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Helmut Berger - Austrian born film actor, mostly known for starring in Luchino Visconti's films, which are now considered modern classics. Born Helmut Steinberger in Salzburg in 1944, he turned down a prospect of running a family hotel business and went to London where he worked as waiter to pay his way through drama school. Later he attended the University of Perugia in Italy and spent some time in France. His acting career began with French and Italian commercials and showed no signs of progress until he was picked up by Luchino Visconti out of pool of "extras" during the shooting of Sandra (1965) in 1964. Berger's relationships with Visconti, whose partner he remained for 12 years, brought him to the attention of press and allowed him to act in some Visconti's films such as The Damned (1969), Ludwig (1973) and Conversation Piece (1974). Visconti is said to view Berger as the very image of his idea of a "demonic, insane and sexually perverted" man. As a matter of fact Berger often portrayed anguished souls and sinister villains. His acting career continued throughout the 1970s but was temporarily broken up in the early 80s when he battled alcohol problem. He appeared in numerous French, Italian, German films and spent one season on American soap Dynasty (1981) but few directors used his gifts with the same skill as Visconti. His autobiography "Ich" (Me), in which he famously referred to his relationships with Visconti as "marriage" and claimed to be the director's widow, appeared in 1998. Berger is still very active appearing in TV series regularly. He also very modestly attributed his acting achievements to Visconti's directing.

The son of conductor Karl Böhm began his acting career on stage in Germany. In Europe, he is still best known for his role in the Sissi (1955) series, although he later starred in several movies of cult director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. After 1981, he was exclusively involved in charitable work in Ethiopia.

His real name was Theodor Friedrich Emil Janenz, and in the early 1900s, he was already working in the theater under Max Reinhardt's company. Important movies where he defined himself as a convincing actor were Passion (1919) and Quo Vadis? (1924), followed by The Last Laugh (1924) (aka The Last Laugh) in 1924 and Variety (1925) (aka Variety) in 1925. In 1928, he became the first male leading actor to receive the academy award for The Last Command (1928) directed by Josef von Sternberg. In 1929, Stenberg directed him in his world famous movie The Blue Angel (1930) (aka The Blue Angel) co-starring the young Marlene Dietrich (her first role). Later on, he concentrated on theater and dedicated his acting skills to the Nazi regime and also took part in the realization of Ohm Krüger (1941) in 1941, an expensive anti-British film production. When the Second World War ended, the US government cleaned his image, and he converted to Catholicism. He played in a few more German movies, but his career never recaptured its brilliance.

Lída Baarová was born on 14 September 1914 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now in Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Die Fledermaus (1937), Virginity (1937) and Jsem devce s certem v tele (1933). She was married to Kurt Lundwall and Jan Kopecky. She died on 28 October 2000 in Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.

Handsome Austrian leading man Robert Hoffman spent three years studying drama at the Poule Vanneck academy in Paris. Already multi-lingual, he also learned how to ride and fence -- which proved useful as his career took off. He first came to fame as the titular star of The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1964), which was filmed in the Canary Islands by a French company and later dubbed into English. This seemed to have typecast Hoffman as globetrotting adventurers or rugged action heroes in European co-productions, ranging from Edgar Wallace-inspired potboilers (Again the Ringer (1965)) and crime melodramas (Grand Slam (1967), A Black Veil for Lisa (1968)) to giallo horror (Death Carries a Cane (1973)) and peplum (The Last Roman (1968)). A favorite especially among Italian and French audiences in the 60s, he starred alongside international players like Orson Welles, Laurence Harvey, Anita Ekberg and Claudia Cardinale. Hoffman's career suffered a severe setback in 1971 when he broke his leg in several places while jumping from a wall onto a horse during the filming of Nights and Loves of Don Juan (1971). The quality of roles began to diminish, and, by the early 80's, Hoffman was reduced to making commercials and appearing in small supporting roles on television in shows like Kommissar Rex (1994), Tatort (1985) and even a couple of episodes of Dallas (1978). After having spent several years living in Rome and Madrid, Hoffman eventually returned to his home town of Salzburg where he died on July 4 2022 at the age of 82.

Virginia Hill was born on 26 August 1916 in Lipscomb, Alabama, USA. She was an actress, known for Kefauver Investigation (1951), The Senate Crime Investigations: Part Four (1951) and Haunted Homes of Hollywood (2018). She was married to Carlos Valadez, Osgood Griffin and Hans Hauser. She died on 24 March 1966 in Salzburg, Austria.

Josef Meinrad was born on 21 April 1913 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary [now Austria]. He was an actor and director, known for Sissi - Die junge Kaiserin (1956), Sissi (1955) and Die Fledermaus (1983). He was married to Germaine Renée Clement. He died on 18 February 1996 in Großgmain bei Salzburg, Austria.

