{{Short description|German voice actor (1944–2021)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Thomas Fritsch | image = | imagesize = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1944|1|16|df=y}} | birth_place = Dresden, Germany | death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|04|21|1944|01|16|df=y}} | death_place = Berlin, Germany | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|dubbing actor|schlager singer}} | years_active = 1962–2019 | website = | spouse = | father = Willy Fritsch | mother = Dinah Grace
}}
'''Thomas Fritsch''' (16 January 1944 – 21 April 2021) was a German film, television and dubbing actor and schlager singer. He was regarded as the "Sonnyboy"{{efn|A young man who radiates charm and a carefree cheerfulness, which produces sympathy from others. ({{lang|de|Junger Mann, der Charme und eine unbeschwerte Fröhlichkeit ausstrahlt, dem die Sympathien zufliegen.)<ref name="Duden">{{cite web | title=Sonnyboy | website=Duden | url=https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Sonnyboy | language=de | access-date=12 May 2021 | archive-date=12 May 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512232615/https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Sonnyboy | url-status=live }}</ref>}}}} in the German cinema of the 1960s,<ref name="Spiegel" /> and became one of the best-known actors by his presence in television series.<ref name="Spiegel" /> Later, he was the German voice of Russell Crowe, of Scar in ''The Lion King'', and of Diego in ''Ice Age''.
== Life == Fritsch was born in Dresden, the son of famous actor Willy Fritsch and dancer Dinah Grace.<ref name="Spiegel" /> The family moved to Hamburg after World War II.<ref name="Tagesspiegel" /> Director and actor Gustaf Gründgens encouraged the 16-year-old Thomas to become an actor.<ref name="Spiegel" /> He trained at an acting school in Hamburg-Pöseldorf for three years.<ref name="NDR" />
He played his first film role in the 1962 Austrian movie ''Julia, Du bist zauberhaft'' at age 17,<ref name="Spiegel" /> alongside Lilli Palmer. He starred opposite Daliah Lavi in ''{{ill|Black-White-Red Four Poster|de|Das schwarz-weiß-rote Himmelbett}}'', and became a favourite of teenagers.<ref name="Spiegel" /> He was frequently featured on the cover of the youth magazine ''Bravo''.<ref name="NDR" /> He played in ''And So to Bed'' in 1963, alongside Hildegard Knef.<ref name="Tagesspiegel" /> In 1964, he appeared in his only film together with his father, ''Das hab ich von Papa gelernt''.<ref name="NDR" /> He appeared two more times with his father, in the ZDF television specials ''Das gibts doch zweimal'' in 1965 and ''Andere Zeiten, andere Sitten. Die Thomas-Fritsch-Show'' in 1967.<ref name="Tagesspiegel" /> He had film roles in ''Drei Männer in Santa Cruz'', ''Onkel Toms Hütte'', and played one of the three men in the title of ''Drei Männer im Schnee'', among many others.<ref name="Tagesschau" />
In the 1970s, Fritsch appeared in the television series ''Der Kommissar'' and ''Derrick'' several times. From 1977, Fritsch appeared in a leading role in the popular series {{ill|Drei sind einer zuviel|de}} (Three are one too many) by Barbara Noack, portraying a man in a love triangle story. It made him one of Germany's most popular actors.<ref name="Tagesspiegel" /> He also starred in the television series ''Rivalen der Rennbahn'' (1989).<ref name="Spiegel" /> In 2004, he made a return to cinema when he appeared as the villainous Earl of Cockwood in ''Der Wixxer'', a comedy which spoofed the German Edgar Wallace films of the 1960s.<ref>[https://www.sueddeutsche.de/medien/thomas-fritsch-tod-nachruf-1.5272085 Nachruf auf Thomas Fritsch: Liebling des Publikums] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213606/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/medien/thomas-fritsch-tod-nachruf-1.5272085 |date=2 June 2021 }}, Süddeutsche Zeitung</ref>
