Gottfried John

Gottfried John (; 29 August 1942 – 1 September 2014) was a German stage, screen, and voice actor. A longtime collaborator of Rainer Werner Fassbinder, John appeared in nine of his films between 1975 and 1981, the year before Fassbinder's death, including Eight Hours Don't Make a Day, Mother Küsters' Trip to Heaven, Despair, The Marriage of Maria Braun, and Berlin Alexanderplatz. His distinctive, gaunt appearance saw him frequently cast as villains, and he is best known to audiences for his role as the corrupt General Arkady Ourumov in the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye and his comedic turn as Julius Caesar in Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar, for the latter of which he won the Bavarian Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Early life John was born in Berlin, Germany, on 29 August 1942. During World War II, he and his mother were evacuated to East Prussia; his father, whom he never met, was married to another woman. He grew up with his single-parent mother and in several protectories; John fled from one when he was 15 years old and returned to his mother, who was living in Paris, France.

In Paris, he earned a living as a pavement artist and construction worker, returning to Berlin in 1960.

Career During the 1970s and early 1980s, John was cast by director Rainer Werner Fassbinder in several of his projects, in particular as Reinhold in the Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) miniseries.

He was internationally known for his portrayal of General Arkady Ourumov in the James Bond film GoldenEye (1995) and Julius Caesar in Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar (1999).

Personal life For many years, he lived in Kelmis, Belgium, just over the border from Aachen, Germany, until 2008. John then lived with his wife, Brigitte, in Utting am Ammersee, near Munich, Germany, from 2008 until his death.

On 1 September 2014, it was announced that John had died in Utting am Ammersee of cancer aged 72.

