Brandauer, Klaus Maria

(Klaus Steng, 1944- )

   Actor, director. Brandauer is best known internationally for his film work, but his acting career began in Tübingen in 1963; by 1968 he had returned to his native Vienna as a member of the Theater in der Josephstadt company. In that venue, Brandauer appeared in Fritz Kortner's last production, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's Emilia Galotti. Brandauer became a member of the Burgtheater company in 1972, playing dozens of major roles in classics of the German repertoire through the next two decades. He attracted international attention in 1981 when he played the title role in Istvân Szabo's film Mephisto, based on Klaus Mann's novel of the same name. Since the central character was loosely based on Gustav Gründgens, comparisons between Brandauer and Gründgens were inevitable; Braundauer said he welcomed the comparisons and was indeed flattered by them. Four years later, Brandauer won an Academy Award for best supporting actor in Out of Africa, playing opposite Meryl Streep (who won the Best Actress Award for her work in the film). Brandauer has since won several awards for his work as both an actor and director, both in Austria and in Germany (where he works mostly in Munich). In 1995 he was named professor at the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Munich.