Fritsch became known as a voice actor. He was the German voice of Russell Crowe in ''Gladiator'', ''Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World'' and ''Proof of Life''.<ref name="NDR" /> He dubbed Scar in the German version of ''The Lion King'' in 1994;<ref name="ZDF" /> Diego, a Smilodon, in ''Ice Age'' and sequels, beginning in 2002;<ref name="Spiegel" /><ref name="Tagesschau" /> and Aslan in ''The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'' and sequels. In the 2000s, he replaced the late Joachim Kemmer as Lumiere for the "Human Again" DVD feature of ''Beauty and the Beast''.<ref name="Spiegel" /> His last role was the narrator in the 2018 children's film ''Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer'', an adaption of Michael Ende's ''Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver''.<ref name="Tagesschau" />
== Private life and death == Fritsch divided his time between his home in Munich and his home on the Greek island of Mykonos. He had been diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1990.<ref>[https://www.fr.de/panorama/thomas-fritsch-gestorben-90469322.html Erzähler der drei „???“: Schauspieler Thomas Fritsch gestorben] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513050445/https://www.fr.de/panorama/thomas-fritsch-gestorben-90469322.html |date=13 May 2023 }} (in German)</ref> In 2006, Fritsch revealed he was bisexual.<ref>[https://www.bz-berlin.de/artikel-archiv/die-bisexuellen-bekenntnisse-von-tv-star-thomas-fritsch Die bisexuellen Bekenntnisse von TV-Star Thomas Fritsch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513050500/https://www.bz-berlin.de/artikel-archiv/die-bisexuellen-bekenntnisse-von-tv-star-thomas-fritsch |date=13 May 2023 }} (in German)</ref> In 2019, it was announced that Fritsch was diagnosed with dementia and was living in an assisted living facility.<ref>[https://www.bild.de/unterhaltung/leute/leute/thomas-fritsch-77-ich-habe-alles-ausgekostet-bis-zur-neige-76147750.bild.html „Ich habe alles ausgekostet, bis zur Neige“] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501111317/https://www.bild.de/unterhaltung/leute/leute/thomas-fritsch-77-ich-habe-alles-ausgekostet-bis-zur-neige-76147750.bild.html |date=1 May 2021 }} (in German)</ref>
Fritsch died on 21 April 2021 in Berlin, aged 77.<ref name="Spiegel" /><ref name="Tagesschau" /><ref name="BildZtg">''Körzdörfers NACHRUF'' in: BILD-Printausgabe (''BILD Letzte Seite'') vom 22. April 2021 sowie {{cite web|title=Ich habe alles ausgekostet, bis zur Neige|periodical=Bild.de|publisher=|url=https://www.bild.de/unterhaltung/leute/leute/thomas-fritsch-77-ich-habe-alles-ausgekostet-bis-zur-neige-76147750.bild.html|url-status=live|access-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501111317/https://www.bild.de/unterhaltung/leute/leute/thomas-fritsch-77-ich-habe-alles-ausgekostet-bis-zur-neige-76147750.bild.html|archive-date=1 May 2021|last=|date=2021-04-21|language=|pages=|quote=}}</ref> He was given a burial at sea near the island of Sylt.<ref>[https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/promis/thomas-fritsch-ist-tot-schauspieler-in-der-nordsee-bestattet-art-722349 Thomas Fritsch ist tot: Schauspieler in der Nordsee bestattet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513050500/https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/promis/thomas-fritsch-ist-tot-schauspieler-in-der-nordsee-bestattet-art-722349 |date=13 May 2023 }} (in German)</ref>
