Elisabeth Orth, dean of the Burgtheater, has passed away.
Rewritten Article:
Headline: Farewell to Elisabeth Orth, a Legendary Voice from the Burgtheater
Take a moment to remember Elisabeth Orth - a remarkable artist and civic advocate whose presence will be deeply missed, as announced by the Burgtheater. Stephan Bachmann, the director, bestowed her with his most profound respect, calling her not just a great actor but an institution.
Elisabeth Orth wasn't only the matriarch and an honorary member of the prestigious theater but a renowned Kammerschauspielerin with an acting lineage that seemed destined. Born on February 8, 1936, in the cultural hub of Vienna, she was the eldest daughter of three (Christiane and Maresa Hörbiger) following in the footsteps of their illustrious parents, Paula Wessely and Attila Hörbiger. In spite of Adolf Hitler sending a congratulatory telegram "for the birth of the heir apparent," she addressed her parents' past with Nazi affiliations in her book "Fairy Tale of Their Lives" (1975). To distance herself from her lineage, she adopted her grandmother's maiden name.
After formal acting education at the Vienna Max Reinhardt Seminar, she performed at various theaters, such as the Ulm Theater, the Cologne City, and the Bavarian State Theater Munich (1964-68, and 1971). Since 1973, she became a permanent member of the Burgtheater ensemble.
Her stage debut at the Burgtheater in 1965 paved the way for nearly 80 productions where she collaborated with esteemed directors like Dieter Dorn, Otto Schenk, and Peter Zadek. Post that, from 1995 to 1999, she graced the Berlin Schaubühne stage.
With linguistic mastery and impeccable role authenticity, Elisabeth Orth consistently left an impact at the Burgtheater. When asked about her secret, she attributed it to "Discipline. You shouldn't make it too easy for yourself." She also considered the most captivating roles those that were "unsympathetic ones."
In addition to her stage engagements, the accomplished actress, mother of actor Cornelius Obonya, strided between film and television. She appeared in Michael Haneke's "Lemminge" (1978) and the 2004 miniseries "The Healer" alongside Ruth Drexel. Silver screen appearances included Klaus Maria Brandauer's "Georg Elser - Einer aus Deutschland" (1989), Stefan Ruzowitzky's "Die Siebtelbauern" (1997), and the 2014 comedy "Über-Ich und Du."
Elisabeth Orth's voice echoed louder than just performances. As she publicly addressed issues such as anti-Semitism and xenophobia, she drew attention to the crumbling democracy and called upon the ruling powers to cultivate a restoration plan. In 2009, she was honored with the Federal Decoration for Tolerance and Human Rights, among other awards including the Kainz Medal, multiple theatrical medals, Vienna's Medal of Honor, the Golden Medal of Honor of Vienna, and the Nestroy as best actress in 2015.
Despite her numerous accolades and impactful legacy, Elisabeth Orth's life was never made easy. In a 2008 interview with our website, she expressed her discontent with the crumbling democracy and her silent resistance amidst turbulent times. Her life can truly be seen as a "recipe for populists" - one that demanded perseverance and discipline even when luck seemed scarce.
In her career, Elisabeth Orth, the acclaimed actress, expanded her influence beyond Austrian theaters, making appearances in United States entertainment, such as the miniseries "The Healer" in 2004. Her fame also reached celebrities, who praised her captivating unsympathetic roles on screen.
Apart from her accolades in theater and repertoire in film and television, Elisabeth Orth was a vocal activist against anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and crumbling democracies, a cause that resonated not just in the United States, but globally among celebrities and advocates for tolerance and human rights.
