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{{short description|Dutch actor, singer and entertainer}}
{{Short description|Dutch actor, singer, and entertainer (1903–2011)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Johannes Heesters
| name = Johannes Heesters
| image = Johannes Heesters - 1964.jpg
| image = Johannes Heesters - 1964.jpg
| caption = Johannes Heesters in 1964
| caption = Heesters in 1964
| birth_name = Johan Marius Nicolaas Heesters
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1903|12|5|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1903|12|5|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Amersfoort]], Netherlands
| birth_place = [[Amersfoort]], Netherlands
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|12|24|1903|12|5|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|12|24|1903|12|5|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Starnberg]], Germany
| death_place = [[Starnberg]], [[Germany]]
| resting_place = [[Nordfriedhof (Munich)|Nordfriedhof]], [[Munich]], Germany
| resting_place = [[Nordfriedhof (Munich)|Nordfriedhof]], [[Munich]], Germany
| nationality = Dutch
| residence = Starnberg, Germany
| occupation = {{Flatlist|
| occupation = {{Flatlist|
* Actor
* Actor
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}}
}}
| years_active = 1921–2011
| years_active = 1921–2011
| spouse = {{Plainlist|
| spouse={{plainlist|
* [[Louisa Ghijs]] (m. 1930–1985; her death)
* {{marriage|[[Louisa Ghijs]]|1930|1985|end=died}}
* Simone Rethel (m. 1992–2011; his death)
* {{marriage|[[Simone Rethel]]|1992}}
}}
}}
| website = {{URL|www.johannes-heesters.de}}
| website = {{URL|www.johannes-heesters.de}}
| height = {{Convert|1.88|m|abbr=on}}
| children = {{Plainlist|
| children = {{Plainlist|
* Wiesje Heesters (born 1931)
* Wiesje Heesters (born 1931)
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}}
}}


'''Johan Marius Nicolaas Heesters''' (5 December 1903 &ndash; 24 December 2011) professionally known as '''Johannes Heesters''', was a [[Netherlands|Dutch]] actor of stage, television and film, as well as a vocalist of numerous recordings and performer on the concert stage with a career dating back to the 1920s. Heesters worked as an actor until his death and was one of the [[List of centenarians (actors, filmmakers and entertainers)|oldest performing entertainers]] in history, performing shortly before his death at the age of 108. Heesters was almost exclusively active in the German-speaking world from the mid-1930s and became a film star in [[Nazi Germany]], which later led to controversy in his native country.<ref>[http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4492/Nederland/article/detail/3094002/2011/12/24/Heesters-bleef-tot-eind-toe-overtuigd-van-eigen-gelijk.dhtml 'Heesters was Methusalem van Nederlandse podiumkunsten'] {{in lang|nl}}</ref> He was able to maintain his popularity in Germany in the decades until his death.
'''Johan Marius Nicolaas Heesters''' (5 December 1903 &ndash; 24 December 2011), known professionally as '''Johannes''' '''Heesters''', was a Dutch actor of stage, television and film, as well as a vocalist of numerous recordings and performer on the concert stage with a career dating back to the 1920s. He worked as an actor until his death and is one of the [[List of centenarians (actors, filmmakers and entertainers)|oldest performing entertainers]] in history, performing shortly before his death at the age of 108. Heesters was almost exclusively active in the German-speaking world from the mid-1930s and became a film star in [[Nazi Germany]], which later led to controversy in his native country.<ref>[http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4492/Nederland/article/detail/3094002/2011/12/24/Heesters-bleef-tot-eind-toe-overtuigd-van-eigen-gelijk.dhtml 'Heesters was Methusalem van Nederlandse podiumkunsten'] {{in lang|nl}}</ref> He was able to maintain his popularity in Germany in the decades until his death.


==Early life==
==Early life==
[[File:Johan "Johannes" Heesters Birth Record.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Record of Heesters' birth]]
[[File:Johan "Johannes" Heesters Birth Record.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Record of Heesters' birth]]
[[File:Young Heesters.png|left|thumb|upright|Heesters in 1919)]]
[[File:Young Heesters.png|left|thumb|upright|Heesters in 1919]]


Heesters was born in [[Amersfoort]], [[Netherlands]], the youngest of four sons. His father Jacobus Heesters (1865–1946) was a salesman and his mother Geertruida Jacoba van den Heuvel (1866–1951), a homemaker.
Heesters was born in [[Amersfoort]], Netherlands, the youngest of four sons. His father Jacobus Heesters (1865–1946) was a salesman and his mother Geertruida Jacoba van den Heuvel (1866–1951), a homemaker.


Heesters was fluent in German from a very early age having lived for several years in the household of a German great uncle from [[Bavaria]].<ref>Peter Czada/Günter Große: ''[[Comedian Harmonists]]. Ein Vokalensemble erobert die Welt'', p.&nbsp;15, Edition Hentrich, Berlin 1993; {{ISBN|978-3-89468-082-4}}</ref> Heesters decided to become an actor and a singer at the age of sixteen and began vocal training. Heesters specialized in Viennese [[operetta]] very early in his career, and made his Viennese stage debut in 1934 in [[Carl Millöcker]]'s ''[[Der Bettelstudent]]'' (''The Beggar Student'').
Heesters was fluent in German from an early age, having lived for several years in the household of a German great uncle from [[Bavaria]].<ref>Peter Czada/Günter Große: ''[[Comedian Harmonists]]. Ein Vokalensemble erobert die Welt'', p.&nbsp;15, Edition Hentrich, Berlin 1993; {{ISBN|978-3-89468-082-4}}</ref> Heesters decided to become an actor and a singer at the age of 16 and began vocal training. He specialized in Viennese [[operetta]] very early in his career, and made his Viennese stage debut in 1934 in [[Carl Millöcker]]'s ''[[Der Bettelstudent]]'' (''The Beggar Student'').


==Nazi Germany==
==Nazi Germany==
Aged 31, Heesters permanently moved to Germany with his wife and daughters in 1935. His signature role was Count Danilo Danilovich in [[Franz Lehár]]'s ''{{lang|de|Die Lustige Witwe}}'' (''[[The Merry Widow]]''). His version of Count Danilo's entrance song, "{{lang|de|Da geh' ich ins [[Maxim's Paris|Maxim]]|italic=no}}", was well known. During his time in Germany, he performed for [[Adolf Hitler]] and visited the [[Dachau concentration camp]], which made him a controversial figure for many Dutch.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7249119.stm|title=Nazi-era singer returns to stage|date=17 February 2008|publisher=[[BBC News]]|accessdate=17 February 2008}}</ref> [[Joseph Goebbels]] placed Heesters on the [[Gottbegnadeten list]] as an artist considered crucial to [[Art of the Third Reich|Nazi culture]].<ref>[http://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/article/view/id/1773 "Goebbels' Gottbegnadeter"] by Alfred Wagner, ''{{ill|Jüdische Allgemeine|de}}'', 11 December 2008. {{in lang|de}}</ref>
Aged 31, Heesters permanently moved to Germany with his wife and daughters in 1935. His signature role was Count Danilo Danilovich in [[Franz Lehár]]'s ''{{lang|de|Die Lustige Witwe}}'' (''[[The Merry Widow]]''). His version of Count Danilo's entrance song, "{{lang|de|Da geh' ich ins [[Maxim's Paris|Maxim]]|italic=no}}", was well known. During his time in Germany, he performed for [[Adolf Hitler]] and visited the [[Dachau concentration camp]], which made him a controversial figure for many Dutch.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7249119.stm|title=Nazi-era singer returns to stage|date=17 February 2008|publisher=[[BBC News]]|access-date=17 February 2008}}</ref> [[Joseph Goebbels]] placed Heesters on the [[Gottbegnadeten list|''Gottbegnadeten'' list]] as an artist considered crucial to [[Art of the Third Reich|Nazi culture]]; he was the only non-German included.<ref>[http://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/article/view/id/1773 "Goebbels' Gottbegnadeter"] by Alfred Wagner, ''Jüdische Allgemeine'', 11 December 2008. {{in lang|de}}</ref>


