Mario Adorf

Mario Adorf
Adorf in 2018
Born	(1930-09-08) 8 September 1930 Zürich, Switzerland
Nationality	German
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1954–present
Spouses	Lis Verhoeven ​ (m. 1962⁠–⁠1964)​ Monique Faye Adorf ​ (m. 1985)​
Children	1

Mario Adorf (German: [ˈmaː.ʁio ˈaː.dɔʁf] ; 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.

Biography

Adorf in The Italian Connection (1972)

Adorf was born in Zürich, Switzerland, the illegitimate child of Matteo Menniti, an Italian surgeon and Alice Adorf, 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. He also appeared in a number of Italian movies.

In the 1960s, 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 has expressed regret that he declined roles 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.

Awards

Among many others:

• 2000 Bavarian Film Awards Honorary Award
• 2011 Best Human Brand Award
• 2024: Deutscher Fernsehpreis: Ehrenpreis der Stifter

Selected filmography

• 08/15 (1954), as Wagner
• 08/15 at Home (1955), as Unteroffizier Stamm
• Fruit in the Neighbour's Garden (1956), as Landstreicher
• The Girl and the Legend (1957), as Bertie
• Sand, Love and Salt (1957, directed by František Čáp), as Coco
• Vater, unser bestes Stück (1957)
• The Devil Strikes at Night (1957, directed by Robert Siodmak), as Bruno Luedke
• The Doctor of Stalingrad (1958, directed by Géza von Radványi), as Pelz, Sanitäter
• Rosemary (1958, directed by Rolf Thiele), as Horst
• The Death Ship (1959, directed by Georg Tressler), as Lawski, Polnischer Kohlenschlepper
• The Day the Rains Came (1959, directed by Gerd Oswald), as Werner Maurer
• Boomerang (1960, directed by Alfred Weidenmann), as Georg Kugler
• My Schoolfriend (1960), as Niedermoser
• Brainwashed (1960, directed by Gerd Oswald), as Mirko Centowic
• Who Are You, Mr. Sorge? (1961), as Max Klausen
• Le goût de la violence (1961), as Chamaco
• On the Tiger's Back (1961, directed by Luigi Comencini), as Mario Tagliabue
• Lulu (1962, directed by Rolf Thiele), as Rodrigo Quast
• Freddy and the Song of the South Pacific (1962), as Cameo during brawl at harbour pub (uncredited)
• The Last Charge (1962), as Nardone
• Street of Temptation (1962), as Joe
• Station Six-Sahara (1963, directed by Seth Holt), as Santos
• The Endless Night (1963), as Juanitas Bekannter
• Moral 63 (1963), as Axel Rottmann, Reporter
• 12 Angry Men (1963, TV film), as Juror 7
• Apache Gold (1963, directed by Harald Reinl), as Frederick Santer
• La visita (1963, directed by Antonio Pietrangeli), as Cucaracha
• A Mission for Mr. Dodd (1964), as Buddy Herman
• The Last Ride to Santa Cruz (1964, directed by Rolf Olsen), as Pedro Ortiz
• Massacre at Marble City (1964, directed by Paul Martin), as Matt Ellis
• Major Dundee (1965, directed by Sam Peckinpah), as Sgt. Gomez
• The Dirty Game (1965, directed by Terence Young, Christian-Jaque, Carlo Lizzani, Werner Klingler), as Callaghan
• The Camp Followers (1965, directed by Valerio Zurlini), as Sergeant Castagnoli
• That Man in Istanbul (1965, directed by Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi), as Bill
• The Gentlemen (1965, directed by Rolf Thiele, Alfred Weidenmann, Franz Seitz), as Verleger Blech – episode 'Die Intellektuellen'
• Ten Little Indians (1965, directed by George Pollock), as Herr Grohmann
• Sunscorched (1965), as Abel Dragna
• I Knew Her Well (1965, directed by Antonio Pietrangeli), as Emilio Ricci, aka Bietolone
• Ganovenehre (1966, directed by Wolfgang Staudte), as Orje
• The Treasure of San Gennaro (1966, directed by Dino Risi), as Sciascillo
• A Rose for Everyone (1967, directed by Franco Rossi), as Paolo
• Zärtliche Haie (1967, directed by Michel Deville), as Spion SB 3
• Ghosts – Italian Style (1967, directed by Renato Castellani), as Alfredo Mariano
• Anyone Can Play (1968, directed by Luigi Zampa), as Traffic cop
• A Sky Full of Stars for a Roof (1968, directed by Giulio Petroni), as Harry
• Up the Establishment (1969, directed by Michael Verhoeven), as Augustin 'Gustl' Wohlfahrt
