Otto Mellies (19 January 1931 – 26 April 2020) was a German actor on stage, in film and television, and a voice actor. He was known for his performance of the title role of Lessing's Nathan the Wise on stage 325 times.

Otto Mellies
Born(1931-01-19)19 January 1931
Died26 April 2020(2020-04-26) (aged 89)
Zeuthen, Brandenburg, Germany
OccupationActor

Life and career

edit

Mellies was born in Schlawe, Germany (now Sławno, Poland). At age 16, he applied successfully for acting education at the Staatstheater Schwerin, learning with Lucie Höflich, the director of drama. He worked at various theatres, such as in Neustrelitz, Stralsund, Rostock and Erfurt, learning a broad repertoire. He played the Tempelherr in Lessing's Nathan der Weise in Stralsulnd at age 20.[1]

From 1956, he was a member of the Deutsches Theater Berlin, engaged by Wolfgang Langhoff. He turned to character roles such as Pylades in the 1976 production of Goethe's Iphigenie by Thomas Langhoff, with Inge Keller in the title role. During his 55 years on stage, he excelled as Lessing's Nathan, staged by Friedo Solter in 1987,[1] which he played 325 times.[2]

Mellies died on 26 April 2020, aged 89.[2][1]

Filmography

edit
Film
Year Title Role
1957 Hellas ohne Götter Speaker[3]
1959 Intrigue and Love Ferdinand
2007 According to the Plan Wolf
2011 Stopped on Track Frank's father Ernst
2013 Back on Track Rudolf
TV
Year Title Role
1973 Seventeen Moments of Spring Helmut Kolder

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Otto Mellies". DEFA (in German). Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Otto Mellies ist tot". Der Spiegel (in German). 27 April 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  3. ^ Hellas ohne Götter filmportal.de
edit