Remembering Wolfgang Lukschy

Wolfgang Lukschy was born on October 19, 1905 in Berlin, Germany. Wolfgang worked first as a process engraver and later as a film copier. In 1928 he began film lessons with Paul Bildt [1885-1957]. Lukschy became a theater actor appearing in theaters in Berlin, Stuttgart, Würzburg, Munich and Hanover, Germany before returning to Berlin and the Schiller Theater in 1940. His first film role was in Friedrich Schiller’s “Triumph eines Genies” (“Tirumph of a Genius”). After the war Wolfgang continued in film as a director and continued his acting in both theater and in DEFA films. He appeared on stage as Professor Higgins in over 500 appearances of “My Fair Lady”. In the 1960s he appeared in several Edgar Wallace and Karl May films and totaled over 75 film appearances between 1940 and 1979. He’s probably best remembered for his roles as Alfred Jodl in “The Longest Day” (1962) and as Sheriff John Baxter in “Fistul of Dollars” (1964). He also appeared on TV in the crime series “Tatort”. Lukschy’s voice was also in demand as a film dubber and was the German voice of such actors as James Mason, Walter Matthau, Stewart Granger, Gregory Peck and John Wayne. He was the German voice of Gary Cooper in “High Noon”. Luckshy’s son Stefan [1948- ] has carried on the family film tradition as a director. Wolfgang died in Berlin on July 10, 1983. Today we remember Wolfgang Lukschy on what would have been his 105th birthday.