Heesters funded the German war machine by donating money to the weapons industry.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ross|first=Beatrix|title=Johannes Heesters, Beatrix Ross: Johannes Heesters. Auch hundert Jahre sind zu kurz|year=2003|publisher=Langen/Müller|location=Germany|isbn=3-7844-2934-3|page=234}}</ref> This helped to make Heesters a very controversial figure in the late 1970s. Heesters always denied these accusations despite reliable evidence.<ref>{{cite book|last=Trimborn|first=Jürgen|authorlink=:de:Jürgen Trimborn|title=Der Herr im Frack – Johannes Heesters|year=2005|publisher=Aufbau-Taschenbuchverlag|location=Germany|isbn=3-7466-2153-4|page=326}}</ref>
Heesters funded the German war machine by donating money to the weapons industry.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ross|first=Beatrix|title=Johannes Heesters, Beatrix Ross: Johannes Heesters. Auch hundert Jahre sind zu kurz|year=2003|publisher=Langen/Müller|location=Germany|isbn=3-7844-2934-3|page=234}}</ref> This helped to make him a very controversial figure in the late 1970s. Heesters always denied these accusations despite reliable evidence.<ref>{{cite book|last=Trimborn|first=Jürgen|author-link=:de:Jürgen Trimborn|title=Der Herr im Frack – Johannes Heesters|year=2005|publisher=Aufbau-Taschenbuchverlag|location=Germany|isbn=3-7466-2153-4|page=326}}</ref>


Heesters befriended several high-ranking [[Nazi]]-officials and [[Schutzstaffel|SS-officers]].<ref>Jürgen Trimborn ''Der Herr im Frack, Johannes Heesters: Biographie'', p.?</ref> Hitler is known to have been an avid admirer of his acting skills.<ref>[http://www.koelman.com/2008/de-favoriet-van-hitler/ "De favoriet van Hitler"], [[Metro International|''Metro'']] (Netherlands), quoted at Koelman.com (14 February 2008) {{in lang|nl}}]</ref><ref>Hanna Inber Win, [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/21/johannes-heesters-singer_n_152674.html "Johannes Heesters: Singer Known As Hitler's Favorite Has Libel Case Thrown Out"], ''The Huffington Post'', 21 December 2008</ref>
He befriended several high-ranking [[Nazi]]-officials and [[Schutzstaffel|SS-officers]].<ref>Jürgen Trimborn ''Der Herr im Frack, Johannes Heesters: Biographie'', p.?</ref> Hitler is known to have been an avid admirer of his acting skills.<ref>[http://www.koelman.com/2008/de-favoriet-van-hitler/ "De favoriet van Hitler"], [[Metro International|''Metro'']] (Netherlands), quoted at Koelman.com (14 February 2008) {{in lang|nl}}]</ref><ref>Hanna Inber Win, [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/21/johannes-heesters-singer_n_152674.html "Johannes Heesters: Singer Known As Hitler's Favorite Has Libel Case Thrown Out"], ''The Huffington Post'', 21 December 2008</ref>


At the same time, he was idolized by the [[Swingboy]] subculture, who admired his pale face and combed long black hair and tried to copy his attire.
At the same time, Heesters was idolized by the [[Swingboy]] subculture, who admired his pale face and combed long black hair and tried to copy his attire. His style contrasted that promoted by the [[Hitlerjugend]].<ref name="Massaquoi">''[[Destined to Witness|»Neger, Neger, Schornsteinfeger!«: Meine Kindheit in Deutschland]]'', page 155, [[Hans J. Massaquoi]], S. Fischer Verlag, {{ISBN|3104002991}}.</ref>
His style contrasted that promoted by the [[Hitlerjugend]].<ref name="Massaquoi">''[[Destined to Witness|»Neger, Neger, Schornsteinfeger!«: Meine Kindheit in Deutschland]]'', page 155, [[Hans J. Massaquoi]], S. Fischer Verlag, {{ISBN|3104002991}}.</ref>


Heesters met Hitler several times,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/wams_print/article2804932/Nie-sexy-immer-galant.html|title=Nie sexy, immer galant|first=Torsten|last=Thissen|date=30 November 2008|work=[[Die Welt]]|language=German|accessdate=19 July 2011}}</ref> especially in the role of Count Danilo.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adk.de/heesters/die-ausstellung.htm|title=Johannes Heesters – Auf den Spuren eines Phänomens|date=22 October 2006|publisher=[[Akademie der Künste]]|language=German|accessdate=19 July 2011}}</ref> Throughout the war Heesters continued to perform for German soldiers in camps and barracks. According to German author Volker Kühn, Heesters performed for the SS at the Dachau concentration camp. Kühn cites as evidence the testimony of a Dachau inmate, [[Viktor Matejka]], who worked for the SS and told Kühn he pulled the curtain when Heesters performed in 1941.<ref>[http://www.sueddeutsche.de/leben/747/449476/text "Der Sänger will nur geredet haben"], ''[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]]'' (27 November 2008) {{in lang|de}}</ref><ref>[http://www.mz-web.de/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=ksta/page&atype=ksArtikel&aid=1227767377816 "Schlagabtausch um Heesters' KZ-Auftritt"] ''[[Mitteldeutsche Zeitung]]'', 27 November 2008. {{in lang|de}}</ref> According to German writer {{ill|Jürgen Trimborn|de}} however, the interview with Matejka may not be reliable as it occurred some fifty years after the performance was said to have taken place.<ref>[http://www.nmz.de/kiz/nachrichten/experte-sieht-keine-beweise-fuer-heesters-auftritt-im-kz-dachau "Experte sieht keine Beweise für Heesters-Auftritt im KZ Dachau"] ''[[Neue Musikzeitung]]'', 24 October 2008. {{in lang|de}}</ref>
Heesters met Hitler several times,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/wams_print/article2804932/Nie-sexy-immer-galant.html|title=Nie sexy, immer galant|first=Torsten|last=Thissen|date=30 November 2008|work=[[Die Welt]]|language=de|access-date=19 July 2011}}</ref> especially in the role of Count Danilo.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adk.de/heesters/die-ausstellung.htm|title=Johannes Heesters – Auf den Spuren eines Phänomens|date=22 October 2006|publisher=[[Akademie der Künste]]|language=de|access-date=19 July 2011}}</ref> Throughout the war, Heesters continued to perform for German soldiers in camps and barracks. According to German author Volker Kühn, Heesters performed for the SS at the Dachau concentration camp. Kühn cites as evidence the testimony of a Dachau inmate, [[Viktor Matejka]], who worked for the SS and told Kühn he pulled the curtain when Heesters performed in 1941.<ref>[http://www.sueddeutsche.de/leben/747/449476/text "Der Sänger will nur geredet haben"], ''[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]]'' (27 November 2008) {{in lang|de}}</ref><ref>[http://www.mz-web.de/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=ksta/page&atype=ksArtikel&aid=1227767377816 "Schlagabtausch um Heesters' KZ-Auftritt"] ''[[Mitteldeutsche Zeitung]]'', 27 November 2008. {{in lang|de}}</ref> According to German writer Jürgen Trimborn however, the interview with Matejka may not be reliable as it occurred some 50 years after the performance was said to have taken place.<ref>[http://www.nmz.de/kiz/nachrichten/experte-sieht-keine-beweise-fuer-heesters-auftritt-im-kz-dachau "Experte sieht keine Beweise für Heesters-Auftritt im KZ Dachau"] ''[[Neue Musikzeitung]]'', 24 October 2008. {{in lang|de}}</ref>


