach also wrote a number of books.

Filmography

1948: Paths in Twilight - Stefan Kolb 1951: My Friend the Thief 1955: Operation Sleeping Bag - Offizier des SS 1955: The Cornet - Rittmeister Reningen 1959: Freddy unter fremden Sternen - Miller 1960: The Time Has Come (TV miniseries) - Lomax 1960: Der Rächer - Sir Gregory Penn 1962: Max the Pickpocket - Charly Gibbons 1964: (TV film) - Dr. Frank Baird 1965: Doktor Murkes gesammelte Nachrufe (TV film) - Grosshack 1966: (TV film) - Witness 1966: Adrian der Tulpendieb (TV miniseries) - Kapitän Josias 1966: Raumpatrouille – Die phantastischen Abenteuer des Raumschiffes Orion (TV miniseries) - General Wamsler 1966: La Grande Vadrouille (Die große Sause) - Major Achbach 1970: Pippi on the Run - Policeman 1982: L'As des as - Major Aschbach - Gestapo officer 1982: Unterwegs nach Atlantis (TV series) - Doctor Graf 1983: Hostage - Mr. Maresch 2003: Raumpatrouille Orion – Rücksturz ins Kino - General Winston Woodrow Wamsler (archive footage)