Gerhard Zemann was born on 21 March 1940 in Vienna, Austria. He was an actor, known for Kommissar Rex (1994), Stockinger (1996) and Die Hausmeisterin (1987). He died on 14 April 2010 in Salzburg, Austria.

It is an unfortunate aspect of the present day that there are those who cannot necessarily see and appreciate pure greatness when it stares them in the face. The excuse usually given is that some people could not forgive, let alone understand, why he joined the Nazi Party. However, Karajan never was an active party member. He did it to get a job. More unfortunate is that Karajan's marvelous legacy is unparalleled. Aside from its sheer breadth, the "rightness" of practically everything should be obvious upon the most cursory listening. One can depend on a consistently high level of musicality, tempo, phrase, light and shade in everything Karajan touched. His mastery of the music was inexplicable, memorizing virtually everything note for note-to the degree that it can be compared to knowing where every grain of sand is in a building. His ability to transmit his consummate musicianship through his motions, critical ear and carefully chosen words are virtually unmatched. Can anyone listen to his 1960 recording of Sibelius' Second Symphony and remain less than convinced the ultimate has been achieved? Can anyone watch his late performance of Wagner's Lieberstod with Jessye Norman, and not feel moved to tears. Can anyone listen to his Brahms Fisrt Symphony for 1959 and not be aware of its dramatic intensity and extraordinary beauty?

Karajan was the greatest conductor of modern times. There is no parallel at all; no one of his degree of ability, knowledge and musicality; no one who was utterly one with his music making. It is time to put aside biases from another era that had utterly nothing to do with the real Karajan. It is time to move on from WWII, and realize that Karajan might not have been a perfect human being, but who is? His legacy is one of the greater gifts to our culture, and his spirit remains string in the music he made.

Franz Beckenbauer is probably Germany's most popular soccer player, coach and manager ever, known as the "Kaiser". Born and bred in Munich, he joined Bayern Munich at the age of 14. In 1965, he debuted in the German Bundesliga and became famous in the role of the team's sweeper. The following years, he won four league championships and four European cups (1966 Cup Winners' Cup, 1972-74 Champions' Cup). During that period, Beckenbauer also joined Germany's national side and had 103 caps in total. He led the team to the historic victories at the 1972 European Championships and the 1974 World Cup. After personal and professional problems, he accepted a contract to play in the North American Soccer Leauge with Cosmos New York. The team won the US championships on three occasions, but Beckenbauer returned to Germany and retired in 1984 after playing a season with Hamburger SV. Some months later, he was appointed manager of the German national team and coached the team until its final victory at the World Cup in 1990. He became one of two men, winning the cup as player and coach. In the 1990s, he returned to Bayern Munich and coached the team for one season, but finally became the club's president. More recently, Beckenbauer has headed Germany's bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2006 and is now chairman of the organization committee. Although the tabloids have always been interested in his turbulent private life, Franz Beckenbauer is considered "unassailable" in the public's eye.

Paul Dahlke was born on 12 April 1904 in Groß-Streitz, Pomerania, Germany [now Strzezenice, Zachodniopomorskie, Poland]. He was an actor, known for Confessions of Felix Krull (1957), Flying Classroom (1954) and Dubrovsky (1959). He was married to Elfe Gerhart and Doris Schacht. He died on 24 November 1984 in Salzburg, Austria.

Hilde Weissner was born on 3 July 1909 in Stettin, Pomerania, Germany [now Szczecin, Zachodniopomorskie, Poland]. She was an actress, known for Something for Everyone (1970), Die Nibelungen, Teil 1 - Siegfried (1966) and Die Nibelungen 2. Teil - Kriemhilds Rache (1967). She was married to Gerd Ribatis and Peter Holm. She died on 30 May 1987 in Salzburg, Austria.

Rainer Basedow was born on 20 May 1938 in Mühlhausen/Thüringen, Germany. He was an actor, known for Death and Diamonds (1968), Der Heiland auf dem Eiland (2004) and Go for It, Baby (1968). He was married to Mathilde Basedow. He died on 15 May 2022 in Salzburg, Austria.

Lolita was born on 17 January 1931 in St. Pölten, Lower Austria, Austria. She was an actress, known for Mein Schatz ist aus Tirol (1958), Weißer Holunder (1957) and Schlager-Raketen (1960). She was married to ? Einzinger. She died on 30 June 2010 in Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.

Gussy Holl was born on 22 February 1888 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. She was an actress, known for Desire (1920), Menschen im Rausch (1921) and Die Nacht auf Goldenhall (1920). She was married to Emil Jannings and Conrad Veidt. She died on 16 July 1966 in Salzburg, Austria.

Axel Corti was born on 7 May 1933 in Paris, France. He was a director and actor, known for Wohin und zurück - Teil 3: Welcome in Vienna (1986), Radetzkymarsch (1994) and The King's Whore (1990). He was married to Cecily Corti. He died on 29 December 1993 in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria.