In December 2009, Heesters lost his [[Defamation|libel]] suit against Kühn.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7785613.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Nazi-era singer loses libel suit|date=16 December 2008|accessdate=6 May 2010}}</ref> While acknowledging having visited the camp, he denied having performed as entertainment for the SS troops. In its ruling, the German court did not find whether Kühn's allegations were true, but rather that too much time had passed for an accurate determination of fact to be made.<ref>[[Case citation]]: [[Kammergericht]] Berlin 10 U 6/09</ref>
In December 2009, Heesters lost his [[Defamation|libel]] suit against Kühn.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7785613.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Nazi-era singer loses libel suit|date=16 December 2008|access-date=6 May 2010}}</ref> While acknowledging having visited the camp, he denied having performed as entertainment for the SS troops. In its ruling, the German court did not find whether Kühn's allegations were true, but rather that too much time had passed for an accurate determination of fact to be made.<ref>[[Case citation]]: [[Kammergericht]] Berlin 10 U 6/09</ref>


==After the war==
==After the war==
{{refimprove section|date=January 2016}}
{{more citations needed section|date=January 2016}}
[[File:JopieundWiske.jpg|thumb|Heesters with his future wife, [[Louisa Ghijs]], in 1928]]
[[File:JopieundWiske.jpg|thumb|Heesters with his future wife, [[Louisa Ghijs]], in 1928]]
Heesters worked extensively for [[Universum Film AG|UFA]] until almost the end of the [[World War II|Second World War]] (his last wartime movie being ''[[Die Fledermaus (1946 film)|Die Fledermaus]]'', produced in 1945) and easily made the transition from the Nazi-controlled cultural scene to post-war [[Germany]] and [[Austria]], appearing again in a number of films. These included ''{{lang|de|[[Die Jungfrau auf dem Dach]]}}'' and the 1957 version of ''{{lang|de|[[Viktor und Viktoria]]}}''. He stopped making movies around 1960 to concentrate on stage and television appearances and on producing [[gramophone record|record]]s.
Heesters worked extensively for [[Universum Film AG|UFA]] until almost the end of the [[World War II|Second World War]] (his last wartime movie being ''[[Die Fledermaus (1946 film)|Die Fledermaus]]'', produced in 1945) and easily made the transition from the Nazi-controlled cultural scene to post-war Germany and Austria, appearing again in a number of films. These included ''{{lang|de|[[Die Jungfrau auf dem Dach]]}}'' and the 1957 version of ''{{lang|de|[[Viktor und Viktoria]]}}''. He stopped making movies around 1960 to concentrate on stage and television appearances and on producing records.


In later years, Heesters spoke fondly of Hitler as a person, but condemned his political stance.<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/0,1518,596722,00.html "Historiker darf weiter von Heesters' SS-Auftritt sprechen"], ''[[Der Spiegel]]'' (16 December 2008) {{in lang|de}}</ref> In the 1990s, he and his wife toured Germany and Austria with [[Curth Flatow]]'s play ''{{lang|de|Ein gesegnetes Alter}}'' (''A Blessed Age''), which was also televised in 1996. On 5 December 2003, he celebrated his 100th birthday with a television special ''{{lang|de|Eine Legende wird 100}}'' (''A legend turns 100'') on the [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] television channel. He received the title "{{lang|de|[[Kammersänger]]|italic=no}}". In December 2004, at the age of 101, Heesters appeared in [[Stuttgart]] at the {{lang|de|Komödie im Marquardt|italic=no}} theatre in a show commissioned on the occasion of his [[centenarian|100th birthday]], ''{{lang|de|Heesters – eine musikalische Hommage}}''. In 2005, at the age of 102, he was featured as a soloist in a major concert tour with the {{lang|de|[[Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg]]|italic=no}} under the direction of [[Scott Lawton (conductor)|Scott Lawton]]. On 5 December 2006, Heesters celebrated his 103rd birthday with a concert at the {{lang|de|[[Konzerthaus, Vienna|Wiener Konzerthaus]]|italic=no}}. On 5 December 2007, he celebrated his 104th birthday with a concert at the [[Admiralspalast]], [[Berlin]]. Then in February 2008, he performed in his home country for the first time in four decades amidst protests against his Nazi associations.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
In later years, Heesters spoke fondly of Hitler as a person, but condemned his political stance.<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/0,1518,596722,00.html "Historiker darf weiter von Heesters' SS-Auftritt sprechen"], ''[[Der Spiegel]]'' (16 December 2008) {{in lang|de}}</ref> In the 1990s, he and his wife toured Germany and Austria with [[Curth Flatow]]'s play ''{{lang|de|Ein gesegnetes Alter}}'' (''A Blessed Age''), which was also televised in 1996. On 5 December 2003, he celebrated his 100th birthday with a television special ''{{lang|de|Eine Legende wird 100}}'' (''A legend turns 100'') on the [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] television channel. He received the title "{{lang|de|[[Kammersänger]]|italic=no}}". In December 2004, at the age of 101, Heesters appeared in [[Stuttgart]] at the {{lang|de|Komödie im Marquardt|italic=no}} theatre in a show commissioned on the occasion of his 100th birthday, ''{{lang|de|Heesters – eine musikalische Hommage}}''. In 2005, at the age of 102, he was featured as a soloist in a major concert tour with the {{lang|de|[[Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg]]|italic=no}} under the direction of [[Scott Lawton (conductor)|Scott Lawton]]. On 5 December 2006, Heesters celebrated his 103rd birthday with a concert at the {{lang|de|[[Konzerthaus, Vienna|Wiener Konzerthaus]]|italic=no}}. On 5 December 2007, he celebrated his 104th birthday with a concert at the [[Admiralspalast]], [[Berlin]]. Then in February 2008, he performed in his home country for the first time in four decades amidst protests against his Nazi associations.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}