Works

Filmography

Café Oriental (1962) (uncredited) Das Mädchen und der Staatsanwalt (1962), as Train passenger (uncredited) Jaider, der einsame Jäger (1971), as Jaider Carlos (1971, TV Movie), as Carlos Eight Hours Don't Make a Day (1972–1973, TV Series), as Jochen World on a Wire (1973, TV Movie), as Einstein Mother Küsters' Trip to Heaven (1975), as Niemeyer Der Kommissar: Der Held des Tages (1976, TV series episode), as Werner Stimmel Derrick: Das Superding (1976, TV series episode), as Krummbach Und Rosa und Marilyn und ... (1977, TV Movie) The Stationmaster's Wife (1977, TV Movie), as Divorce lawyer Edwards Film (1977, TV Movie) Despair (1978), as Perebrodov Fedora (1978), as Kritos Marija (1978, TV Movie), as Filipp 1982: Gutenbach (1978, TV Movie), as Peter Kessel In a Year of 13 Moons (1978), as Anton Saitz Die Ratten (1979, TV Movie), as Bruno Mechelke Wo die Liebe hinfällt (1979, anthology film, TV Movie) The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979), as Willi Klenze (1979, TV miniseries), as Clemens Koch (1979, TV miniseries), as Mr. Adam Reiseabrechnung (1980, TV Movie) Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980, TV miniseries), as Reinhold Lili Marleen (1981), as Aaron Ente oder Trente (1982) (1982, TV miniseries), as Loskutow Die Matrosen von Kronstadt (1983, TV Movie), as Petritschenko (1984), as Police Officer Hilpert Chinese Boxes (1984), as Zwemmer Bartolome oder Die Rückkehr der weißen Götter (1985, TV Movie), as Bartolomé de las Casas Mata Hari (1985), as Wolff Verworrene Bilanzen (1985, TV Movie), as Karl M. Kronen Ein Fall für zwei: Fluchtgeld (1985, TV series episode), as Hans Beckers Die Mitläufer (1985) Otto – Der Film (1985), as Sonnemann Die Schwärmer (1985, TV Movie), as Stader Das Gehirn zu Pferde (1986, TV Movie), as The Playwright Of Pure Blood (1986, TV Movie), as Paul Bergmann Franza (1986, TV Movie), as Captain The Winner Takes All (1987, TV Movie), as Ulrich Vogtmann Game, Set and Match (1988, TV series), as Eric Stinnes Schön war die Zeit (1988), as Franz Bauer Ein Fall für zwei: Seitensprung (1989, TV series episode), as Markus Meyer Tödliches Wochenende (1990, TV series episode), as Mr. Mannheim Wings of Fame (1990), as Zlatogorski Drehort Pfarrhaus (1990, TV miniseries), as Pfarrer Achim Hollweg La piovra, (1990, TV miniseries), as Friar Gillo Frederick Forsyth Presents: Death Has a Bad Reputation (1990, TV Movie), as Rodimstev Night of the Fox (1990, TV Movie), as Hofer Elfenbein (1991, TV Movie), as Nicholas Messier Ich schenk dir die Sterne (1991), as Robert Dallburg The Mistake (1992), as Jacob Alain Die Zeit danach (1992) Space Rangers (1993, TV Series, 6 episodes), as Colonel Erich Weiss Colpo di coda (1993, TV miniseries), as Pierre (1993), as Sophie's Father (1993, TV miniseries), as Collani Abraham (1993, TV miniseries), as Eliezer Polizeiruf 110: Arme Schweine (1994, TV Series episode), as Hannes Hellwig Beckmann und Markowski (1994–1999, TV Series, 3 episodes), as Beckmann (1995, TV Movie), as Alexander Die Falle (1995, TV Movie), as Hasso Wolffs Revier: Taekwon-Do (1995, TV Series episode), as Johnny Reschke Ein letzter Wille (1995, TV Movie), as Paul Elling Institute Benjamenta (1995), as Johannes Benjamenta Tatort: Der König kehrt zurück (1995, TV Series episode), as Harry Mucher GoldenEye (1995), as General Arkady Ourumov Brüder auf Leben und Tod (1996, TV Movie), as Renato Calvi The Ogre (1996), as Chief Forester La casa dove abitava Corinne (1996, TV Movie), as Michele Wolf Millennium: The Hand of St. Sebastian (1997, TV Series episode), as Josef Heim Tales of the South Seas: Paradise Regained (1998, TV Series episode), as Gunter Am I Beautiful? (1998), as Herbert Die Fremde in meiner Brust (1998, TV Movie), as Richard Keller Black Ice (1998, TV Movie), as Kurt Wallmann Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar (1999), as Julius Caesar (1999, TV Movie), as Count Hanski Teuflischer Engel (2000, TV Movie), as Henry Martens (2000, TV Movie), as Herod Antipas Proof of Life (2000), as Eric Kessler Die Cleveren: Arzt und Dämon (2002, TV Series episode), as Dr. Brendel Der Solist: In eigener Sache (2002, TV Series episode), as Martin Krohn The Gathering Storm (2002, TV Movie), as Friedrich von Schroder Nancy & Frank – A Manhattan Love Story (2002), as Paul von Bernwarth Entrusted (2003, TV Movie), as Thomas von Gall Imperium: Augustus (2003, TV Movie), as Cicero (2003), as Schulrat Aschenbrenner (2004, TV miniseries), as Count Sagrato (2004, TV Movie), as Aldo Caldini (2004, TV Movie), as Duc d'Armagnac Donna Leon: Acqua Alta (2004, TV series episode), as Carmello La Capra Cowgirl (2004), as Hans Krahl The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes (2005), as Dr. Emmanuel Droz (2006, TV Movie), as Konrad von Wallenrod Flood (2007), as Arthur Moyes (2007, TV Movie), as Robert Kreutzer (2008, TV Movie), as Paolo Naldini John Rabe (2009), as Oskar Trautmann Flores negras (2009), as Curtis (2009, TV Movie), as King Gustav Aghet – Ein Völkermord (2010, docudrama, TV Movie), as General Kress von Kressenstein Life Is Too Long (2010), as Georg Maria Stahl Die Löwin (2012, TV Movie), as Jo (2013, TV Movie), as Dr. Jan Kersebohm Ruby Red (2013), as Dr. White (final film role)

Audiobooks Gottfried John reads: Die toten Seelen by Nikolai Gogol. 2006. Gottfried John reads: Die Stunden by Michael Cunningham. 2007.

Written works Bekenntnisse eines Unerzogenen, autobiography, publisher: Econ, Berlin 2000. Das fünfte Wort, novel, publisher: Ullstein, Berlin 2003.

Nominations and awards

1982: Großer Hersfeld-Preis for his role as Jago in Othello 1999: Bavarian Film Awards, Best Actor 2000: Bavarian Film Awards for Asterix & Obelix Take on Caesar (Bester Nebendarsteller) 2004: Euregio Filmball – Best Euregio-Actor 2006: DIVA-Award – European Award (Hall of Fame) 2017: RF Hall of Fame