He graduated from high school in 1939 and then began training as an actor at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. During the Second World War, Kulenkampff was sent to the front, where he was taken prisoner by the British towards the end of the war. Immediately after his release from captivity, Kulenkampff turned to acting. After his first appearances at theaters in Bremen, he took on roles at the "Theater im Zoo" in Frankfurt/Main. At the beginning of the 1950s, Kulenkampff also appeared as a radio presenter. He had been married to his wife Gertraud since 1948. In 1953 he began his unique career on television, where he hosted the quiz show "Who vs. Who?" moderated. However, Kulenkampff's real TV breakthrough came with his most successful show, which attracted a nationwide audience 82 times from 1964 to 1987 under the title "One Will Win". In addition to his television career, Kulenkampff never turned his back on the theater.

In 1981/82 he was seen in demanding roles on Munich stages, and in 1984 in a Detmold production of "Münchhausen". In 1987, Kulenkampff took part in a tour through the Federal Republic with a role in "In Doubt for the Defendant". In 1997, tours took him to several German stages. In the television sector, Kulenkampff's popularity was also increased by his roles in several TV films and series. He also moderated "Nachtthoughts", which marked the end of the ARD program from 1985 to 1990. In 1989, "Kuli" moved to RTLplus to moderate the less successful "Book Club", which was only broadcast until mid-1991 due to a lack of sufficient ratings. In the same year, however, the actor took part in a significant role in the RTL television play "The Great Freedom". The showmaster received numerous awards for his achievements, including the "Golden Screen" five times.

In 1965 and 1987 he was honored with the "Golden Camera". In 1992, Kulenkampff returned to public television with his show "Who knows why" produced for ZDF. In September 1992, he succeeded Wim Toelke as the presenter of the long-running program "The Grand Prize", from which he left in mid-1993 after public criticism. In 1997, Kulenkampff tried to make a comeback on television with the ambitious quiz show "Between Yesterday and Tomorrow": However, the Saturday evening program, which was placed in some third regional programs on ARD, also had to be canceled prematurely in March 1998. Shortly afterwards, the entertainer withdrew from the public due to cancer.

Hans-Joachim Kulenkampff died on August 14, 1998 in Salzburg.

Tichy was born on 7 August 1923 in Vienna and attended the famous Reinhardt Seminar from 1944 to 1946. His acting career began in Salzburg and in the "Wiener Theatre" in the "Parkring Cafe". He also performed on the stage in Kaiserslautern, Bielefeld, Luebeck and Hamburg until he continued at the "Wiener Burgtheater". In September 1986, with the beginning of the management of Claus Peymann at the Viennese "Burgtheater" he went into pension.

Maria Holst was born on 2 April 1917 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary [now Austria]. She was an actress, known for Der gebieterische Ruf (1944), The Trapp Family (1956) and Märchen vom Glück (1949). She was married to Dr. Rudolf Röttger and Eugen von Ledebur. She died on 8 October 1980 in Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.

Karl Böhm was born on 28 August 1894 in Graz, Austria-Hungary [now Austria]. He is known for Children of Men (2006), Wasabi (2001) and A Cure for Wellness (2016). He was married to Thea Linhard. He died on 14 August 1981 in Salzburg, Austria.

Karl Merkatz was born on 17 November 1930 in Wiener Neustadt, Lower Austria, Austria. He was an actor and writer, known for Der Bockerer (1981), Der Bockerer 2 (1996) and Der Bockerer IV - Prager Frühling (2003). He was married to Martha Metz. He died on 4 December 2022 in Straßwalchen, Salzburg, Austria.

H.K. Breslauer was born on 2 June 1888 in Vienna, Austria. He was a director and writer, known for Strandgut (1924), Lieb' mich und die Welt ist mein (1923) and The City Without Jews (1924). He was married to Anny Miletty. He died on 15 April 1965 in Salzburg, Austria.

Frida Richard was born on 1 November 1873 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary [now Austria]. She was an actress, known for Ihre Hoheit (1914), Die Nibelungen: Siegfried (1924) and Hedda Gabler (1925). She was married to Fritz Richard. She died on 12 September 1946 in Salzburg, Austria.

Joseph Mohr was born on 11 December 1792 in Salzburg, Archbishopric of Salzburg, Holy Roman Empire [now Salzburg, Austria]. He is known for The Giver (2014), L.A. Confidential (1997) and Get Carter (2000). He died on 4 December 1848 in Wagrain, Salzburg, Austrian Empire [now Austria].

Hermann Kugelstadt was born on 16 February 1912 in Limburg an der Lahn, Germany. He was a director and writer, known for Heimatglocken (1952), Die Mühle im Schwarzwäldertal (1953) and Das Kreuz am Jägersteig (1954). He died on 9 March 2001 in Zell am See, Salzburg, Austria.