On 13 December 2008, at the age of 105, Heesters apologised for calling Adolf Hitler a "good chap" on the popular German TV show ''{{lang|de|[[Wetten, dass..?]]}}''. He stated that he had said something stupid and horrible and asked for forgiveness.<ref>Silke Burmester, [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/0,1518,596333,00.html "Mr. Sexy meets Ministerin"], ''[[Der Spiegel]]'', 14 December 2008. {{in lang|de}}]</ref> German media suggested that he had failed to understand the show's satirical nature.<ref>Thomas Burmeister, [http://www.stern.de/lifestyle/leute/johannes-heesters-hitler-war-ein-guter-kerl-647979.html "Hitler war ein guter Kerl"], ''[[Stern (magazine)|Stern]]'', 4 December 2008. {{in lang|de}}</ref>
On 13 December 2008, at the age of 105, Heesters apologised for calling Adolf Hitler a "good chap" on the popular German TV show ''{{lang|de|[[Wetten, dass..?]]}}''. He stated that he had said something stupid and horrible and asked for forgiveness.<ref>Silke Burmester, [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/0,1518,596333,00.html "Mr. Sexy meets Ministerin"], ''[[Der Spiegel]]'', 14 December 2008. {{in lang|de}}]</ref> German media suggested that he had failed to understand the show's satirical nature.<ref>Thomas Burmeister, [http://www.stern.de/lifestyle/leute/johannes-heesters-hitler-war-ein-guter-kerl-647979.html "Hitler war ein guter Kerl"], ''[[Stern (magazine)|Stern]]'', 4 December 2008. {{in lang|de}}</ref>
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==Personal life==
==Personal life==
⚫
[[File:Simone Rethel.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Heesters' second wife [[Simone Rethel]]]]
{{refimprove section|date=January 2016}}
⚫
{{Blockquote|"My secret to a long, healthy life is love and passion; age differences do not matter."|Johannes Heesters, December 2010<ref>[https://archive.today/20130212230824/http://www.wunderweib.de/starsundfreizeit/artikel-1051392-starsundfreizeit/Johannes-Heesters-106-Seine-zehn-Geheimnisse-fuer-ein-langes-Leben.html "Johannes Heesters (106): Seine zehn Geheimnisse für ein langes Leben"] by Frank Gerdes, ''[[Das Neue Blatt]]'', quoted at Wunderweib.de; accessed 27 January 2016. {{in lang|de}}</ref>}}
⚫
[[File:Simone Rethel.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Heesters' second wife Simone Rethel]]
⚫
{{Quote|My secret to a long, healthy life is love and passion; age differences do not matter.|Johannes Heesters, December 2010<ref>[https://archive.is/20130212230824/http://www.wunderweib.de/starsundfreizeit/artikel-1051392-starsundfreizeit/Johannes-Heesters-106-Seine-zehn-Geheimnisse-fuer-ein-langes-Leben.html "Johannes Heesters (106): Seine zehn Geheimnisse für ein langes Leben"] by Frank Gerdes, ''[[Das Neue Blatt]]'', quoted at Wunderweib.de; accessed 27 January 2016. {{in lang|de}}</ref>}}


Heesters had two daughters by his first wife [[Louisa Ghijs]], whom he married in 1930. After her death in 1985, he remarried in 1992. His second wife, [[Simone Rethel]] (born 1949), was a German actress, painter, and photographer. His younger daughter [[Nicole Heesters]] is a well-known actress in the German-speaking world, as well as his granddaughter [[Saskia Fischer]].
Heesters had two daughters by his first wife [[Louisa Ghijs]], whom he married in 1930. After her death in 1985, he remarried in 1992. His second wife, [[Simone Rethel]] (born 1949), is a German actress, painter, and photographer. His younger daughter [[Nicole Heesters]] is a well-known actress in the German-speaking world, as is his granddaughter [[Saskia Fischer]].

⚫
In December 2010, the 107-year-old Heesters announced that he had quit smoking for his then 61-year-old wife: "She should have me as long as possible."<ref>Eric Kelsey, [https://www.reuters.com/article/2010/12/03/oukoe-uk-heesters-smoking-idAFTRE6B22WE20101203 "Actor Johannes Heesters Quits Smoking – at age 107"], [[Reuters]], 3 December 2010.</ref>


On 1 January 2008, he fell down some stairs in his holiday home in [[Tyrol (state)|Tyrol]] and broke two ribs.<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/leute/0,1518,526163,00.html "Johannes Heesters geht es besser"], ''[[Der Spiegel]]'', 2 January 2008.</ref>
On 1 January 2008, he fell down some stairs in his holiday home in [[Tyrol (state)|Tyrol]] and broke two ribs.<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/leute/0,1518,526163,00.html "Johannes Heesters geht es besser"], ''[[Der Spiegel]]'', 2 January 2008.</ref>


⚫
In December 2010, 107-year-old Heesters announced that he had quit smoking for his then 61-year-old wife: "She should have me as long as possible."<ref>Eric Kelsey, [https://www.reuters.com/article/oukoe-uk-heesters-smoking-idAFTRE6B22WE20101203 "Actor Johannes Heesters Quits Smoking – at age 107"], [[Reuters]], 3 December 2010.</ref>
⚫
On 31 October 2011, Heesters gave his last public performance at the [[Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich|Bayrischer Hof]] in [[Munich]].<ref>http://m.fnp.de/nachrichten/politik/tagesthema/Heesters-letzter-Auftritt-Einmaliges-Erlebnis-fuer-alle;art742,442251</ref> Four weeks later, on 29 November 2011, he developed a fever, and was rushed into the hospital.<ref>[http://www.morgenpost.de/vermischtes/stars-und-promis/article1840766/Johannes-Heesters-muss-Zwangspause-einlegen.html "Johannes Heesters muss Zwangspause einlegen"], ''[[Berliner Morgenpost]]'', 30 November 2011</ref> On 4 December, he was fitted with a heart pacemaker following a good recovery. He was allowed to go home less than a week later, just in time to spend his 108th birthday the next day with family. He did not feel strong enough to make the planned stage appearance to sing in celebration of his birthday and also had missed the premiere of his last film, ''Ten''. Due to a relapse in his condition, on 17 December he was readmitted to the hospital where he subsequently suffered a stroke,<ref>[http://open.salon.com/blog/lost_in_berlin/2011/12/24/a_legend_leaves_the_stage_johannes_heesters_1903-2011 A legend leaves the stage: Johannes Heesters, 1903–2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423230607/http://open.salon.com/blog/lost_in_berlin/2011/12/24/a_legend_leaves_the_stage_johannes_heesters_1903-2011 |date=2013-04-23 }}</ref> dying on [[Christmas Eve]] in 2011.<ref>[http://www.morgenpost.de/newsticker/dpa_nt/infoline_nt/thema_nt/article1864714/Johannes-Heesters-ist-tot.html "Johannes Heesters ist Tot"], ''[[Berliner Morgenpost]]'', 24 December 2011.{{in lang|de}}</ref><ref>Gayathri, Amrutha (26 December 2011). [http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/272650/20111226/hitler-s-favorite-actor-dead-108.htm "Hitler's Favorite Actor Dead at 108"]. ''International Business Times''; accessed 27 January 2016.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Johannes Heesters|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/film-obituaries/9082745/Johannes-Heesters.html|date=14 February 2012|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London, UK|accessdate=21 February 2012}}</ref>

