Maximilian Schell

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Biography

Maximilian Schell was the most successful German-speaking actor in English-language films since 'Emil Jannings' 's play "Resurrection Blues" in 2006. He died on 31st of January 2014, aged 83, in Innsbruck, Austria.

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Trivia

Brother of Maria Schell , Carl Schell and Immy Schell.

Uncle of Oliver Schell and Marie Theres Relin.

Father of Nastassja Schell (born in 1989).

Son of actress Margarete Schell No.

He was the first actor to win an Oscar (for Judgment at Nuremberg ) for a role he originally performed on television (in a 1959 episode of "Playhouse 90" ). The only other actor to accomplish that feat was Cliff Robertson , who won an Oscar for Charly after first playing the role in "The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon" on "The United States Steel Hour" .

Godfather of actress Angelina Jolie

A part-time director, his compelling documentary Marlene was nominated for an Oscar in 1985 and his last film Meine Schwester Maria chronicled the life, career and eventual diminished capacity of his noted actress sister Maria Schell.

In later life, he began directing operatic productions. His first foray in the musical medium was a Swiss production of Verdis "La Traviata". This passion was triggered when he was performing in the play "Jedermann" (or "Everyman") in Salzburg, Austria from 1978-1982, and he came into contact with several musical conductors including Leonard Bernstein , James Levine and Claudio Abbado.

Had appeared in the Old Vics early 2006 production of the Arthur Miller play "Resurrection Blues", which was directed by Robert Altman in his London theatrical debut, The play was widely panned by critics, partly due to the divergent acting styles of the eclectic cast assembled by Altman, which included the urbane Englishman James Fox playing the intellectual cousin of Schells Germanic dictator.

In 1990, he refused to receive the Honorary German Film Award because he felt too young to be awarded with an award for lifetime achievement.

(August 2000) Received the "Actor of the Millennium" award at The Baltic Pearl Film Festival in Latvia. He collapsed at the festival and has been diagnosed with acute pancreatitis which is related to his diabetes.

His interest in acting began at early age. When age 11, he appeared in a professional production of "William Tell" and the same year wrote a play which was produced by his school.

He appeared in four films with Vanessa Redgrave : Julia , Young Catherine , Little Odessa and Deep Impact .

He appeared in four films with Liv Ullmann : Pope Joan , A Bridge Too Far , Players and The Rose Garden .

Was among the actors in the running for Dr. Hans Fallada in the science fiction horror film Lifeforce . Frank Finlay was cast instead.

He dubbed himself in the English version of Hamlet, Prinz von Dnemark .

At the Academy Awards presentation for 1961 , Joan Crawford presented Schell with his "Best Actor" Oscar; the following year, Schell, as presenter of the "Best Actress" award, presented the Oscar to Joan Crawford, who was accepting for absent winner Anne Bancroft.

He directed his mother Margarete Schell No in two films: Der Fugnger and Der Richter und sein Henker .

He only appeared in one film with his elder sister Maria Schell : The Odessa File .

He directed 2 films that were Oscar nominated for Foreign Language Film: Erste Liebe and Der Fugnger .

In interviews, Film Historians Robert Osbourne and Leonard Maltin have said Maxmilian Schells win for Judgement of Nuremberg is the biggest shock in Academy Award history.

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