Mario Adorf (German: [ˈmaË .Ê io ˈaË .dÉ"Ê f] (listen); born 8
September 1930) is a German actor, considered to be one of the great
veteran character actors of European cinema. Since 1954, he has played
both leading and supporting roles in over 200 film and television
productions, among them the 1979 Oscar-winning film The Tin Drum. He
is also the author of several successful mostly autobiographical
books.Adorf was born in Zürich, Switzerland, the illegitimate child
of an Italian surgeon and a German medical assistant. He grew up in
his maternal grandfather's hometown, Mayen, where he was raised by his
unmarried mother. He rose to fame in Europe, and particularly Germany,
and also made appearances in international films, including Ten Little
Indians and Smilla's Sense of Snow. He also played a small role in the
BBC adaptation of John le Carré's Smiley's People as a German club
owner. In Italy he also played in a number of movies.In the 1960's, he
married Lis Verhoeven. The couple had a child, Stella, prior to their
divorce. He starred with Barbara Bouchet in Milano Calibro 9 in 1972.
In 1985, he married Monique Faye. Adorf remains very active in German
shows, television and theatre.Adorf still regrets that he refused
parts in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972) and Billy
Wilder's One, Two, Three (1961). He also turned down the role of
General Mapache in Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch (1969), because he
felt the character was too violent. In 1996, he provided the German
dubbing voice for the character Draco in Dragonheart, a role performed
by Sean Connery.
September 1930) is a German actor, considered to be one of the great
veteran character actors of European cinema. Since 1954, he has played
both leading and supporting roles in over 200 film and television
productions, among them the 1979 Oscar-winning film The Tin Drum. He
is also the author of several successful mostly autobiographical
books.Adorf was born in Zürich, Switzerland, the illegitimate child
of an Italian surgeon and a German medical assistant. He grew up in
his maternal grandfather's hometown, Mayen, where he was raised by his
unmarried mother. He rose to fame in Europe, and particularly Germany,
and also made appearances in international films, including Ten Little
Indians and Smilla's Sense of Snow. He also played a small role in the
BBC adaptation of John le Carré's Smiley's People as a German club
owner. In Italy he also played in a number of movies.In the 1960's, he
married Lis Verhoeven. The couple had a child, Stella, prior to their
divorce. He starred with Barbara Bouchet in Milano Calibro 9 in 1972.
In 1985, he married Monique Faye. Adorf remains very active in German
shows, television and theatre.Adorf still regrets that he refused
parts in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972) and Billy
Wilder's One, Two, Three (1961). He also turned down the role of
General Mapache in Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch (1969), because he
felt the character was too violent. In 1996, he provided the German
dubbing voice for the character Draco in Dragonheart, a role performed
by Sean Connery.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.