⚫
On 31 October 2011, Heesters gave his last public performance at the [[Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich|Bayrischer Hof]] in [[Munich]].<ref>http://m.fnp.de/nachrichten/politik/tagesthema/Heesters-letzter-Auftritt-Einmaliges-Erlebnis-fuer-alle;art742,442251 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> Four weeks later, on 29 November 2011, he developed a fever, and was rushed into the hospital.<ref>[http://www.morgenpost.de/vermischtes/stars-und-promis/article1840766/Johannes-Heesters-muss-Zwangspause-einlegen.html "Johannes Heesters muss Zwangspause einlegen"], ''[[Berliner Morgenpost]]'', 30 November 2011</ref> He was fitted with a heart pacemaker and following a good recovery was allowed to go home less than a week later on 4th December 2011 just in time to spend his 108th birthday the next day with family. He did not feel strong enough to make the planned stage appearance to sing in celebration of his birthday and also had missed the premiere of his last film, ''Ten''. Due to a relapse in his condition, on 17 December he was readmitted to the hospital where he subsequently suffered a stroke,<ref>[http://open.salon.com/blog/lost_in_berlin/2011/12/24/a_legend_leaves_the_stage_johannes_heesters_1903-2011 A legend leaves the stage: Johannes Heesters, 1903–2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423230607/http://open.salon.com/blog/lost_in_berlin/2011/12/24/a_legend_leaves_the_stage_johannes_heesters_1903-2011 |date=23 April 2013 }}</ref> dying on Christmas Eve in 2011.<ref>[http://www.morgenpost.de/newsticker/dpa_nt/infoline_nt/thema_nt/article1864714/Johannes-Heesters-ist-tot.html "Johannes Heesters ist Tot"], ''[[Berliner Morgenpost]]'', 24 December 2011.{{in lang|de}}</ref><ref>Gayathri, Amrutha (26 December 2011). [http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/272650/20111226/hitler-s-favorite-actor-dead-108.htm "Hitler's Favorite Actor Dead at 108"]. ''International Business Times''; accessed 27 January 2016.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Johannes Heesters|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/film-obituaries/9082745/Johannes-Heesters.html|date=14 February 2012|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London, UK|access-date=21 February 2012}}</ref> He was survived by two daughters, five grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.<ref>[https://www.ibtimes.com/hitlers-favorite-actor-dead-108-387454 Heesters survivors]</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
[[File:Johannes Heesters.jpg|thumbnail|Johannes Heesters in 2006]]
[[File:Johannes Heesters.jpg|thumbnail|Heesters in 2006]]
'''Albums'''
'''Albums'''
*1965: ''{{lang|de|Jetzt geh' ich ins Maxim}}''
*1965: ''{{lang|de|Jetzt geh' ich ins Maxim}}''
Line 91: Line 86:
*1949: "{{lang|de|Tausendmal möchte' ich dich küssen|italic=no}}"
*1949: "{{lang|de|Tausendmal möchte' ich dich küssen|italic=no}}"
*1998: "{{lang|de|Ich werde 100 Jahre alt|italic=no}}"
*1998: "{{lang|de|Ich werde 100 Jahre alt|italic=no}}"
*2007: "{{lang|de|Generationen|italic=no}}" (featuring {{ill|Claus Eisenmann|de}})
*2007: "{{lang|de|Generationen|italic=no}}" (featuring Claus Eisenmann)


==Honours, decorations, awards==
==Honours, decorations, awards==
Line 103: Line 98:


