Harald Juhnke

Harald Juhnke (, born Harry Heinz Herbert Juhnke, 10 June 1929 – 1 April 2005), was a German actor, comedian, and singer.

Life and career

Juhnke was born in Berlin-Charlottenburg. His father was a police officer and his mother came from a family of bakers. He grew up in the working-class district of Gesundbrunnen in Berlin.

His first stage appearance was in 1948. In 1950, he was hired by the theater in Neustrelitz. In the following years, he worked in several other theaters, including the Volksbühne in Berlin.

Juhnke began appearing on German television after 1977. He played in a number of television series and later hosted the ZDF television show Musik ist Trumpf. He often sang on the shows he hosted, in particular emulating Frank Sinatra. Juhnke went on to record several albums between the years 1968 and 1999.

In 1992, Juhnke experienced a comeback as a film actor. He won praise from critics for character parts in the movies Schtonk!, , and Der Hauptmann von Köpenick. In 1995, he played the lead role in the movie , based on the autobiography of German writer Hans Fallada.

His first marriage was to actress and dancer Sybil Werden. The couple had two children: their daughter Barbara was born in 1953 and in 1956, they had a son, Peer. In 1971, Juhnke married actress . They had a son, Oliver Marlon, who was born in 1972.

Juhnke suffered from severe alcoholism during most of his adult life, with his dependence repeatedly resulting in detrimental media attention and career setbacks. In February 2005, he was hospitalized with acute dehydration. He died in Rüdersdorf, near Berlin, at the age of 75.

Awards 1978: Goldener Vorhang award of Berlin's Theaterclub 1980: Goldene Kamera 1990: Goldene Europa – Honored as an entertainer of the 1980s and 1990s 1992: Deutscher Filmpreis 1992: Bambi Award 1993: Ernst Lubitsch Preis 1993: Bayerischer Fernsehpreis 1993: Karl Valentin Order 1993: Romy – Television actor of the year 1995: Critic's Award of the Berliner Zeitung for lifetime accomplishment 1996: Telestar 1998: Goldener Löwe (RTL) 2000: Goldene Kamera

Selected filmography

Three Girls Spinning (1950) – Pastor Krempel The Blue Hour (1953) – Fred Hit Parade (1953) – Alfred The Dancing Heart (1953) – Julius The Stronger Woman (1953) – Bob Guitars of Love (1954) – Walter Doctor Solm (1955) – Konrad, Solm's stepbrother How Do I Become a Film Star? (1955) – Günther Scholz Heroism after Hours (1955) – Burmann Request Concert (1955) – Horn When the Alpine Roses Bloom (1955) – Lenz Your Life Guards (1955) – Hansen The Model Husband (1956) – Billy Haber Beneath the Palms on the Blue Sea (1957) – Freddy Glass Greetings and Kisses from Tegernsee (1957) – Billy The Mad Bomberg (1957) – Dr. Roland Almenrausch and Edelweiss (1957) – Max Lachner The Green Devils of Monte Cassino (1958) – Hugo Lembke U 47 – Kapitänleutnant Prien (1958) – The Smut La Paloma (1959) – Peter At Blonde Kathrein's Place (1959) – Weyrauch Hula-Hopp, Conny (1959) — Dr. Robert Berning A Thousand Stars Aglitter (1959) – Axel Grenner Jr. I Learned That in Paris (1960) – Mathias Mai, layer Do Not Send Your Wife to Italy (1960) – Karl Beetz The Last Witness (1960) – Criminal secretary Wenzel (1961) – Jochen What Is Father Doing in Italy? (1961) – Mr. Akaschian Isola Bella (1961) – Anton The Sold Grandfather (1962) – Max Krause Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse (1962) – Assistant detective Krüger Tomfoolery in Zell am See (1963) – Pit Tanner Golden Goddess of Rio Beni (1964) – Tom Tales of a Young Scamp (1964) – Stuewe Red Dragon (1965) – Smoky Die Letzten drei der Albatross (1965) – Kuddel Lehmann The Murderer with the Silk Scarf (1966) – Chief Inspector Charly Fischer Hurra, die Schule brennt! (1969) – Speaker Der Kommissar (1970, TV series) – Gerhard Diebach Auch ich war nur ein mittelmäßiger Schüler (1974) – Arzt Sergeant Berry (1975, TV series) – Sergeant Albert Berry Derrick (1976, TV series) – Prinx Ein verrücktes Paar (1977–1980, TV series) – Harald (1978, TV series) – Franz Wagenseil Leute wie du und ich (1980–1984, TV series) – Harald (1982, TV movie) – Philipe Bernard (1984) – Sigi Stenz (1987–1990, TV series) (1990) – Henne Schtonk! (1992) – Kummer (1992) – Dieter "Did" Stricker Back to Square One (1994) – Georg Kuballa Asterix Conquers America (1994) – Narrator (German Dub) (1995, TV Movie) – Erwin Sommer Conversation with the Beast (1996) – Hitler double Der Hauptmann von Köpenick (1997, TV movie) – Wilhelm Voigt

Discography Studio albums Mit beiden Händen in den Taschen (1968) Aber vor allem würde ich trinken! (1976) Ein Mann für alle Fälle (1979) Harald Juhnke (1981) Schuld sind nur die Frau'n (1982) Goodbye Madame (1983) Barfuß oder Lackschuh (1989) Manchmal ein Clown sein (1992) His Way (1998) That's life (1999)

Live albums Tonight Harald (1984) My Way – Das Beste (1995)