Dieter Hallervorden

Dieter Hallervorden (born 5 September 1935) is a German actor, comedian, cabaret artist and singer. He achieved great popularity in German-speaking countries in the mid-1970s with the slapstick series Nonstop Nonsens and his character Didi.

In the early 2010s, he established himself as a character actor of serious roles in films such as Back on Track (2013) and Head Full of Honey (2014).

Biography Hallervorden's mother was a physician's assistant and his father a graduate engineer employed by German aircraft maker Junkers. His siblings are called Renate and Margot. He has two children (Dieter Hallervorden Jr. and Nathalie Hallervorden) from his marriage to Rotraud Schindler and a son (Johannes) from his second wife Elena Blume.

Dieter Hallervorden Jr. appeared in the movies Darf ich Sie zur Mutter machen (1968) and The Wedding Trip (1969) and was creator, co-writer and leading actor of the comedy show Nonstop Nonsens (1974–1980). Nathalie Hallervorden co-starred in the TV series Die Nervensäge (1985–1986) and had a brief appearance together with her parents in Nonstop Nonsens. Hallervorden's first wife, Rotraud Schindler, co-starred in several TV shows and some movies. Johannes Hallervorden plays the part of Melchior von und zu Panke, the ghost from the TV series Binny and the Ghost.

Hallervorden starred as a bumbling, Clouseau-like detective in the German television show Die Didi-Show. The show was dubbed into English, retitled Didi's Comedy Show, and shown in various countries. Hallervorden also released a number of music singles, often parodies of popular songs, among them "Du, die Wanne ist voll", a very successful parody cover of "You're the One That I Want".

An Afrikaans-subtitled version of the comedy sketch-show, Nonstop Nonsens (1975), starring Hallervorden, was broadcast in South Africa in the early 1980s under the title Grapjas Didi ("Didi the Joker" or alternatively "Didi the Prankster"). Also a Spanish-dubbed version was distributed for Latin America under the name Las Locuras de Didí ("The Madnesses of Didi").

Dieter Hallervorden also played the lead role in the film Didi - Der Doppelgänger (international title: "Non-Stop Trouble with My Double"), which was released in 1984. He also served as a screenwriter in this German 'comedy of mistaken identity', which made Hallervorden even more popular.

In recent years, Hallervorden was popular with the leading roles in the comedy-drama films Back on Track and Head Full of Honey. He provided the voice for Vlad in the German dub of Hotel Transylvania 2.

He lives alternately in Berlin and in Trégastel (France) in the castle Château de Costaérès, which he acquired in 1988. In 2007 he was announced as an honorary citizen of his birthtown Dessau-Roßlau. On 4 September 2022 he opened the "Mitteldeutsches Theater" in Dessau-Roßlau. The theater showcases Hallervorden's own productions as well as guest performances and readings by German artists, comedians and actors.

Filmography Date Film International Title 2019 Befriending the Grouch 2017 Rock My Heart – Mein wildes HerzRock My Heart 2015 You Gotta Have Balls 2014 Honig im KopfHead Full of Honey 2013 Sein letztes Rennen Back on Track 2012 Het meisje en de dood The Girl and Death 2012 The Child 2011 The Twelve Dancing Princesses 2008 1½ Ritter – Auf der Suche nach der hinreißenden Herzelinde 1½ Knights: In Search of the Ravishing Princess Herzelinde 2006 La Isla Bonita – Armee der Stille La Isla Bonita 1992 All Lies 1990 Non-Stop Trouble in the Hospital 1988 Non-Stop Trouble with the Experts 1986 Didi Drives Me Crazy 1985 Non-Stop Trouble with the Family 1984 (Cameo) What's Up, Chancellor? 1984 Non-Stop Trouble with My Double 1983 Non-Stop Trouble with Spies 1981 Up the Creek 1981 (Cameo) Sting in the Flesh 1981 Ach du lieber Harry Oh My Dearest Harry 1980 My God, Willi! 1974 Der Springteufel The Devil's Jump 1972 Che? What? 1973 My Uncle Benjamin 1972 Tatort: Rat's Nest 1971 Mister Tingling stellt ein Mister Tingling Is Hiring 1970 Das Millionenspiel The Millions Game 1969 Die Hochzeitsreise The Wedding Trip 1968 Several Times Daily 1967 Seltsame Begegnungen (short) Strange Encounters (short) 1960 Die 1000 Augen des Dr. Mabuse The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse

TV shows 2024Queen of TearsSanssouci Park groundskeeper (episode 6) 2020 The Masked Singer Chamäleon (Season 2) 2004 Sesamstraße Sesamstraße is the German equivalent to Sesame Street; Dieter Hallervorden had a guest role as Karl Kaputt. 2000–2001 Hallervorden plays Jürgen Zebralla, an old divorced pensioner, who attends a university and lives with his wealthy son because of lack of money. Sitcom, 11 Episodes. 1996–1997 Verstehen Sie Spaß? Hallervorden was the host of this show about pranks. 1994–2003 Hallervordens Spott-Light Cabaret 1993 Sachen zum Lachen Staged comic acts. 1993 Klipp-Klapp, der Clip Club Hallervorden hosted the show 1992–1993 Spottschau Cabaret 1985 Die Didi-Show Short comic clips and comic acts. Also titled Didi's Comedy Show in English. 10 Episodes 1987 Laus im Pelz A televised stage play. 1985–1986 Die Nervensäge aka. Der Untermieter TV series, 26 Episodes 1983–1984 Zelleriesalat und Gitterspeise TV show equivalent to Die Didi-Show with Hallervorden as a convict. 4 Episodes 1983 1982 Grand Gala – 3 mal klingeln Hallervorden was a host. 6 Episodes 1982 Welle Wahnsinn Music show, 2 Episodes 1981 Onkel & Co Hallervorden was a clumsy detective. 2 Episodes, 60 minutes each. 1975–1978 Lästerlexikon 3 Episodes 1974–1980 Nonstop Nonsens Well-known slapstick show. 20 Episodes 1973 Kara Ben Nemsi Effendi TV series based on the Karl May books. 26 Episodes 1972 Vorsicht! – Stellenweise tief Satire 1970–1976 Abramakabra TV series, 10 Episodes 1971 Von Liebe keine Rede 1971 Hei-Wi-Tip-Top 1970–1974 Die Kriminalerzählung 26 Episodes 1970 Ti vor Tu 1961–1962 Die Rückblende

Awards 1981: Bambi (for his role in Nonstop Nonsens) 1996: Telestar (Best Host in "Verstehen Sie Spaß?") 2003: Deutscher Comedypreis (Honorary Award) 2005: Bayerischer Kabarettpreis (Honorary Award) 2006: Honorary citizen of the German city Dessau 2013: Goldene Kamera (for his lifework, Honorary Award)