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
[[File:Herr Heesters.png|thumb|Johannes Heesters as [[Franz Joseph I of Austria]] (2008)]]
[[File:Herr Heesters.png|thumb|Heesters as [[Franz Joseph I of Austria]] (2008)]]
{{Div col}}
{{Div col}}
*1924: ''[[Cirque hollandais]]''
* ''[[Cirque hollandais]]'' (1924)
*1934: ''[[Bleeke Bet (1934 film)|Bleeke Bet]]'' - Ko Monje
* ''[[Bleeke Bet (1934 film)|Bleeke Bet]]'' (1934) as Ko Monje
*1935: ''[[De Vier Mullers]]'' - Otto Muller, hun zoon
* ''[[De Vier Mullers]]'' (1935) as Otto Muller, hun zoon
* ''[[Everything for the Company (1935 film)|Everything for the Company]]'' (1935)
*1935: ''Alles für die Firma''
*1936: ''[[The Emperor's Candlesticks (1936 film)|The Emperor's Candlesticks]]'' - Grossfürst Peter Alexandrowitsch
* ''[[The Emperor's Candlesticks (1936 film)|The Emperor's Candlesticks]]'' (1936) as Grossfürst Peter Alexandrowitsch
*1936: ''[[The Beggar Student (1936 film)|The Beggar Student]]'' - Simon Rymanowics
* ''[[The Beggar Student (1936 film)|The Beggar Student]]'' (1936) as Simon Rymanowics
*1936: ''[[The Court Concert]]'' - Lt. Walter van Arnegg
* ''[[The Court Concert]]'' (1936) as Lt. Walter van Arnegg
*1936: ''Die Weltmeisterin''
* ''Die Weltmeisterin'' (1936)
*1937: ''[[When Women Keep Silent]]'' - Curt van Doeren
*''[[When Women Keep Silent]]'' (1937) as Curt van Doeren
*1937: ''[[Gasparone (film)|Gasparone]]'' - Erminio Bondo
* ''[[Gasparone (film)|Gasparone]]'' (1937) as Erminio Bondo
*1938: ''[[Nanon (1938 film)|Nanon]]'' - Marquis Charles d'Aubigne
* ''[[Nanon (1938 film)|Nanon]]'' (1938) as Marquis Charles d'Aubigne
*1938: ''Immer wenn ich glücklich bin''
* ''Immer wenn ich glücklich bin'' (1938)
*1939: ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Das Abenteuer geht weiter|de}}'' - Heinz van Zeelen
* ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Das Abenteuer geht weiter|de}}'' (1939) as Heinz van Zeelen
*1939: ''[[Hello Janine!]]'' - Count Rene
* ''[[Hello Janine!]]'' (1939) as Count Rene
*1939: ''[[My Aunt, Your Aunt (1939 film)|My Aunt, Your Aunt]]'' - Peter Larisch
* ''[[My Aunt, Your Aunt (1939 film)|My Aunt, Your Aunt]]'' (1939) as Peter Larisch
*1940: ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Liebesschule|de}}'' - Enrico Villanova, Tenor
* ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Liebesschule|de}}'' (1940) as Enrico Villanova, Tenor
*1940: ''Die lustigen Vagabunden'' - Werner Schratt, Schauspieler
* ''Die lustigen Vagabunden'' (1940) as Werner Schratt, Schauspieler
*1940: ''[[Roses in Tyrol]]'' - Graf Herbert von Waldendorf
* ''[[Roses in Tyrol]]'' (1940) as Graf Herbert von Waldendorf
*1941: ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Immer nur Du|de}}'' - Will Hollers
* ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Immer nur Du|de}}'' (1941) as Will Hollers
*1941: ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Jenny und der Herr im Frack|de}}'' - Peter Holm
* ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Jenny und der Herr im Frack|de}}'' (1941) as Peter Holm
*1941: ''{{Ill|Illusion (1941 film)|de|3=Illusion (1941)|lt=Illusion}}'' - Stefan von Holtenau
* ''{{Ill|Illusion (1941 film)|de|3=Illusion (1941)|lt=Illusion}}'' (1941) as Stefan von Holtenau
*1943: ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Karneval der Liebe|de}}'' - Tenor Peter Hansen
* ''[[Carnival of Love]]'' (1943) as Tenor Peter Hansen
*1943: ''[[Melody of a Great City]]'' - Spielt sich selbst in einer Revue (cameo)
* ''[[Melody of a Great City]]'' (1943) as Spielt sich selbst in einer Revue (cameo)
*1944: ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Es lebe die Liebe|de}}'' - Manfred
* ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Es lebe die Liebe|de}}'' (1944) as Manfred
*1944: ''Glück bei Frauen'' - Stefan Hell
* ''Glück bei Frauen'' (1944) as Stefan Hell
*1944: ''Es fing so harmlos an'' - Clemens Verné
* ''Es fing so harmlos an'' (1944) as Clemens Verné
*1944: ''Axel an der Himmelstür'' - Axel
* ''Axel an der Himmelstür'' (1944) as Axel
*1946: ''[[Die Fledermaus (1946 film)|Die Fledermaus]]'' - Herbert Eisenstein
* ''[[Die Fledermaus (1946 film)|Die Fledermaus]]'' (1946) as Herbert Eisenstein
*1946: ''[[Renee XIV]]'' - (unfinished film)
* ''[[Renee XIV]]'' (1946, unfinished film)
*1947: ''Wiener Melodien'' - Ferry van der Heuvels
* ''Wiener Melodien'' (1947) as Ferry van der Heuvels
*1948: ''[[Insolent and in Love]]'' - Dr. Peter Schild, Ingenieur
* ''[[Insolent and in Love]]'' (1948) as Dr. Peter Schild, Ingenieur
*1949: ''[[Dear Friend (film)|Dear Friend]]'' - Adrian van der Steer
* ''[[Dear Friend (1949 film)|Dear Friend]]'' (1949) as Adrian van der Steer
*1950: ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Wenn eine Frau liebt|de}}'' - Martin Pratt
* ''[[When a Woman Loves (film)|When a Woman Loves]]'' (1950) as Martin Pratt
*1950: ''[[Wedding Night In Paradise (1950 film)|Wedding Night In Paradise]]'' - Pieter van Goos
* ''[[Wedding Night In Paradise (1950 film)|Wedding Night In Paradise]]'' (1950) as Pieter van Goos
*1951: ''[[Professor Nachtfalter]]'' - Professor Dr. Joachim Wendler
* ''[[Professor Nachtfalter]]'' (1951) as Professor Dr. Joachim Wendler
*1951: ''Tanz ins Glück'' - Pedro Domingo
* ''[[Dance Into Happiness (1951 film)|Dance Into Happiness]]'' (1951) as Pedro Domingo
*1951: ''[[The Csardas Princess (1951 film)|The Csardas Princess]]'' - Edwin von Weylersheim
* ''[[The Csardas Princess (1951 film)|The Csardas Princess]]'' (1951) as Edwin von Weylersheim
*1952: ''[[The White Horse Inn (1952 film)|The White Horse Inn]]'' - Dr. Siedler
* ''[[The White Horse Inn (1952 film)|The White Horse Inn]]'' (1952) as Dr. Siedler
*1953: ''[[The Moon Is Blue]]'' - Tourist (uncredited)
* ''[[The Moon Is Blue (film)|The Moon Is Blue]]'' (1953) as Tourist (uncredited)
*1953: ''[[Die Jungfrau auf dem Dach]]'' - David Slader
* ''[[Die Jungfrau auf dem Dach]]'' (1953) as David Slader
*1953: ''[[A Musical War of Love]]'' - Ralph Beyron
* ''[[A Musical War of Love]]'' (1953) as Ralph Beyron
*1953: ''[[The Divorcée]]'' - Karel
* ''[[The Divorcée]]'' (1953) as Karel
*1953: ''[[Hit Parade (1953 film)|Hit Parade]]'' - Singer
* ''[[Hit Parade (1953 film)|Hit Parade]]'' (1953) as Singer
*1953: ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Hab’ ich nur Deine Liebe|de}}'' - Franz von Suppé
* ''[[If I Only Have Your Love]]'' (1953) as Franz von Suppé
*1955: ''[[Hello, My Name is Cox]]'' - Paul Cox
* ''[[Hello, My Name is Cox]]'' (1955) as Paul Cox
*1955: ''[[The Star of Rio (1955 film)|The Star of Rio]]'' - Don Felipe
*''[[The Star of Rio (1955 film)|The Star of Rio]]'' (1955) as Don Felipe
*1955: ''[[Bel Ami (1955 film)|Bel Ami]]'' - Georges Duroy genannt Bel Ami
* ''[[Bel Ami (1955 film)|Bel Ami]]'' (1955) as Georges Duroy genannt Bel Ami
*1956: ''Ein Herz und eine Seele / …und wer küßt mich'' - Johannes Heesters
* ''[[And Who Is Kissing Me? (1956 film)|And Who Is Kissing Me?]]'' (1956) as Johannes Heesters
*1956: ''[[Opera Ball (1956 film)|Opera Ball]]'' - Georg Dannhauser
* ''[[Opera Ball (1956 film)|Opera Ball]]'' (1956) as Georg Dannhauser
*1956: ''[[My Husband's Getting Married Today]]'' - Robert Petersen
* ''[[My Husband's Getting Married Today]]'' (1956) as Robert Petersen
*1957: ''[[Victor and Victoria (1957 film)|Victor and Victoria]]'' - Jean Perrot
* ''[[Victor and Victoria (1957 film)|Victor and Victoria]]'' (1957) as Jean Perrot
*1957: ''Von allen geliebt'' - Rudolf Avenarius
* ''Von allen geliebt'' (1957) as Rudolf Avenarius
*1958: ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Bühne frei für Marika|de}}'' - Michael Norman
*''{{Interlanguage link multi|Bühne frei für Marika|de}}'' (1958) as Michael Norman
*1958: ''{{Ill|Frau im besten Mannesalter|de}}'' - Bernhard Hauff
* ''{{Ill|Frau im besten Mannesalter|de}}'' (1958) as Bernhard Hauff
*1958: ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Besuch aus heiterem Himmel|de}}'' - John Underhower
* ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Besuch aus heiterem Himmel|de}}'' (1958) as John Underhower
*1959: ''[[Die unvollkommene Ehe]]'' - Professor Paul Lert
* ''[[Die unvollkommene Ehe]]'' (1959) as Professor Paul Lert
*1961: ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Junge Leute brauchen Liebe|de}}'' - Charles Fürst
* ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Junge Leute brauchen Liebe|de}}'' (1961) as Charles Fürst
*1985: ''[[Otto – Der Film]]'' - Clochard
* ''[[Otto – Der Film]]'' (1985) as Clochard
*1994: ''Silent Love'' (Short) - Geigensolist
* ''Silent Love'' (1994, Short) as Geigensolist
*2008: ''[[1½ Knights – In Search of the Ravishing Princess Herzelinde]]'' - Wissenschaftler
* ''[[1½ Knights – In Search of the Ravishing Princess Herzelinde]]'' (2008) as Wissenschaftler
*2011: ''Ten'' (short) - Mr. Peterson (final film role)
* ''Ten'' (2011, short) as Mr. Peterson (final film role)
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}

===Television===
===Television===
*1956: ''Meine Schwester und ich'' (TV film) - Dr. Roger Fleuriot
*1956: ''Meine Schwester und ich'' (TV film) - Dr. Roger Fleuriot
Line 187: Line 183:


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0373535|name=Johannes Heesters}}
*{{IMDb name|0373535}}
*[http://film.virtual-history.com/person.php?personid=1202 Postcards and tobacco cards]
*[http://film.virtual-history.com/person.php?personid=1202 Postcards and tobacco cards]


Line 199: Line 195:
[[Category:1903 births]]
[[Category:1903 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:Dutch collaborators with Nazi Germany]]

[[Category:Dutch centenarians]]
[[Category:Dutch men centenarians]]
[[Category:Dutch male film actors]]
[[Category:Dutch male film actors]]
[[Category:Dutch-language singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch male singers]]
[[Category:Dutch expatriates in Germany]]
[[Category:Dutch expatriates in Germany]]
[[Category:Dutch male musical theatre actors]]
[[Category:Dutch male musical theatre actors]]
Line 209: Line 205:
[[Category:Dutch male television actors]]
[[Category:Dutch male television actors]]
[[Category:Dutch tenors]]
[[Category:Dutch tenors]]
[[Category:German-language singers]]
[[Category:German-language singers of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:People from Amersfoort]]
[[Category:People from Amersfoort]]
[[Category:People of Nazi Germany]]
[[Category:People from Nazi Germany]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bavarian Order of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit of Berlin]]
[[Category:Controversies in Germany]]
[[Category:Controversies in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Controversies in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Theatre controversies]]

Latest revision as of 03:31, 24 November 2024

Johannes Heesters
Heesters in 1964
Born(1903-12-05)5 December 1903
Amersfoort, Netherlands
Died24 December 2011(2011-12-24) (aged 108)
Starnberg, Germany
Resting placeNordfriedhof, Munich, Germany
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active1921–2011
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1930; died 1985)​
​
(m. 1992)​
Children
Websitewww.johannes-heesters.de

Johan Marius Nicolaas Heesters (5 December 1903 – 24 December 2011), known professionally as Johannes Heesters, was a Dutch actor of stage, television and film, as well as a vocalist of numerous recordings and performer on the concert stage with a career dating back to the 1920s. He worked as an actor until his death and is one of the oldest performing entertainers in history, performing shortly before his death at the age of 108. Heesters was almost exclusively active in the German-speaking world from the mid-1930s and became a film star in Nazi Germany, which later led to controversy in his native country.[1] He was able to maintain his popularity in Germany in the decades until his death.

Early life

[edit]
Record of Heesters' birth
Heesters in 1919

Heesters was born in Amersfoort, Netherlands, the youngest of four sons. His father Jacobus Heesters (1865–1946) was a salesman and his mother Geertruida Jacoba van den Heuvel (1866–1951), a homemaker.

Heesters was fluent in German from an early age, having lived for several years in the household of a German great uncle from Bavaria.[2] Heesters decided to become an actor and a singer at the age of 16 and began vocal training. He specialized in Viennese operetta very early in his career, and made his Viennese stage debut in 1934 in Carl Millöcker's Der Bettelstudent (The Beggar Student).

Nazi Germany

[edit]

Aged 31, Heesters permanently moved to Germany with his wife and daughters in 1935. His signature role was Count Danilo Danilovich in Franz Lehár's Die Lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow). His version of Count Danilo's entrance song, "Da geh' ich ins Maxim", was well known. During his time in Germany, he performed for Adolf Hitler and visited the Dachau concentration camp, which made him a controversial figure for many Dutch.[3] Joseph Goebbels placed Heesters on the Gottbegnadeten list as an artist considered crucial to Nazi culture; he was the only non-German included.[4]

Heesters funded the German war machine by donating money to the weapons industry.[5] This helped to make him a very controversial figure in the late 1970s. Heesters always denied these accusations despite reliable evidence.[6]

He befriended several high-ranking Nazi-officials and SS-officers.[7] Hitler is known to have been an avid admirer of his acting skills.[8][9]

At the same time, Heesters was idolized by the Swingboy subculture, who admired his pale face and combed long black hair and tried to copy his attire. His style contrasted that promoted by the Hitlerjugend.[10]

Heesters met Hitler several times,[11] especially in the role of Count Danilo.[12] Throughout the war, Heesters continued to perform for German soldiers in camps and barracks. According to German author Volker Kühn, Heesters performed for the SS at the Dachau concentration camp. Kühn cites as evidence the testimony of a Dachau inmate, Viktor Matejka, who worked for the SS and told Kühn he pulled the curtain when Heesters performed in 1941.[13][14] According to German writer Jürgen Trimborn however, the interview with Matejka may not be reliable as it occurred some 50 years after the performance was said to have taken place.[15]

In December 2009, Heesters lost his libel suit against Kühn.[16] While acknowledging having visited the camp, he denied having performed as entertainment for the SS troops. In its ruling, the German court did not find whether Kühn's allegations were true, but rather that too much time had passed for an accurate determination of fact to be made.[17]

After the war

[edit]
Heesters with his future wife, Louisa Ghijs, in 1928

Heesters worked extensively for UFA until almost the end of the Second World War (his last wartime movie being Die Fledermaus, produced in 1945) and easily made the transition from the Nazi-controlled cultural scene to post-war Germany and Austria, appearing again in a number of films. These included Die Jungfrau auf dem Dach and the 1957 version of Viktor und Viktoria. He stopped making movies around 1960 to concentrate on stage and television appearances and on producing records.

In later years, Heesters spoke fondly of Hitler as a person, but condemned his political stance.[18] In the 1990s, he and his wife toured Germany and Austria with Curth Flatow's play Ein gesegnetes Alter (A Blessed Age), which was also televised in 1996. On 5 December 2003, he celebrated his 100th birthday with a television special Eine Legende wird 100 (A legend turns 100) on the ARD television channel. He received the title "Kammersänger". In December 2004, at the age of 101, Heesters appeared in Stuttgart at the Komödie im Marquardt theatre in a show commissioned on the occasion of his 100th birthday, Heesters – eine musikalische Hommage. In 2005, at the age of 102, he was featured as a soloist in a major concert tour with the Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg under the direction of Scott Lawton. On 5 December 2006, Heesters celebrated his 103rd birthday with a concert at the Wiener Konzerthaus. On 5 December 2007, he celebrated his 104th birthday with a concert at the Admiralspalast, Berlin. Then in February 2008, he performed in his home country for the first time in four decades amidst protests against his Nazi associations.[citation needed]

On 13 December 2008, at the age of 105, Heesters apologised for calling Adolf Hitler a "good chap" on the popular German TV show Wetten, dass..?. He stated that he had said something stupid and horrible and asked for forgiveness.[19] German media suggested that he had failed to understand the show's satirical nature.[20]

Heesters played smaller roles in his last years, as he began to lose his eyesight due to macular degeneration and could not perform on stage for long periods of times. Unable to read a teleprompter, he had to memorize his lines before a show. He played in the 2011 short film Ten as Simon Petrus and made his last stage appearance on 31 October 2011 in Munich.[21]

Personal life

[edit]
Heesters' second wife Simone Rethel

"My secret to a long, healthy life is love and passion; age differences do not matter."

— Johannes Heesters, December 2010[22]

Heesters had two daughters by his first wife Louisa Ghijs, whom he married in 1930. After her death in 1985, he remarried in 1992. His second wife, Simone Rethel (born 1949), is a German actress, painter, and photographer. His younger daughter Nicole Heesters is a well-known actress in the German-speaking world, as is his granddaughter Saskia Fischer.

