Otto Sander photo

Otto Sander

Acting
1941-06-30
Hanover, Germany
Otto Sander (German: [ˈɔtoː ˈzandɐ]; June 30, 1941 – September 12, 2013) was a German film, theater, and voice actor.

Sander grew up in Kassel, where he graduated in 1961 from the Friedrichgymnasium. After leaving school he spent his military service in 1961/62 with the Bundesmarine and left as reserve fenrik. Sander then studied theatre science, history of art and philosophy. In 1965 he made his acting debut at the Düsseldorfer chamber plays. After his first film work in the same year he abandoned his studies in 1967, and went to Munich to become a full-time actor.

His career is closely connected with the Schaubühne theatre in Berlin under the direction of Peter Stein. From 1980 onwards Sander appeared on several of Berlin's theatre stages, among others at the Schillertheater in 1981, at the Freie Volksbühne in 1985 and in 1989 at the Komödie am Kurfürstendamm. More recently he starred in Hauptmann von Köpenick at the Schauspielhaus Bochum (2004).

In 1990, he was a member of the Jury at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival.

Among his best-known film roles are the angel Cassiel in Wings of Desire and its sequel Faraway, So Close! by Wim Wenders, and a shell-shocked U-boat commander, Kapitänleutnant Philipp Thomsen, in Wolfgang Petersen's Das Boot. Sander also appeared in The Tin Drum (1979) as a trumpeter and in Comedian Harmonists, a biopic about the musical group of the same name. He also played a professor in the movie The Promise about the division of Berlin by the wall. In 1999 he played a role in Rosa von Praunheim's movie The Einstein of Sex.
Known For 85 titles
The White Horse Inn in St. Wolfgang (1994) subtitle poster
The White Horse Inn in St. Wolfgang
1994 Movie
as Prof. Hinzelmann
Subtitles
The Olympic Summer (1993) subtitle poster
The Olympic Summer
1993 Movie
as Sprecher
Subtitles
The Case of Mr. Spalt (1988) subtitle poster
The Case of Mr. Spalt
1988 Movie
as Otto Spalt
Subtitles
Meine Sorgen möcht' ich haben (1975) subtitle poster
Meine Sorgen möcht' ich haben
1975 Movie
as Harald Bornemann
Subtitles
Miko: From the Gutter to the Stars (1986) subtitle poster
Miko: From the Gutter to the Stars
1986 Movie
as Loan officer Grop
Subtitles
Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef (2004) subtitle poster
Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef
2004 Movie
as Narrator (voice)
Subtitles
Happy Too (2002) subtitle poster
Happy Too
2002 Movie
as Himself / Gert Bastian
Subtitles
Bauernschach (1995) subtitle poster
Bauernschach
1995 Movie
as Dr. Gerold Stadler
Subtitles
Lyrische Suite. Das untergehende Vaterland (1992) subtitle poster
Lyrische Suite. Das untergehende Vaterland
1992 Movie
Subtitles
Time of Vengeance (1990) subtitle poster
Time of Vengeance
1990 Movie
as Robert
Subtitles
Berlin 10. 11. 74 - 28. 1. 75: Exercises in 9 Pieces (1975) subtitle poster
Berlin 10. 11. 74 - 28. 1. 75: Exercises in 9 Pieces
1975 Movie
as Himself
Subtitles
About Narration (2025) subtitle poster
About Narration
2025 Movie
Subtitles
Das Loch (1995) subtitle poster
Das Loch
1995 Movie
as Der Mann
Subtitles
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