• Gli specialisti (1969, directed by Sergio Corbucci), as El Diablo
• The Red Tent (1969, directed by Mikhail Kalatozov), as Biagi
• Safety Catch (1970), as Le sadique aux cheveux longs
• The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970, directed by Dario Argento), as Berto Consalvi
• Gentlemen in White Vests (1970, directed by Wolfgang Staudte), as Bruno 'Dandy' Stiegler
• Deadlock (1970, directed by Roland Klick), as Charles Dump
• Long Live Robin Hood (1971), as Brother Tuck
• Million Dollar Eel (1971), as Nane Mora – the Guardiapesca
• Short Night of Glass Dolls (1971, directed by Aldo Lado), as Jacques Versain
• The Sicilian Checkmate (1972, directed by Florestano Vancini), as Amedeo Barrese
• Caliber 9 (1972, directed by Fernando Di Leo), as Rocco Musco
• When Women Lost Their Tails (1972), as Pap
• Execution Squad (1972, directed by Steno), as District Attorney Ricciuti
• King, Queen, Knave (1972, directed by Jerzy Skolimowski), as Prof. Ritter
• The Italian Connection (La mala ordina) (1972, directed by Fernando Di Leo), as Luca Canali
• The Adventures of Pinocchio (1972, TV miniseries, directed by Luigi Comencini), as Circus Director
• Sans sommation (1973, directed by Bruno Gantillon), as L'ex-commandant Pierre Capra
• The Assassination of Matteotti (1973, directed by Florestano Vancini), as Benito Mussolini
• Trip to Vienna (1973, directed by Edgar Reitz), as Fred Scheuermann – Ortsgruppenleiter
• Brigitte, Laura, Ursula, Monica, Raquel, Litz, Florinda, Barbara, Claudia, e Sofia le chiamo tutte... anima mia (1974), as Il commissario Marzoli
• What Have They Done to Your Daughters? (1974, directed by Massimo Dallamano), as Insp. Valentini
• Processo per direttissima (1974, directed by Lucio De Caro), as Procuratore Benedikter
• Weak Spot (1975, directed by Peter Fleischmann), as Manager
• The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum (1975, directed by Volker Schlöndorff), as Kommissar Beizmenne
• MitGift (1976, directed by Michael Verhoeven), as Edgar Burgmann
• Dog's Heart (1976, directed by Alberto Lattuada), as Bormenthàl
• Bomber & Paganini (1976), as Bomber
• Scrounged Meals (1977), as Police Officer Erwin
• I Am Afraid (1977, directed by Damiano Damiani), as Judge Moser
• Death or Freedom (1977, directed by Wolf Gremm), as Max
• The Main Actor (1977, directed by Reinhard Hauff), as Schikowski – der Vater
• Difficile morire (1977)
• Good-for-Nothing (1978), as Drunken Poet
• Germany in Autumn (1978, directed by Volker Schlöndorff, Rainer Werner Fassbinder), as Member of the board of TV producers
• Fedora (1978, directed by Billy Wilder), as Hotel Manager
• The Tin Drum (1979, directed by Volker Schlöndorff), as Alfred Matzerath
• Milo Milo (1979), as Thanasis
• L'empreinte des géants (1980), as Meru
• The Little World of Don Camillo (1981, TV miniseries, directed by Peter Hammond), as Don Camillo
• La disubbidienza (1981, directed by Aldo Lado), as Mr. Manzi
• Lola (1981, directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder), as Schuckert
• Invitation au voyage (1982, directed by Peter Del Monte), as Timour
• Smiley's People (1982, TV miniseries, directed by Simon Langton), as Claus Kretzschmar
• La côte d'amour (1982), as Louis Zannella
• Marco Polo (1982–1983, TV miniseries, directed by Giuliano Montaldo), as Giovanni
• State buoni se potete (1983, directed by Luigi Magni), as Pope Sixtus V
• Klassenverhältnisse (1984, directed by Straub-Huillet), as Karl Roßmann's Uncle
• Coconuts (1985), as Siemann
• Mary Ward (1985), as Pope Urban VIII
• The Holcroft Covenant (1985, directed by John Frankenheimer), as Erich Kessler / Jürgen Mass
• Via Mala (1985, TV miniseries, directed by Tom Toelle), as Jonas Lauretz
• Momo (1986, directed by Johannes Schaaf), as Nicola
• La ragazza dei lillà (1986), as Albert
• Kir Royal (1986, TV series, 1 episode, directed by Helmut Dietl), as Generaldirektor Heinrich 'Heini' Haffenloher
• Mino (1986, TV miniseries, directed by Gianfranco Albano), as Maggiore Lupo
• Devil's Paradise (1987, directed by Vadim Glowna), as Schomberg