==Films == ===Actor=== Fritsch played in films and television (TV) series, including:<ref>[https://www.filmportal.de/person/thomas-fritsch_515dfb817e4144cc8967c25f37a8a8fb Thomas Fritsch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218131711/https://www.filmportal.de/person/thomas-fritsch_515dfb817e4144cc8967c25f37a8a8fb |date=18 February 2021 }} filmportal.de</ref><ref name="Hung">{{cite web | last=Hung | first=Steffen | title=Schweizer Film Charts | website=filmcharts.ch | url=https://filmcharts.ch/actor/Thomas-Fritsch-1948 | language=de | access-date=23 April 2021 | archive-date=23 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423175829/https://filmcharts.ch/actor/Thomas-Fritsch-1948 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="vollfilm 2000">{{cite web | title=Thomas Fritsch | website=vollfilm | date=26 January 2000 | url=https://www.vollfilm.com/de/actor/thomas-fritsch?record=0 | language=de | access-date=23 April 2021 | archive-date=23 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423180312/https://www.vollfilm.com/de/actor/thomas-fritsch?record=0 | url-status=live }}</ref> {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * ''Adorable Julia'' (1962), as Roger, Julia's son * ''{{ill|Black-White-Red Four Poster|de|Das schwarz-weiß-rote Himmelbett}}'' (1962), as Jean de Wehrt * ''And So to Bed'' (1963), as High school student * ''Full Hearts and Empty Pockets'' (1964), as Rick Hofer * ''Drei Männer in Santa Cruz'' (''The Last Ride to Santa Cruz'', 1964), as Carlos * ''Das hab ich von Papa gelernt'' (''I Learned It from Father'', 1964), as Andreas Andermann * ''Legend of a Gunfighter'' (1964), as Chris Harper * ''{{ill|Halløj i himmelsengen|de|3=2 x 2 im Himmelbett|lt=Halløj i himmelsengen}}'' (1965), as Pierre de Sauterne * ''Onkel Toms Hütte'' (''Uncle Tom's Cabin'', 1965), as George Shelby * ''The Swedish Girl'' (1965), as Philipp * ''Das gibt's nur zweimal'' (1965, TV) * ''Apollo Goes on Holiday'' (1968) * Der Kommissar (TV series) ** ''Der Papierblumenmörder'' (episode 15) – (1970) ** ''Mord nach der Uhr'' (episode 94) – (1975) * ''Drei Männer im Schnee'' (''Three Men in the Snow'') (1974) * ''{{ill|Hoftheater (TV series)|de|3=Hoftheater (Fernsehserie)|lt=Hoftheater}}'' (1975, TV series) * Derrick (TV series): ** ''{{ill|Nur Aufregungen für Rohn (Derrick)|de|3=Derrick: Nur Aufregungen für Rohn|lt=Nur Aufregungen für Rohn}}'' (1975) ** ''Abendfrieden'' (1977) ** ''Ein Todesengel'' (1979) ** ''Der Charme der Bahamas'' (1986) ** ''Anruf in der Nacht'' (1986) ** ''Tossners Ende'' (1989) * {{ill|Drei sind einer zuviel|de}} (1977, TV series) * Rivalen der Rennbahn (1989, TV series) * ''{{Ill|At Your Own Risk (TV series)|de|3=Auf eigene Gefahr (Fernsehserie)|lt=At Your Own Risk}}'' (1995) * ''Rosamunde Pilcher: Federn im Wind'' (2004) * ''Der Wixxer'' (2004) * ''Das total verrückte Wunderauto'' (2006) * Die ProSieben Märchenstunde (2006, TV series) * ''Meine wunderbare Familie'' (2007) * ''{{ill|The Secret of Loch Ness|de|Das Wunder von Loch Ness}}'' (2008) {{div col end}}
===Voice=== Fritsch voiced the following productions, among others:<ref name="Synchron" /> {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * ''The Good, the Bad and the Ugly''- Tuco (Pro 7 dub) * ''Apocalypse Now'' (1979) * ''The Three Musketeers'' (1993) * ''The Nanny'' (1993–1999) – Maxwell Sheffield * ''The Lion King'' (1994) – Scar * ''Gargoyles '' (1994–1996) – Goliath * ''Felidae'' (1994) * ''The Pebble and the Penguin'' (1995) * ''Die Hard with a Vengeance'' (1995) – Simon Gruber * ''Balto'' (1995) – Steele * ''Mega Man '' (1995–1996) * ''White Squall'' (1996) * ''Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver'' (1996) – Luke * ''Doctor Dolittle'' (1998) * ''Lost in Space'' (1998) * ''The Lion King II: Simba's Pride'' (1998) – Scar * ''Das Dschungelbuch, Mowglis Abenteuer'' (1998) * ''Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie'' (1999) - Slyly the fox * ''Gladiator'' (2000) – Maximus * ''Help! I'm a Fish'' (2000) – Joe, the pilotfish * ''Thomas and the Magic Railroad'' (2000) – Mr. Conductor * ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' (2001) – Garrick Ollivander * ''Ice Age'' (2002) – Diego * ''Treasure