Klaus Maria Brandauer began his acting career as a stage actor in 1962. He spent many years working in national theater and also took up a few TV roles. He made his film debut in 1972, playing a small role in the thriller film ‘The Salzburg Connection.’ He appeared in the German TV crime series ‘Derrick,’ in episode 8 of season 2 in 1975. In 1979, he played a minor role in the movie ‘A Sunday in October.’
In 1981, Klaus Maria Brandauer portrayed a self-absorbed actor in Hungarian film director István Szabó's drama film ‘Mephisto.’ He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles for this role. He appeared as Maximillian Largo in the spy film ‘Never Say Never Again’ in 1983. He played a villain character and was praised for adding a "human touch" to a negative role.
In the ensuing years, Klaus Maria Brandauer acted in two more films directed by István Szabó: ‘Colonel Redl’ (1985) and ‘Hanussen’ (1988). In 1985, he played Bror Blixen in the epic romantic film ‘Out of Africa,' opposite Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. The actor was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe for the performance.
He turned director in 1989 with the film ‘Seven Minutes.’ He also acted in the movie as the protagonist. He co-starred with Sean Connery in the spy film ‘The Russia House’ in 1990. The following year, he appeared in the movies ‘White Fang’ and ‘Becoming Colette.’
Based on her autobiographical book, the movie tells the story of Baroness Karen Von Blixen, after she moves to Nairobi, under British rule, and marries Baron Bror Blixen. After Bror keeps being unfaithful to her, Karen develops a relationship with hunter Denys Finch Hatton, who becomes the love of her life but refuses to be married.
Tetro is a drama film which tells the story of Bennie, a young boy, who arrives in Argentina to search for his estranged brother. After meeting Tetro, his brother, he finds that he is not the same person, but he has become a self-destructive soul and has also abandoned his writing career. Bennie thinks of secretly completing one of his brother’s plays, and submitting it, hoping to win a literary prize.
White Fang is an adventure drama film which revolves around the story of Jack, a gold hunter who forms a strong bond with a dog-wolf, after he rescues the latter from a man who used to ill-treat him.
Based on the 1961 James Bond novel Thunderball, this film tells the story of a SPECTRE Agent, who has stolen two nuclear warheads. It is up to the British spy James Bond to find them before they are detonated.
Scott Blair is a publisher who finds himself involved in a conspiracy after receiving manuscripts from a Russian scientist claiming that the entire Russian nuclear programme is a sham. He begins his own investigation to learn the truth.
While holidaying in Europe, a lawyer is asked by a publisher to go to Salzburg in order to see a photographer for a book on picturesque Austrian lakes. However, when he arrives at the place, it seems that the photographer has vanished, leaving his wife and brother behind. He soon finds himself involved with spies and assassins who are on the hunt for a list made up by the Nazis about people who had collaborated with them.
The Gaul is an epic historical drama film which tells the story of a Gallic chieftain, from his childhood to his struggle to save Gaul by uniting all tribes of his region, and raising an army on his own, in order to throw Julius Caesar out.
Klaus Maria Brandauer Awards
| Out of Africa | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture | 1986 |
