Peter Kern
Biography
Peter Kern was an iconoclastic Austrian independent director and former New German Cinema actor. Born in Wien, Austria on February 13, 1949, he appeared in more than 70 feature films and directed a further 25. At his peak, he worked with directors including Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Hans-Jurgen Syberberg, and Wim Wenders. His acting credits in feature films associated with these directors include Fox and His Friends, The Stationmaster's Wife, Hitler: A Film From Germany, and Wrong Move. He was also the subject and creative force of the low-fi film Kern, directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala. Kern had 99 known credits for acting and passed away on August 26, 2015, at the age of 66.
Career overview
Peter Kern was an iconoclastic Austrian independent director and former New German Cinema actor. Born in Wien, Austria on February 13, 1949, Kern appeared in more than 70 feature films and directed a further 25. At his peak, he worked with some of the best directors of his era. His collaborations included working with Rainer Werner Fassbinder in Fox and His Friends and The Stationmaster's Wife, Hans-Jurgen Syberberg in Hitler: A Film From Germany, and Wim Wenders in Wrong Move.
Kern was also the subject and the strongest creative force of the low-fi film Kern, which was directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala. His background and working style were encapsulated by his own quoted sentiment regarding his interactions, where he asked not to be immediately hurt by his yelling and to take his insults as proof of love, while remembering that he was Austrian, insane, hysterical, hypocritical, and undemocratic.
Throughout his career, Kern amassed numerous known credits in his acting work, contributing to a substantial filmography across feature films and other projects. He passed away on August 26, 2015, at the age of 66.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
138 titles- Schlingensief – A Voice That Shook the Silence (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- The Last Summer of the Rich (2014) Director
- The Last Summer of the Rich (2014) Screenplay
- Sarah und Sarah (2014) Director
- Sarah und Sarah (2014) Writer
- Diamantenfieber (2013) Director
- Belief, Love, Death (2012)
- Belief, Love, Death (2012) Director
- Kern (2012) as Himself
- Rosas Welt – 70 neue Filme von Rosa von Praunheim (2012)
- Murder Sisters (2011) Producer
- Murder Sisters (2011) Writer
- Murder Sisters (2011) Director
- Mondo Lux: The Visual Worlds of Werner Schroeter (2011)
- Rent Boys (2011) as Self
- Monkey Sandwich (2011)
- Daniel Schmid: Le Chat Qui Pense (2010) as Self
- King Kongs Tränen (2010) Director
- King Kongs Tränen (2010) Writer
- Die verrückte Welt der Ute Bock (2010) as Minister
- Initiation (2009) as Head of Staff
- Initiation (2009) Director
- Initiation (2009) Screenplay
- Initiation (2009) Associate Producer
- Nur Kein Mitleid (2007) Director
- Nur Kein Mitleid (2007) Producer
- Dead Bodies of the Living (2007) as Nachtclubbesitzer
- Dead Bodies of the Living (2007) Producer
- Dead Bodies of the Living (2007) Director
- Dead Bodies of the Living (2007) Writer
- Life Pornography (2005) as Valencia
- Danube Corpses (2005) Producer
- Danube Corpses (2005) Director
- Danube Corpses (2005) Writer
- ZIBB (2003) as Self
- Menschen bei Maischberger (2003) as Self
- Himmel, Polt und Hölle (2002) as Heinz Hafner
- Haider lebt - 1. April 2021 (2002) Director
- Haider lebt - 1. April 2021 (2002) Writer
- Hamlet: This Is Your Family (2001) Director
- Hamlet: This Is Your Family (2001) Writer
- Fifty-Fifty (2001) Director
- U3000 (2000) as Self
- Visionary Filmmaker - Marilou Diaz-Abaya (1999)
- Visionary Filmmaker - Marilou Diaz-Abaya (1999) Cinematography
- Visionary Filmmaker - Marilou Diaz-Abaya (1999) Editor
- Visionary Filmmaker - Marilou Diaz-Abaya (1999) Director
- Kiss, Cuddle and Celebrate (1998) Director
- Kiss, Cuddle and Celebrate (1998) Producer
- Kiss, Cuddle and Celebrate (1998) Writer
- Küstenwache (1997) as Willi Hanke
- Die Oma ist tot (1997) as Herr Eisfeld
- Zimmer frei! (1996) as Self
- Wenches (1996) as Sex Shop Costumer
- Die Harald Schmidt Show (1995) as Self
- Versteckte Kamera (1995) as Self
- Im Namen des Gesetzes (1994) as Rechtsanwalt Dr. Müller
- Phettbergs nette Leit Show (1994) as Self
- Erotique (1994) as Franz (segment 'Taboo Parlor')
- Domenica. Alle kommen, keiner war da (1994) as Fetti
- Domenica. Alle kommen, keiner war da (1994) Writer
- Domenica. Alle kommen, keiner war da (1994) Director
- Domenica. Alle kommen, keiner war da (1994) Producer
- Burning Life (1994) as Simon
- Terror 2000 (1993) as Körn
