Biography
Otto Sander (German: [ˈɔtoː ˈzandɐ]; June 30, 1941 – September 12, 2013) was a German film, theater, and voice actor. Sander grew up in Kassel, where he graduated in 1961 from the Friedrichgymnasium. After leaving school he spent his military service in 1961/62 with the Bundesmarine and left as reserve fenrik. Sander then studied theatre science, history of art and philosophy. In 1965 he made his acting debut at the Düsseldorfer chamber plays. After his first film work in the same year he abandoned his studies in 1967, and went to Munich to become a full-time actor. His career is closely connected with the Schaubühne theatre in Berlin under the direction of Peter Stein. From 1980 onwards Sander appeared on several of Berlin's theatre stages, among others at the Schillertheater in 1981, at the Freie Volksbühne in 1985 and in 1989 at the Komödie am Kurfürstendamm. More recently he starred in Hauptmann von Köpenick at the Schauspielhaus Bochum (2004). In 1990, he was a member of the Jury at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival. Among his best-known film roles are the angel Cassiel in Wings of Desire and its sequel Faraway, So Close! by Wim Wenders, and a shell-shocked U-boat commander, Kapitänleutnant Philipp Thomsen, in Wolfgang Petersen's Das Boot. Sander also appeared in The Tin Drum (1979) as a trumpeter and in Comedian Harmonists, a biopic about the musical group of the same name. He also played a professor in the movie The Promise about the division of Berlin by the wall. In 1999 he played a role in Rosa von Praunheim's movie The Einstein of Sex.
Acted in 61
2020s
- 2025
About Narration
Movie
2010s
- 2012
Fly Away
Eckehardt Tiedgen
- 2010
Life Is Too Long
Movie
2000s
- 2007
The Heart Is a Dark Forest
Helmut
Little King Macius
Erasmus (voice)
- 2006
Unter kaiserlicher Flagge
Erzähler / Narrator · 2 episodes
- 2005
- 2003
The Danube
Franz
Werner - Gekotzt wird später!
Erzähler (voice)
- 2001
Sass
Vater Sass
- 2000
The Einstein of Sex: Life and Work of Dr. M. Hirschfeld
Professor Steinach
1990s
- 1999
Girls under investigation
Staatsanwalt Baldur Meixner
Männer sind wie Schokolade
Vater Lano
- 1998
The Shop
TV
Am I Beautiful?
David
- 1997
Conversation with the Beast
Adolf Hitler Double
- 1996
Killer Condom
Mr. Higgins
- 1995
Lumière & Company
Cassiel (segment "Wim Wenders")
Nikolaikirche
kirchlicher Superintendent
The Promise
Professor Lorenz
Bauernschach
Dr. Gerold Stadler
A.S. Gefahr ist sein Geschäft
Freddy Klinke · 1 episode
Das Loch
Der Mann
- 1994
The White Horse Inn in St. Wolfgang
Prof. Hinzelmann
Movie Days
Maður á hesti
Three Sisters
Vershinin
- 1993
The Film Narrator
Salzmann
The Olympic Summer
Sprecher
Faraway, So Close!
Cassiel
Inge, April und Mai
Movie
- 1992
Lyrische Suite. Das untergehende Vaterland
Movie
- 1990
Time of Vengeance
Robert
1980s
- 1989
The Break
Erwin Lubowitz
- 1988
The Case of Mr. Spalt
Otto Spalt
- 1987
- 1986
Boundaries of Time - Caspar David Friedrich
Gerichtsgehilfe
Miko: From the Gutter to the Stars
Loan officer Grop
Rosa Luxemburg
Karl Liebknecht
- 1985
- 1984
- 1981
Der Mann im Pyjama
Rudi
Who's Going Crazy Here, Doctor?
Nummer Sieben
Strike Back
Kowalski
- 1980
Palermo or Wolfsburg
Staatsanwalt
1970s
- 1979
- 1976
Four Against the Bank
Eberhard Winter
The Marquise of O
Brother, Forstmeister
Summer Guests
Pjotr Suslov
- 1975
Meine Sorgen möcht' ich haben
Harald Bornemann
- 1974
One or the Other of Us
Rulle Ruhlsdorff
- 1971
- 1970
No Pawing, Darling
Movie
Appearances18
2020s
- 2021
Das Boot Revisited: An Underwater Success Story
Self
2010s
- 2013
Roland Klick: The Heart Is a Hungry Hunter
Himself
2000s
- 2008
- 2004
Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef
Narrator (voice)
- 2003
Wings of Desire: The Angels Among Us
Self
- 2002
Happy Too
Himself / Gert Bastian
Das Jahrhundert des Theaters
Narrator · 6 episodes
- 2001
100 Pro
Narrator
- 2000
Preußen – Chronik eines deutschen Staates
Self (Narrator) · 6 episodes
1990s
- 1996
- 1995
- 1991
- 1990
Werner and the Wizard of Booze
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1980s
- 1983
A Love in Germany
Narrator
- 1981
1970s
- 1979
- 1975
Berlin 10. 11. 74 - 28. 1. 75: Exercises in 9 Pieces
Himself
