Waltraut Haas

Waltraut Haas
Haas in 2016
Born(1927-06-09)9 June 1927
Vienna, Austria
Died23 April 2025(2025-04-23) (aged 97)
Vienna, Austria
Occupations
  • Actress
  • Singer
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1966; died 2011)​
ChildrenMarcus Strahl
AwardsAustrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art

Waltraut Haas (9 June 1927 – 23 April 2025) was an Austrian actress and singer who appeared in around 70 films. She gained recognition in her first film, as Mariandl in Der Hofrat Geiger in 1947, and starred alongside Peter Alexander in 1960 in Im weißen Rößl. She was regarded as one of Austria's most popular actresses for decades.[1][2] From the 1970s, she focused on the stage again and remained active on stage at age 90.

Life and career

Born in Vienna on 9 June 1927, Haas grew up at Schloss Schönbrunn, where her mother was a restaurateur.[3] Her father, a teacher,[4] died when she was 5 years old.[5] She first trained for three years at a fashion school[3] during World War II, but after the war studied acting at the Konservatorium für darstellende Kunst (Conservatory for Performing Arts) and also privately with Julia Janssen, an actress at the Burgtheater.[1][3][5]

Haas made her stage debut in Linz in 1946[2] and performed in Vienna at the Bürgertheater, the Stadttheater municipal theater, and the Raimund Theater.[1] She appeared in plays and singspiels, both classical and contemporary.[3] She also performed in Germany at the Titania-Palast theater in Berlin and the Deutsche Theater in Munich.[1] She first appeared at the Burgtheater in 1948,[2] and later performed at the Renaissance-Theater in Vienna.[3]

Haas was soon drawn to the big screen. She achieved fame and recognition with her first film, discovered by Willi Forst, the cult classic Der Hofrat Geiger (1947),[1] in which she played Mariandl alongside Maria Andergast, Hans Moser, and Paul Hörbiger.[1][3] Following its success, she received many offers to play Viennese girls, appearing alongside Franz Antel, Johannes Heesters, and Curd Jürgens.[1] She appeared in Kleiner Schwindel am Wolfgangsee, Gruß und Kuß aus der Wachau,[1] in Hallo, Dienstmann with Moser and Hörbiger in 1952, in Der Zigeunerbaron with Gerhard Riedmann in 1954, in Wenn der Vater mit dem Sohne with Heinz Rühmann in 1955, and in Immer die Radfahrer with Heinz Erhardt and Hans-Joachim Kulenkampff in 1958.[3] She also appeared in films directed by her husband Erwin Strahl, such as Keine Angst Liebling, ich paß schon auf.[1] Her second signature role was Josepha Vogelhuber in the 1960 film The White Horse Inn (Im weißen Rößl) alongside Peter Alexander.[1][3][6] She also made recordings as a singer, including Im Weißen Rössl and Wiener Lieder.[1]

Haas said in interviews that Moser was like a father to her. He was her partner again in the sequels to her first film, Mariandl (1961) and Mariandls Heimkehr, in which she now played the role of Mariandl's mother. She received international offers but rarely appeared in international films.[7] After 70 films,[3] mainly comedies and musicals, she stopped making films around 1970 as the Heimatfilm genre declined.[1] Thereafter, she focused again on stage work, often directed by her husband, and also appeared on television.[1][3][6] In 2016, she appeared in Ken Ludwig's comedy Otello darf nicht platzen at the Gloria Theater in Vienna, alongside Gerald Pichowetz.[3] She appeared in 2020 in Catalina Molina's television film Das Glück ist ein Vogerl.[1]

Personal life

Haas was married to actor and director Erwin Strahl from 1966[5] until his death in 2011; they performed together on stage and in films.[1] They lived in Vienna's Hietzing district.[4] Their son Marcus Strahl became an actor and director.[3]

In 2018, she published a memoir, Jetzt sag ich's (Now I tell you), which included accounts of meetings with Hollywood stars such as Errol Flynn and memories of working with her husband, covering both successes and disappointments.[1]

Haas died in Vienna on 23 April 2025, at the age of 97.[1][5][8]

