Heinz Hoenig: From submarine playwright to celebrated actor!

Heinz Hoenig: From submarine playwright to celebrated actor!

Heinz Hoenig, a prominent actor in the German film and theater scene, became famous in 1981 for his role as radio mate Hinrich in the film adaptation of the novel “Das Boot”. This film, which deals with the narrow world of submarine drama, made Hoenig a household name overnight. In the years that followed, he demonstrated his versatility in various roles and enjoyed an impressive career that spanned both film and television productions. Loud Schlager.de His characters always have a distinctive touch, although Hoenig consciously decided not to embody heroes, but to portray authentic people with strengths and weaknesses.

His work spans several decades. In the 1990s he appeared in “The Great Bellheim” as businessman Rottmann and in 1996 in “The Shadow Man” as police officer Erich “King” Grobecker. Hoenig knew how to show different facets of human nature in every role, which earned him a Golden Camera as Best Actor in 1998 for his portrayal of the nightclub owner Sugar in the film “The King of St. Pauli”.

Diverse career

Heinz Hoenig, born as the son of a crane operator in Harlingerode am Harz, began an apprenticeship as a locksmith and worked in various jobs before his artistic career began. After taking acting classes in the USA, he returned to Germany and performed at the Grips Theater in Berlin. He made his film debut in 1975 in the black-and-white drama “Under the Pavement is the Beach.”

Over the course of his career, Hoenig worked with director Dieter Wedel several times and was seen in numerous productions, including the crime series “Stan Becker” and the ZDF series “Das Traumschiff”. He also took part in the first season of “The Masked Singer” in 2019, where he came in eighth place. His diverse work is reflected in a number of awards, including the Bavarian Television Prize and the Adolf Grimme Prize.

Personal life and commitment

Hoenig was married to the Swiss Simone Hoenig-Zimmerli from 1988 to 2012, with whom he has two children. After the death of his first wife, he married Annika Kärsten-Hoenig in 2019, who had already brought a daughter into the marriage. They have two sons together. Hoenig currently lives in Blankenburg in the Harz Mountains.

His socially committed projects are worth mentioning. In 2002 he founded the “Heinz the Bull” initiative, which works for traumatized and socially disadvantaged children, and was awarded the Kind Award in 2005 for his commitment. In his autobiography “I Take My Freedom: Memories of 50 Wild Years” he writes about his eventful life.

After health problems that landed him in a Berlin hospital between May and September 2024, Hoenig was temporarily placed in an artificial coma. His family raised funds for medical costs as he did not have health insurance at the time. Despite these challenges, Hoenig has never retreated from the public eye and remains a sought-after actor on the German stages and screens.

Hoenig's cinematic legacy has a lasting impact and is appreciated by his audience. With his unique ability to portray human nature, he has earned a permanent place in German film history Wikipedia documented.