On 1 January 2008, he fell down some stairs in his holiday home in Tyrol and broke two ribs.[23]

In December 2010, 107-year-old Heesters announced that he had quit smoking for his then 61-year-old wife: "She should have me as long as possible."[24]

On 31 October 2011, Heesters gave his last public performance at the Bayrischer Hof in Munich.[25] Four weeks later, on 29 November 2011, he developed a fever, and was rushed into the hospital.[26] He was fitted with a heart pacemaker and following a good recovery was allowed to go home less than a week later on 4th December 2011 just in time to spend his 108th birthday the next day with family. He did not feel strong enough to make the planned stage appearance to sing in celebration of his birthday and also had missed the premiere of his last film, Ten. Due to a relapse in his condition, on 17 December he was readmitted to the hospital where he subsequently suffered a stroke,[27] dying on Christmas Eve in 2011.[28][29][30] He was survived by two daughters, five grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.[31]

Discography

[edit]
Heesters in 2006

Albums

Singles

  • 1937: "Ich werde jede Nacht von ihnen träumen"
  • 1939: "Musik, Musik, Musik" (featuring Marika Rökk)
  • 1941: "Liebling, was wird nun aus uns beiden"
  • 1941: "Man müßte Klavier spielen können"
  • 1949: "Das kommt mir spanisch vor"
  • 1949: "Tausendmal möchte' ich dich küssen"
  • 1998: "Ich werde 100 Jahre alt"
  • 2007: "Generationen" (featuring Claus Eisenmann)

Honours, decorations, awards

[edit]

Filmography

[edit]
Heesters as Franz Joseph I of Austria (2008)

Television

[edit]
  • 1956: Meine Schwester und ich (TV film) - Dr. Roger Fleuriot
  • 1960: Am grünen Strand der Spree (TV miniseries) - Graf Chiaroscuro
  • 1968: Unsere liebste Freundin (TV film) - Christian Bach-Nielsen
  • 1973: Paganini [de] (TV film) - Prince Felice Baciocchi
  • 1973: Hallo – Hotel Sacher … Portier!: Opernball (TV series episode) - Marinus de Ryder
  • 1974: Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies (TV film) - Dr. Hansen
  • 1980: Liebe bleibt nicht ohne Schmerzen (TV film) - Narrator
  • 1982: Sonny Boys (TV film) - Al Lewis
  • 1984: Beautiful Wilhelmine (TV miniseries) - Marschall Keith
  • 1991: Altes Herz wird nochmal jung (TV film)
  • 1991-1993: Zwei Münchner in Hamburg (TV series, 33 episodes) - Konsul Thaddäus van Daalen
  • 1995: Zwei alte Hasen: Grandhotel (TV series episode) - Jan van Houten
  • 1996: Ein gesegnetes Alter (TV film)
  • 1999: Theater: Momo (TV film) - Meister Hora
  • 2001: Otto – Mein Ostfriesland und mehr
  • 2003: In aller Freundschaft: Zurück ins Leben (TV series episode) - Prof. Dr. Junghans
  • 2008: Wege zum Glück (TV series episode) - Arbeitgeber Johannes Heesters

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 'Heesters was Methusalem van Nederlandse podiumkunsten' (in Dutch)
  2. ^ Peter Czada/Günter Große: Comedian Harmonists. Ein Vokalensemble erobert die Welt, p. 15, Edition Hentrich, Berlin 1993; ISBN 978-3-89468-082-4
  3. ^ "Nazi-era singer returns to stage". BBC News. 17 February 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  4. ^ "Goebbels' Gottbegnadeter" by Alfred Wagner, Jüdische Allgemeine, 11 December 2008. (in German)
  5. ^ Ross, Beatrix (2003). Johannes Heesters, Beatrix Ross: Johannes Heesters. Auch hundert Jahre sind zu kurz. Germany: Langen/Müller. p. 234. ISBN 3-7844-2934-3.
  6. ^ Trimborn, Jürgen [in German] (2005). Der Herr im Frack – Johannes Heesters. Germany: Aufbau-Taschenbuchverlag. p. 326. ISBN 3-7466-2153-4.
  7. ^ Jürgen Trimborn Der Herr im Frack, Johannes Heesters: Biographie, p.?
  8. ^ "De favoriet van Hitler", Metro (Netherlands), quoted at Koelman.com (14 February 2008) (in Dutch)]
  9. ^ Hanna Inber Win, "Johannes Heesters: Singer Known As Hitler's Favorite Has Libel Case Thrown Out", The Huffington Post, 21 December 2008
  10. ^ »Neger, Neger, Schornsteinfeger!«: Meine Kindheit in Deutschland, page 155, Hans J. Massaquoi, S. Fischer Verlag, ISBN 3104002991.
  11. ^ Thissen, Torsten (30 November 2008). "Nie sexy, immer galant". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  12. ^ "Johannes Heesters – Auf den Spuren eines Phänomens" (in German). Akademie der Künste. 22 October 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  13. ^ "Der Sänger will nur geredet haben", Süddeutsche Zeitung (27 November 2008) (in German)
  14. ^ "Schlagabtausch um Heesters' KZ-Auftritt" Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, 27 November 2008. (in German)
  15. ^ "Experte sieht keine Beweise für Heesters-Auftritt im KZ Dachau" Neue Musikzeitung, 24 October 2008. (in German)
  16. ^ "Nazi-era singer loses libel suit". BBC News. 16 December 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  17. ^ Case citation: Kammergericht Berlin 10 U 6/09
  18. ^ "Historiker darf weiter von Heesters' SS-Auftritt sprechen", Der Spiegel (16 December 2008) (in German)
  19. ^ Silke Burmester, "Mr. Sexy meets Ministerin", Der Spiegel, 14 December 2008. (in German)]
  20. ^ Thomas Burmeister, "Hitler war ein guter Kerl", Stern, 4 December 2008. (in German)
  21. ^ Heesters last appearance was a unique experience for all, abendblatt.de; accessed 27 January 2016.
  22. ^ "Johannes Heesters (106): Seine zehn Geheimnisse für ein langes Leben" by Frank Gerdes, Das Neue Blatt, quoted at Wunderweib.de; accessed 27 January 2016. (in German)
  23. ^ "Johannes Heesters geht es besser", Der Spiegel, 2 January 2008.
  24. ^ Eric Kelsey, "Actor Johannes Heesters Quits Smoking – at age 107", Reuters, 3 December 2010.
  25. ^ http://m.fnp.de/nachrichten/politik/tagesthema/Heesters-letzter-Auftritt-Einmaliges-Erlebnis-fuer-alle;art742,442251 [dead link‍]
  26. ^ "Johannes Heesters muss Zwangspause einlegen", Berliner Morgenpost, 30 November 2011
  27. ^ A legend leaves the stage: Johannes Heesters, 1903–2011 Archived 23 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ "Johannes Heesters ist Tot", Berliner Morgenpost, 24 December 2011.(in German)
  29. ^ Gayathri, Amrutha (26 December 2011). "Hitler's Favorite Actor Dead at 108". International Business Times; accessed 27 January 2016.
  30. ^ "Johannes Heesters". The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  31. ^ Heesters survivors
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