Filmography

Year Title Role Director Cast Notes Ref.
1947 Der Hofrat Geiger Mariandl Hans Wolff Paul Hörbiger, Hans Moser [1][9]
1949 Kleiner Schwindel am Wolfgangsee Trixi Gundacker Franz Antel Hans Holt [1][9]
1952 Hallo, Dienstmann Hansi Scheidl Antel Hörbiger, Moser, Annie Rosar [3][9]
1952 Ideale Frau gesucht Luise Antel [9]
1952 Knall und Fall als Hochstapler Bettina Brandtner Hubert Marischka [9]
1952 Du bist die Rose vom Wörthersee Kate Smith Marischka [9]
1952 Der Obersteiger Nelly Lampl Antel [9]
1952 1. April 2000 Mitzi Wolfgang Liebeneiner Science fiction film [9]
1953 The Story of William Tell Mary Jack Cardiff Errol Flynn Unfinished film project [4]
1953 Der keusche Josef Hilde Wolf Carl Boese [9]
1953 Südliche Nächte Eva Robert A. Stemmle [9]
1953 Der Onkel aus Amerika Elisabeth Hartung Boese Moser, Georg Thomalla, Grethe Weiser [9]
1954 Der Zigeunerbaron Empress Maria Theresa Arthur Maria Rabenalt Operetta film after Der Zigeunerbaron [3][9]
1954 Das Licht der Liebe Franzi Zeller Stemmle Paula Wessely Family drama [9]
1955 Wenn der Vater mit dem Sohne Gerti Hans Quest Heinz Rühmann [3]
1955 Der fröhliche Wanderer Toni Peters Quest Rudolf Schock [9]
1955 Das Mädchen vom Pfarrhof Annerl Alfred Lehner Erich Auer, Attila Hörbiger Heimatfilm, based on the 1870 play Der Pfarrer von Kirchfeld by Ludwig Anzengruber [9]
1956 Die Stimme der Sehnsucht Carola Berger Thomas Engel Schock [9]
1956 Lumpazivagabundus Pepi Hobelmann Antel Hörbiger, Gunther Philipp, Joachim Fuchsberger Based on the 1833 play by Johann Nestroy [9]
1956 Der Bettelstudent Komtesse Laura Werner Jacobs Operetta film based on Der Bettelstudent [9]
1957 Jede Nacht in einem anderen Bett Dr. Maria Kraemer Paul Verhoeven Gerhard Riedmann, Harald Juhnke [9]
1958 ... denn keiner ist ohne Sünde Mrs. Robbé Maurice Cloche Georges Marchal [9]
1958 Immer die Radfahrer Tilla Büttner Hans Deppe Heinz Erhardt, Hans-Joachim Kulenkampff, Christiane Hörbiger, Mady Rahl [3][9]
1958 Der schwarze Blitz Uschi Bauer Toni Sailer, Dietmar Schönherr, Gustav Knuth Heimatfilm [9]
1958 Eine Reise ins Glück Renate Wolfgang Schleif Rudolf Prack, Oskar Sima and Theo Lingen [9]
1960 Im weißen Rößl Josepha Vogelhuber Jacobs Peter Alexander [1][3]
1961 Junge Leute brauchen Liebe Barbara Hagen Géza von Cziffra Cornelia Froboess, Johannes Heesters, Senta Berger [9]
1961 Mariandl Marianne Mühlhuber Jacobs Froboess, Moser, Prack, Peter Weck, Susi Nicoletti [3][9]
1961 Saison in Salzburg Theres Stolzinger Franz Josef Gottlieb Alexander [9]
1962 Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies Regine Roeders Alexander, Marika Rökk and Philipp Operetta film based on the 1941 Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies [9]
1962 Mariandls Heimkehr Marianne Mühlhuber Jacobs Froboess, Moser, Prack, Weck, Nicoletti [3][9]
1971 Außer Rand und Band am Wolfgangsee Rössl-Wirtin Antel [9]

Awards

  • 1987: Ehrenmedaille der Bundeshauptstadt Wien in Gold[8]
  • 2001: Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um das Bundesland Niederösterreich[5]
  • 2001: Rose vom Wörthersee as best actress[5]
  • 2002: Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art[1][5][10]
  • 2006: Golden Harp, from Friends of the Operetta association[5]
  • 2008: Honorary member of the Europäische Kulturwerkstatt Berlin-Wien (EKW)[5]
  • 2010: Gold Medal of Honour (Vienna) for services to the state of Vienna[1][2][8]
  • 2016: Goldener Rathausmann of Vienna, on the occasion of her 70th stage anniversary[3][8]
  • 2017: Ehrenplakette of Lower Austria, on the occasion of her 90th birthday[7]
  • 2018: Dr.-Friedrich-Wilhelm-Prinz-von-Preußen-Preis from the Europäische Kulturwerkstatt, as the first recipient of the award[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Waltraut Haas verstorben". ORF (in German). 23 April 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "Goldenes Ehrenzeichen für Waltraut Haas". ORF (in German). 12 May 2010. Archived from the original on 28 December 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Stadt Wien ehrt Waltraut Haas zum 70-jährigen Bühnenjubiläum". Presse Wien (in German). 30 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Waltraut Haas wird 95 und weint Hollywood "keine Träne nach"". Kurier (in German). 9 June 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Teplik, Janet (23 April 2025). "Österreich trauert um Schauspiellegende Waltraut Haas". Leadersnet (in German). Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  6. ^ a b Weinmann, Beatrice (2007). Waltraut Haas: Biografie (in German). Residenz. ISBN 978-3-70-173039-1. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Ehrenplakette des Landes Niederösterreich für Waltraut Haas". Lower Austria (in German). 8 June 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d "Bürgermeister Ludwig und Kulturstadträtin Kaup-Hasler zum Tod von Waltraut Haas: "Eine Legende"". Presse Wien (in German). 23 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "Prinz-von-Preußen-Preis: Preisträgerin 2018". Filmportal (in German). 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Anfragebeantwortung" [Reply to a [parliamentary] question] (PDF). Austrian Parliament (in German). p. 1464. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Prinz-von-Preußen-Preis: Preisträgerin 2018". Europäische Kulturwerkstatt (in German). Retrieved 25 April 2025.

Further reading

  • Haas, Waltraut, Watteck, Marina C.: Jetzt sag ich’s: Erinnerungen. Amalthea Signum, Vienna 2018, ISBN 978-3-99-050120-7
  • Huber, Hermann J.: Langen Müller’s Schauspielerlexikon der Gegenwart. Deutschland. Österreich. Schweiz (in German). Albert Langen • Georg Müller Verlag, Munich • Vienna 1986, ISBN 3-7844-2058-3, p. 338.
  • Weniger, Kay: Das große Personenlexikon des Films. Die Schauspieler, Regisseure, Kameraleute, Produzenten, Komponisten, Drehbuchautoren, Filmarchitekten, Ausstatter, Kostümbildner, Cutter, Tontechniker, Maskenbildner und Special Effects Designer des 20. Jahrhunderts (in German). vol. 3: F – H. ' Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-89602-340-3, p. 467.

Obituaries

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