Planet'' (2002) – Dr. Delbert Doppler * ''The Cat Returns'' (2002) * ''Raining Cats and Frogs'' (2003) * ''Finding Nemo'' (2003) – Nigel * ''South Park'' (2003) - Russell Crowe and Steven Spielberg * ''Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World'' (2003) * ''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (extended edition) – (2003) * ''Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events'' (2004) * ''Steamboy'' (2005) * ''Kingdom of Heaven'' (2005) * ''Corpse Bride'' (2005) – Bonejangles * ''Cinderella Man'' (2005) * ''The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'' (2005) – Aslan * ''Battlestar Galactica'' (2006) * ''Ice Age: The Meltdown'' (2006) – Diego * ''Copying Beethoven'' (2006) * ''Eragon'' (2006) * ''Herr Figo und das Geheimnis der Perlenfabrik'' (2007) * ''Surf's Up'' (2007) - Big Z * ''3:10 to Yuma (2007 film)'' (2007) - Ben Wade * ''Astérix at the Olympic Games'' (2007) * ''Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic'' – Lord Vetinari * ''Snow Buddies'' (2008) * ''Kung Fu Panda'' (2008) – Tai Lung * ''The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian'' (2008) * ''The Dark Knight'' (2008) * ''Sacred 2'' (2008) * ''The Incredible Hulk'' (2008) * ''Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs'' (2009) – Diego * ''Risen'' (2009) * ''Diablo 3'' (2012) * ''Ice Age: Continental Drift'' (2012) - Diego * ''Ice Age: Collision Course'' (2016) - Diego {{div col end}}
== Awards == * 1963: Bambi Award, {{ill|Bambi Award 1963|de|Bambi-Verleihung 1963}}, as the best newcomer for ''Black-White-Red Four Poster''<ref name="Prisma">{{cite web | title=Thomas Fritsch gestorben: Schauspieler wurde 77 Jahre alt | website=Prisma | date=21 April 2021 | url=https://www.prisma.de/news/stars/Thomas-Fritsch-gestorben-Schauspieler-wurde-77-Jahre-alt,29538253 | language=de | access-date=23 April 2021 | archive-date=23 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423133729/https://www.prisma.de/news/stars/Thomas-Fritsch-gestorben-Schauspieler-wurde-77-Jahre-alt,29538253 | url-status=live }}</ref> * 2002: {{ill|Deutscher Synchronpreis|de|lt=Deutscher Preis für Synchron}} for ''Second Chance – Alles wird gut''<ref name="Danner 2021">{{cite web | last=Danner | first=Corsta | title=Thomas Fritsch | website=Synchronsprecher | date=21 April 2021 | url=https://www.synchronsprecher.de/blog/thomas-fritsch-ist-die-deutsche-stimme-von-russel-crowe/ | language=de | access-date=23 April 2021 | archive-date=23 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423111559/https://www.synchronsprecher.de/blog/thomas-fritsch-ist-die-deutsche-stimme-von-russel-crowe/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="kulturpreise">{{cite web | last= | first= | title=Kulturpreise.de : Deutscher Preis für Synchron | website=Handbuch der Kulturpreise - Handbook of Cultural Awards | url=http://www.kulturpreise.de/web/preise_info.php?preisd_id=3614 | language=de | access-date=23 April 2021 | archive-date=23 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423134304/http://www.kulturpreise.de/web/preise_info.php?preisd_id=3614 | url-status=live }}</ref>
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == <references>
<ref name="NDR">{{cite news | url = https://www.ndr.de/kultur/film/Thomas-Fritsch-ist-tot-Die-Stimme-von-Scar-und-Russell-Crowe,nachrufthomasfritsch100.html | title = Sänger und Schauspieler Thomas Fritsch ist tot | publisher = NDR | date = 22 April 2021 | language = de | access-date = 22 April 2021 | archive-date = 21 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210421194021/https://www.ndr.de/kultur/film/Thomas-Fritsch-ist-tot-Die-Stimme-von-Scar-und-Russell-Crowe,nachrufthomasfritsch100.