Kristian Mantzius

Kristian Andreas Leopold Mantzius (4 November 1819 – 5 June 1879) was a Danish actor.

Early life and education Kristian Mantzius was born in Viborg, son of Gen. Karl Johan Peter Mantzius (1791-1859) and Mette Marie, née Fogh (1792-1870). Mantzius was brother to Johanne Juliane Marie Henriette Mantzius (1822-1869) and Johan Frederik Mantzius (1834-1890), a school teacher.

Mantzius graduated from the Metropolitan College in 1837 and went to the University of Copenhagen, where he began studying theology, subject which he continued with until 1842. On 27 September of that year, Mantzius debuted as 'Erasmus Montanus' at the Royal Danish Theatre. After his third performance he accepted an offer to work for 400 Thalers a month. However, in 1858 he resigned and began working the two following seasons at the Folksteatret instead, where he helped his friend Jens Christian Hostrup stage his student comedy Gjenboerne

In the autumn of 1877 he became seriously ill, and after eighteen years of progressive infirmity he died of breast cancer on 5 June 1879.

Selected roles Erasmus Montanus in Erasmus Montanus (Holberg) (1842) debut Arv in Jean de France (Holberg) (1842) Giulio Romano in Correggio (Oehlenschläger) (1843) Løjtnant v. Buddinge in Gjenboerne (Hostrup) (1843–44) Konsul Varbjerg in En Spurv i Tranedans (Hostrup) Jeronimus in Pernilles korte Frøkenstand (Holberg) Jacob Skomager in Jeppe på Bjerget (Holberg) Jesper Ridefoged in Erasmus Montanus (Holberg) Skalholt in Besøget i København (Hertz) Pastor Jensen in Deklarationen (Christian Richardt) Grønholt in Mester og Lærling (Hostrup) Daniel Hejre in De unges Forbund (Henrik Ibsen) Anker in Soldaterløjer (Hostrup)