- Ishmael Bernal - Truth and Dare (1993) Director
- Ishmael Bernal - Truth and Dare (1993) Cinematography
- Ishmael Bernal - Truth and Dare (1993) Writer
- Street Kid (1992) as Toilettenmann
- Street Kid (1992) Director
- Street Kid (1992) Screenplay
- Ein fetter Film (1992) Director
- Boulevard Bio (1991) as Self
- Malina (1991) as Bulgare
- Zeil um Zehn (1990) as Self
- So lange ich fliehen noch kann, da schütze ich mich (1990) Editor
- So lange ich fliehen noch kann, da schütze ich mich (1990) Director
- Johanna d’Arc of Mongolia (1989) as Mickey Katz
- Virgin Machine (1989) as Hormone Specialist
- Hab' ich nur deine Liebe (1989) Director
- Hab' ich nur deine Liebe (1989) Writer
- Nachtcafé (1987) as Self
- Crazy Boys - A Handful of Pleasure (1987) Director
- Crazy Boys - A Handful of Pleasure (1987) Writer
- Crazy Boys - A Handful of Pleasure (1987) Editor
- Kir Royal (1986) as Paula
- Das Totenreich (1986)
- Zischke (1986) as Regisseur
- Der wilde Clown (1986) as Junger Chef
- Rambo Zambo (1984) as Robert
- Geschichten aus der Heimat (1983)
- Bella Donna (1983)
- The Roaring Fifties (1983) as Franz Arnusch
- The Island of the Bloody Plantation (1983) as Röder
- The Island of the Bloody Plantation (1983) Producer
- The Laughing Star (1983) Producer
- The Swing (1983) as Hofkapellmeister
- Schwarz Rot Gold (1982) as Dr. Bernhard
- Cinématon XVIII (1982) as N°170
- Today We're Playing Boss (1981) as Fritz Paulig
- Today We're Playing Boss (1981) Writer
- Today We're Playing Boss (1981) Producer
- Die Wasserlilie blüht nicht mehr - Impressionen aus Manila (1980) Writer
- Die Wasserlilie blüht nicht mehr - Impressionen aus Manila (1980) Producer
- Die Wasserlilie blüht nicht mehr - Impressionen aus Manila (1980) Director
- Die Bootsmänner von Pagsanjan (1980) Producer
- Die Bootsmänner von Pagsanjan (1980) Director
- NDR Talk Show (1979) as Self
- Beate S. (1979) as Hans-Peter Brand
- Son of Hitler (1979) as Asylum Attendent
- News from Robber Hotzenplotz (1979) as Räuber Hotzenplotz
- Flaming Hearts (1978) as Peter Huber
- Despair (1978) as Müller
- Hitler: A Film from Germany (1978) as Mörder aus „M“ / Göring-Puppenspieler / Alter Ellerkamp / SS-Mann / Fremdenverkehrsdirektor
- Polizeiinspektion 1 (1977) as Tino Rafaelo
- Hitler: A Film from Germany (1977) as Heinrich Himmler (Wehrmacht)
- Kleinhoff Hotel (1977) as Müller
- Group Portrait with a Lady (1977) as Werner Hoyser
- The Stationmaster’s Wife (1977) as Treuberger
- Die Geisel (1977) as Rio Rita
- Pariser Geschichten (1976)
- Plattenküche (1976) as Self
- The Wild Duck (1976) as Hjalmar Ekdal
- The Sternstein Manor (1976) as Toni
- Wrong Move (1975) as Landau
- Mother Küsters Goes to Heaven (1975) as Nachtklubbesitzer
- Fox and His Friends (1975) as Florist "Fatty" Schmidt
- La Paloma (1974) as Isidor Palewski
- World on a Wire (1973) as Hospital Orderly
- Tonight or Never (1973) as Artist
- Ludwig – Requiem for a Virgin King (1972) as Lakai Mayr / Hoffriseur Hoppe / Röhm
- Adele Spitzeder (1972) as Wirt
- Jakob von Gunten (1971) as Kraus
- Komm in die Wanne, Schätzchen (1971) as Curlyhead
- Scene of the Crime (1970) as Niedlich
- Seventeen and Anxious (1970) as Hippie
- Die Perle – Aus dem Tagebuch einer Hausgehilfin (1969) as 2. Hippie-Mann
- German Film Award (1951) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Peter Kern best known for?
Peter Kern is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including ZIBB (2003), Menschen bei Maischberger (2003), Küstenwache (1997), Zimmer frei! (1996).
When and where was Peter Kern born?
Peter Kern was born on February 13, 1949 in Wien, Austria. They passed away on August 26, 2015.
How many credits does Peter Kern have?
Peter Kern has accumulated over 138 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1951 to 2020.
What is Peter Kern's background in cinema and television?
Peter Kern was an iconoclastic Austrian independent director and former New German Cinema actor. Born in Wien, Austria on February 13, 1949, he appeared in more than 70 feature films and directed a further 25. At his peak, he worked with directors including Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Hans-Jurgen Syberberg, and Wim Wende...
Peter Kern by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Polizeiinspektion 1 (1977) as Tino Rafaelo — aged about 28
- Schwarz Rot Gold (1982) as Dr. Bernhard — aged about 33
- Menschen bei Maischberger (2003) as Self — aged about 54
- World on a Wire (1973) as Hospital Orderly — aged about 24
- Die Harald Schmidt Show (1995) as Self — aged about 46
- Im Namen des Gesetzes (1994) as Rechtsanwalt Dr. Müller — aged about 45
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