• The Second Victory (1987, directed by Gerald Thomas), as Dr. Sepp Kunzli
• Italian Night (1987, directed by Carlo Mazzacurati), as Alvise Tornov
• Vado a riprendermi il gatto (1987, directed by Giuliano Biagetti)
• Heimatmuseum (1988, TV miniseries, directed by Egon Günther), as Alfons Rogalla
• The Post Office Girl (1988, TV film, directed by Édouard Molinaro), as Anthony van Boolen
• Incident at Twilight (1988, TV film, directed by August Everding), as Maximilian Friedrich Korbes
• La piovra, season 4 (1989, TV series, directed by Luigi Perelli), as Salvatore 'Acidduzzu' Frolo
• I ragazzi di via Panisperna (1989, directed by Gianni Amelio), as Orso Mario Corbino
• Francesco (1989, directed by Liliana Cavani), as Cardinal Ugolino
• La luna negra (1989), as Padre
• Try This One for Size (1989), as Radnitz
• Ocean (1989, TV miniseries), as Damian Centeno
• Rosamunde (1990, directed by Egon Günther), as Levin Austerlitz
• The Bachelor (1990, directed by Roberto Faenza), as Gräsler's Friend
• Présumé dangereux (1990), as Radnitz
• Quiet Days in Clichy (1990, directed by Claude Chabrol), as Ernest Regentag
• Mother (1990, directed by Gleb Panfilov)
• Café Europa (1990), as Mikis
• Ex & Hopp (1991, TV film, directed by Andy Bausch), as Heinrich Hartholz
• The Kaltenbach Papers (1991, TV film, directed by Rainer Erler), as Istvan Kaltenbach
• Money (1991, directed by Steven Hilliard Stern), as The Turk
• Pizza Colonia (1991), as Francesco Serboli
• Fantaghirò (1991, TV film, directed by Lamberto Bava), as The King
• The Great Bellheim (1992, TV miniseries, directed by Dieter Wedel), as Peter Bellheim
• Abissinia (1993), as Enzo Pagnini
• A King for Burning (1993, TV film, directed by Tom Toelle), as Franz Graf Waldeck
• Amigomío (1994), as Grandfather
• The Shadow Man (1996, TV miniseries, directed by Dieter Wedel), as Janusz 'Jan' Herzog
• Life Is a Bluff (1996), as Willi Butzbach
• Schwarzmüller (1996)
• Rossini (1997, directed by Helmut Dietl), as Paolo Rossini
• Smilla's Sense of Snow (1997, directed by Bille August), as Capt. Sigmund Lukas
• Alle für die Mafia (1998), as Don Michele
• Caraibi (1999, TV miniseries, directed by Lamberto Bava), as Coda del diavolo
• Die Affäre Semmeling (2002, TV miniseries, directed by Dieter Wedel), as Walter 'Beton-Walter' Wegener
• Epstein's Night (2002), as Jochen Epstein
• Enigma: An Unacknowledged Love (2005, TV film, directed by Volker Schlöndorff), as Abel Znorko
• A Christmoose Carol (2005, directed by Ben Verbong), as Santa Claus
• Die Rote Zora (2008), as Fisherman Gorian
• Rebecca Ryman: Olivia and Jai (2008, TV film), as Sir Joshua Templewood
• Same Same But Different (2009), as Publishing Director Mr. Behr
• Das Geheimnis der Wale (2010, TV film, directed by Philipp Kadelbach), as Prof. Johannes 'Joe' Waldmann
• The Last Patriarch (2010, TV film), as Konrad Hansen
• Gegengerade (2011), as Baldu
• The Long Wave After the Keel (2012, TV film, directed by Nikolaus Leytner), as Martin Burian
• The Rhino and the Dragonfly (2012, directed by Lola Randl), as Nino Winter
• Crocodile (2013, TV film, directed by Urs Egger), as Richard
• The Invention of Love (2013), as Hermann von Kirsch
• The Last Mentsch (2013, directed by Pierre-Henri Salfati), as Marcus Schwarz
• Autumn Tingles: Speed Dating for Silver Hairs (2014), as Johann Schäfer
• Schubert in Love: Vater werden ist (nicht) schwer (2016), as Professor Schubert
• Winnetou (2016, TV miniseries), as Frederick Louis Santer
• Einmal Sohn, immer Sohn (2018, TV film)
• Alte Bande (2019, TV film)
• Real Fight (2021), as Wechselburg

German-language voice acting

• The Brave Little Toaster (1987), as Kirby (German version)
• Felidae (1994), as Bluebeard
• Dragonheart (1996), as Draco (German version)
• The Fearless Four (1997), as Fred the Donkey
• Jester Till (2003), as Bürgermeister
• Racing Stripes (2005), as Tucker (German version)
• Little Dodo (2008), as Darwin

External links

• Mario Adorf in the German National Library catalogue
• Mario Adorf at IMDb
• Photographs and literature