Who Are Those Guys? ~ Heinz Erhardt

 

Heinz Erhardt was born in Riga, Latvia on February 20, 1909. He studied to be a professional pianist and served as piano player in the marine orchestra after being drafted during World War II. After the war, he took a job at a northwest German public radio station and began his career as an entertainer with an affinity for comical puns and poems. He soon became a popular public figure, performing as a comedian or a mime, on stages and in films all over Europe. His film credits include "The Viking Who Became a Bigamist" (1969), "That Can't Shake Will!" (1970), "Our Willi is the Best" (1971) and "Willi Manages the Whole Thing" (1972). Heinz was married to Gilda Zanetti from 1935-1979 and they he was the father actresses Grit Berthold, and Verena Haacker, producer, director, writer, cameraman, cinematographer, actor Gero Erhardt and actress Marita Malicke. He is also the grandfather of actor, singer Marek Erhardt and assistant director Nicola Tyszkiewicz, great- grandfather of actress Marla Erhardt.

Erhardt received the prestigious German Distinguished Service Cross, just four days before his death from a stroke in Hamburg, Germany on June 5, 1979. He was 70.

Heinz appeared in two 1965 Karl May westerns in supporting roles. “Legacy of the Incas” in as Professor Morgenstern and “Rampage at Apache Wells” as Kantor Aurelius Hampel.

ERHARDT, Heinz (aka Heinz Ehrhardt, Heinz Erhard) [2/20/1909, Riga, Russian Empire – 6/5/1979, Hamburg, Hamburg, West Germany (heart attack) ] – producer, writer, composer, film, TV actor, singer, married to Gilda Zanetti [1913-1987] (1935-1979) father of actress Grit Berthold [1936-    ], actress Verena Haacker [1940-    ], producer, director, writer, cameraman, cinematographer, actor Gero Erhardt [1943-2021], actress Marita Malicke [1944-    ], grandfather of actor, singer Marek Erhardt [1969-    ],  assistant director Nicola Tyszkiewicz, great-grandfather of actress Marla Erhardt [2003-    ], awarded the German Distinguished Service Cross [1979].

Legacy of the Incas – 1965 (Professor Morgenstern)

Rampage at Apache Wells – 1965 (Kantor Aurelius Hampel)