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="Spiegel">{{cite news | url = https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/tv/thomas-fritsch-ist-tot-schauspieler-rivalen-der-rennbahn-und-synchronsprecher-gestorben-a-62190848-7c9d-4456-93a5-b676cdac4360 | title = Schauspieler und Synchronsprecher Thomas Fritsch ist tot | newspaper = Der Spiegel | date = 21 April 2021 | language = de | access-date = 22 April 2021 | archive-date = 22 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210422043154/https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/tv/thomas-fritsch-ist-tot-schauspieler-rivalen-der-rennbahn-und-synchronsprecher-gestorben-a-62190848-7c9d-4456-93a5-b676cdac4360 | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="Synchron">{{cite web | url = https://www.synchronkartei.de/sprecher/183/2 | title = Thomas Fritsch | website = synchronkartei.de | date = | language = de | access-date = 23 April 2021 | archive-date = 21 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210421144826/https://www.synchronkartei.de/sprecher/183/2 | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="Tagesschau">{{cite news | url = https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/schauspieler-thomas-fritsch-101.html | title = Schauspieler und Synchronsprecher Thomas Fritsch ist tot | work = Tagesschau | date = 21 April 2021 | language = de | access-date = 22 April 2021 | archive-date = 21 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210421163248/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/schauspieler-thomas-fritsch-101.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="Tagesspiegel">{{cite news | url = https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/ohne-ihn-saehe-der-deutsche-fernsehvorabend-anders-aus-schauspieler-thomas-fritsch-stirbt-im-alter-von-77-jahren/27117724.html | title = Ohne ihn sähe der deutsche Fernsehvorabend anders aus / Schauspieler Thomas Fritsch stirbt im Alter von 77 Jahren | work = Der Tagesspiegel | date = 21 April 2021 | language = de | access-date = 23 April 2021 | archive-date = 22 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210422201527/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/ohne-ihn-saehe-der-deutsche-fernsehvorabend-anders-aus-schauspieler-thomas-fritsch-stirbt-im-alter-von-77-jahren/27117724.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="ZDF">{{cite news | url = https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/panorama/thomas-fritsch-tot-100.html | title = Schauspieler & Synchronsprecher – Thomas Fritsch mit 77 Jahren gestorben | publisher = ZDF | date = 21 April 2021 | language = de | access-date = 23 April 2021 | archive-date = 22 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210422193018/https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/panorama/thomas-fritsch-tot-100.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
</references>
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0295991}} * [https://www.synchronsprecher.de/blog/thomas-fritsch-ist-die-deutsche-stimme-von-russel-crowe/ Synchronsprecher Russell Crowe – Thomas Fritsch] (in German) synchronsprecher.de 21 April 2021
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fritsch, Thomas}} Category:1944 births Category:2021 deaths Category:Male actors from Dresden Category:Musicians from Dresden Category:German male television actors Category:German male film actors Category:German male voice actors Category:German LGBTQ singers Category:German bisexual actors Category:German bisexual musicians Category:German bisexual men Category:Bisexual male actors Category:Bisexual male singers Category:German schlager musicians Category:Recipients of the Bambi (prize) Category:People with dementia Category:Burials at sea Category:20th-century German male actors Category:21st-century German male actors Category:20th-century German male singers Category:21st-century German male singers Category:20th-century German LGBTQ people Category:21st-century German LGBTQ people