Wolfgang Petersen
Biography
Wolfgang Petersen was a German-born screenwriter, producer, and film director. He began working directing plays at the Ernst Deutsch Theater in Hamburg in the 1960s. Petersen attended the Berlin Film and Television Academy from 1966 to 1970. His early work included productions for German state television, including the crime series Crime Scene. Petersen met actor Jürgen Prochnow during his work on Crime Scene. Petersen's notable films include Das Boot, The NeverEnding Story, Enemy Mine, Shattered, In the Line of Fire, and Outbreak. He spent most of his career in the United States. Petersen was born on March 14, 1941, in Emden, Germany, and died on August 12, 2022, at the age of 81.
Career overview
Wolfgang Petersen began his career directing plays at the Ernst Deutsch Theater in Hamburg in the 1960s. He later attended the Berlin Film and Television Academy from 1966 to 1970. Petersen's early work included productions for German state television, where he met actor Jürgen Prochnow.
Petersen's film career took off with the release of Das Boot in 1981, which starred Jürgen Prochnow. This was followed by several notable films, including The NeverEnding Story in 1984 and Enemy Mine in 1985. Petersen continued to work in the film industry, directing Shattered in 1991 and In the Line of Fire in 1993. He also directed Outbreak, although the exact release date is not specified.
Throughout his career, Petersen directed a total of 61 films and television productions. He was born in Emden, Germany on March 14, 1941, and passed away on August 12, 2022, at the age of 81.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- U-96, The True Story of 'Das Boot' (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- Das Boot Revisited: An Underwater Success Story (2021) as Self - Das Boot Screenwriter and Director
- Open Wounds – A Journey through German Genre Films (2017)
- Four Against the Bank (2016) Director
- Stardust Hollywood - Sternenstaub und Götterwelten (2013) as Self
- Der Bernd (2012) as Self
- Wolfgang Petersen: Back to the Boat (2011) as Self
- Poseidon (2006) Director
- Poseidon (2006) Producer
- Filmlegenden. Deutsch (2006) as Self
- Gottschalk meets Petersen (2005) as Himself
- Troy (2004) Director
- Troy (2004) Producer
- The Agency (2003) Executive Producer
- Starbuck Holger Meins (2002) as Self
- The Agency (2001) Creator
- The Perfect Storm (2000) Producer
- The Perfect Storm (2000) Director
- Instinct (1999) Executive Producer
- Bicentennial Man (1999) Producer
- The Directors (1999) as Self
- Air Force One (1997) Director
- Air Force One (1997) Producer
- Red Corner (1997) Executive Producer
- Hollywood, Germany - Die amerikanische Herausforderung (1996) as Self
- Outbreak (1995) Director
- Outbreak (1995) Producer
- In the Line of Fire (1993) Director
- In the Line of Fire (1993) Executive Producer
- HBO First Look (1992)
- DAS! (1991) as Self
- Shattered (1991) Director
- Shattered (1991) Producer
- Shattered (1991) Screenplay
- Enemy Mine (1985) Director
- Das Boot (1985) Screenplay
- Das Boot (1985) Director
- Das Boot (1985) Creator
- Goldene Kamera (1984) as Self
- The NeverEnding Story (1984) as Man Who Drops Milk (uncredited)
- The NeverEnding Story (1984) Director
- The NeverEnding Story (1984) Screenplay
- Na sowas! (1982) as Self
- Wetten, dass..? (1981) as Self
- Das Boot (1981) Director
- Das Boot (1981) Screenplay
- Das Boot: Behind The Scenes (1981) as Self
- NDR Talk Show (1979) as Self
- Bavarian Film Awards (1979) as Self
- Bio’s Bahnhof (1978) as Self
- Black and White Like Day and Night (1978) Director
- Please Turn the Page (1977) as Self
- Planübung (1977) Director
- Planübung (1977) Writer
- The Consequence (1977) Director
- The Consequence (1977) Screenplay
- Four Against the Bank (1976) Director
- Hans in Luck (1976) Director
- Die Stadt im Tal (1975) Director
- Stellenweise Glatteis (1975) Director
- Stellenweise Glatteis (1975) Director
- Die Stadt im Tal (1975) Director
- One or the Other of Us (1974) Director
- Pinned to the Ground (1974) Director
- Smog (1973) Author
- Smog (1973) Director
- Van der Valk and the Rich (1973) Director
- I Will Kill You, Wolf (1971) Director
- I Will Kill You, Wolf (1971) Writer
- Scene of the Crime (1970) Director
- Ich Nicht (1969) Writer
- Ich Nicht (1969) Director
- The Cuckoo Years (1967) Assistant Director
- The Foundling (1967) Assistant Director
- Der Eine - der Andere (1967) Director
- Der Eine - der Andere (1967) Writer
- Stadt auf Stelzen (1965) Director
- Grimme Award (1964) as Self
- Bambi (1948) as Self