Harry Baer

Harry Baer (born Harry Zöttl on 27 September 1947) is a German actor, producer and author, best known for his work with director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. He has also been credited as Harry Bär.

Life Harry Baer began his career in Munich when he joined the Action Theatre, a theatrical experimental group that later regrouped as the Antitheather under the leadership of Rainer Werner Fassbinder. He made his debut in Fassbinder's play Katzelmacher and had his first movie role in Fassbinder's film adaptation. He had starring roles in Gods of the Plague (Götter der Pest) (1970) and (Wildwechsel) (1972), both directed by Fassbinder. During this early period of his career he also had the leading role in director Hans-Jürgen Syberberg's film Ludwig: Requiem for a Virgin King (Ludwig - Requiem für einen jungfräulichen König) (1972), in which he played the title role, King Ludwig II of Bavaria.

In the mid-1970s Harry Baer and Fassbinder had a professional and personal split that lasted until Fassbinder called him back in 1978 to work as his assistant director on The Marriage of Maria Braun (Die Ehe der Maria Braun).

Baer played small roles in many of Fassbinder's movies and was his production manager and assistant director for many films including Fassbinder's last: Querelle (1982). Beyond their professional relationship, Baer was one of the director's closest friends. On the night of Fassbinder's death, Baer was the last person with whom he spoke before his body was found. Baer wrote a book about his life and times with Fassbinder: I can sleep when I'm dead. The breathless life of Rainer Werner Fassbinder (originally Schlafen kann ich, wenn ich tot bin. Das atemlose Leben des Rainer Werner Fassbinder) Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Köln 1990.

After Fassbinder's death Baer acted in movies by Mika Kaurismäki, Werner Schroeter, Jeanine Meerapfel, Bernhard Sinkel and Doris Dörrie among others. He has also worked as a production manager on a number of film productions and is a member of the German Film Academy.

Filmography

1969: Katzelmacher - Franz 1970: Gods of the Plague - Franz Walsch 1970: Why Does Herr R. Run Amok? - Kollege im Büro 1971: Whity - Davy Nicholson 1971: Rio das Mortes 1971: Beware of a Holy Whore - Mann der Statistin 1972: The Merchant of Four Seasons - 2nd Candidate 1972: Ludwig: Requiem for a Virgin King (Ludwig - Requiem für einen jungfräulichen König) - Ludwig II 1972: - Herr 1972: (TV Movie) - Franz Bermeier 1973: Zahltag 1973: Im Zeichen der Kälte (TV Movie) 1975: Fox and His Friends - Philip 1975: - Bogdan Witkow, Julia's Boyfriend 1976: I Only Want You To Love Me 1976: Shadow of Angels - Helfritz 1976: Mister Scarface - Tony 1977: Adolf und Marlene - Luminsky 1977: Hitler - ein Film aus Deutschland - Himself 1978: Despair – A journey into the Light - Innkeeper (uncredited) 1979: Traffic Jam (L'ingorgo - Una storia impossibile) - Mario 1979: The Third Generation - Rudolf Mann 1980: Palermo oder Wolfsburg - Hausbestzer 1980: Berlin Alexanderplatz (TV Mini-Series) - Richard 1981: Lili Marleen - Norbert Schultze 1981: Lola - 1st demonstrator 1981: Heute spielen wir den Boß 1982: Veronika Voss - Head waiter (uncredited) 1982: - Fan 1983: Der Kleine 1983: Bella Donna 1983: The Thing at the Door (TV Movie) - Dr. Christoph Vranek 1984: (TV Movie) 1984: - 'Ossi' Sommer 1985: - Hartmann 1985: Westler - Border Guard 1986: Osveta - Harald Kurcijus 1987: Warten auf Marie - Konrad 1987: Helsinki Napoli All Night Long - Man #1 1988: The Passenger – Welcome to Germany - Grenzbeamter 1988: 1988: The Girlfriend - Raquel's friend in Berlin 1989: Fool's Mate 1990: Das einfache Glück - Bulle 1991: - Neighbour 1992: The True Story About Men and Women 1993: - Ingolf 1993: - Herr Kunze 1995: Toms Zimmer - Lottobudenbesitzer 1996: Babuschka (TV Movie) 1997: Frost - Mann, der Obdach gewährt 2002: Führer Ex - Friedhelm Kaltenbach 2003: Raid - Mark Hollander 2003: Skifahren unter Wasser (Short) - Albert 2005: Max und Moritz Reloaded - Bayer 2006: Montag kommen die Fenster - Herr Zander 2007: The Cursed Treasure (TV Movie) - Klaus Schulte 2008: Berlin by the Sea - Daniel Finkelsturm 2009: Zwischen heute und morgen - Verleger 2010: Lys - Wachmann 2013: Wetlands - Neuer Freund 2013: Harder und die Göre - Hauptkommissar Bartholomäus Harder 2014: Coming In - Martin 2016: Frauen - Chauffeur 2016: S & M: Les Sadiques - Uncle Franz 2017: Bruma - Wim Maller 2019: Gasmann - Gerichtsvollzieher 2020: vEmotion - Denny Binera