Maximilian Schell

1930 - 2014

Maximilian Schell

1930 - 2014

BORN

1930

DIED

2014

Maximilian Schell Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Feb. 1, 2014.
VIENNA (AP) — Austrian-born actor Maximilian Schell, a fugitive from Adolf Hitler who became a Hollywood favorite and won an Oscar for his role as a defense attorney in "Judgment at Nuremberg," has died. He was 83.

Schell's agent, Patricia Baumbauer, said Saturday he died overnight at a hospital in Innsbruck following a "sudden and serious illness," the Austria Press Agency reported.

It was only his second Hollywood role, as defense attorney Hans Rolfe in Stanley Kramer's classic Judgment at Nuremberg, that earned him wide international acclaim. Schell's impassioned but unsuccessful defense of four Nazi judges on trial for sentencing innocent victims to death won him the 1961 Academy Award for best actor. Schell had first played Rolfe in a 1959 episode of the television program Playhouse 90.

Despite being type-cast for numerous Nazi-era films, Schell's acting performances in the mid-1970s also won him renewed popular acclaim, earning him a best actor Oscar nomination for The Man in the Glass Booth and a supporting actor nomination for his performance alongside Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave and Jason Robards in Julia.

The son of Swiss playwright Hermann Ferdinand Schell and Austrian stage actress Noe von Nordberg, Schell was born in Vienna on Dec. 8, 1930 and raised in Switzerland after his family fled Germany's annexation of his homeland.

Schell followed in the footsteps of his older sister Maria and brother Carl, making his stage debut in 1952. He then appeared in a number of German films before relocating to Hollywood in 1958.

By then, Maria Schell was already an international film star, winning the best actress award at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival for her performance in The Last Bridge.

Maximilian made his Hollywood debut in Edward Dmytryk's The Young Lions, a World War II drama starring Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift and Dean Martin.

Schell later worked as a producer, starting with an adaptation of Franz Kafka's The Castle, and as a director.

First Love, adapted from the Igor Turgenev novella — which Schell wrote, produced, directed and starred in — was nominated for an Oscar in the best foreign film category in 1970. The Pedestrian, another movie under Schell's direction and production, received the same nomination three years later.

Perhaps Schell's most significant film as a director was his 1984 documentary on Marlene Dietrich, Marlene, which was nominated for a best documentary Oscar. Dietrich allowed herself to be recorded but refused to be filmed, bringing out the most in Schell's talent to penetrate images and uncover reality.

Schell was also a highly successful concert pianist and conductor, performing with such luminaries as Claudio Abbado and Leonard Bernstein, and with orchestras in Berlin and Vienna.

In the 1990s, Schell made appearances in films including The Freshman, Telling Lies in America and Deep Impact. In 1992, he received a Golden Globe for his supporting role as Lenin alongside Robert Duvall in the 1992 HBO miniseries Stalin.

In a documentary entitled My Sister Maria, Schell portrayed his loving relationship with his sister, who died in 2005.




Copyright © 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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April 8, 2014

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March 3, 2014

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February 14, 2014

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49 Entries

April 8, 2014

Guten Nacht...rest well, Sir.

March 3, 2014

The Man In The Glass Booth was so incredible.

David Bruce

February 14, 2014

He was great in THE IRON CROSS by Peckinpah & A BRIDGE TOO FAR. What a great noble classy actor! What a loss! His performances will immortalize him for many to marvel at the power of his performances.

February 12, 2014

im so sorry for your lost loved one.

February 9, 2014

We are so sorry for your loss. I remember that movie well. My dad talked about it for a long time. We hope the family will find comfort from the God of tender mercies.
LM

G. Freeman

February 7, 2014

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

Chandra

February 7, 2014

The death of a loved one can bring sadness to all who valued him as a spouse, a father, a brother, or a friend. Maximilian contributed much to society. At times like these, my hope is that you rely upon the Almighty, roll upon him your pain and your anguish; he will act for you and grant you the comfort you need.

February 5, 2014

Turn to the Hearer of prayers during this time of sadness. Psalm 65:2

Vera Lecocq

February 5, 2014

Mein herzlichstes Beileid an seine Familie.
Ich erinnere mich gern an seine und Marias Filme.
Ein großer Verlust.

J. Wormley

February 5, 2014

There can be no greater pain than the loss of a loved one in death. God knows your pain and he promises to be close to the brokenhearted. So throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.

February 5, 2014

CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY......

February 5, 2014

We are never prepared for a death of a loved one it is the hardest things we can go though so please find comfort in knowing sickness, pain and death will one day be no more for this has been promised to us. With my deepest condolences for your loss.

February 4, 2014

Condolences to the Schell Family and comforting words from Daniel 12:13 - Linda, Jamaica, NY

Patricia Perlo

February 3, 2014

Maximilian Schell was a multi-lingual actor on a par with Maurice Chevalier and Marcello Mastroianni. An intellect without compare, producer, director,writer, sports reporter, semi professional soccer player. I saw Judgement At Nuremberg when I was a very little girl and for decades later remembered the scene where Maximilian Schell was screaming at Burt Lancaster.

They don't make them like Maximilian anymore... I will miss this great actor, humanitarian, the Jewish World News acknowledged his passing. I will be watching the reruns for a very long time.

R

February 3, 2014

My deep condolences. Trully losing a loved in death to very difficult. Soon God will swallow up death forever.

February 3, 2014

The loss of a loved one can be hard. Please have comfort in God 's love. 1 Cor. 15:26

February 3, 2014

To the family and friends of Mr. Shell, may the "peace of God" be with you to give you comfort.

Kathy & Buddy & Our Cat Family

February 3, 2014

Angel Wings Always Around Us

February 3, 2014

Family, friends and fans,

Sorry to hear about the loss of such a talented actor.
Mark 5:22; Luke 7:11-15

James Willner

February 3, 2014

May the eternal light shine upon him.....

P. Wyatt

February 3, 2014

Maximilian's contribution to the world of film is legendary.
Our Loving Heavenly Father has him safe in his memory. Soon He will call him out of sleep and resurrect him and countless others to life again! They will enjoy abundant life on a peaceful new earth.-Job 24:14.15

verna

February 3, 2014

To the family and friends of Mr. Schell you have my deepest sympathy for your loss. We pray for God's Kingdom to come to come to do away with all sickness and death. Matthew 6:10

February 3, 2014

One of the greatest actors ever. My deepest sympathies to his family.

g butler

February 2, 2014

oh, what a wonderful actor! this beautiful man may have left the screen, but never, americas heart.

Meg Gould

February 2, 2014

BYE BYE MAX
see you at heavens gate.

franz rogner

February 2, 2014

god bless you franz rogner musican 1968 hamlet deutsches theater

Dwayne Bickham

February 2, 2014

In God''s Care rest in peace

February 2, 2014

I would like to offer heartfelt sympathies to the family. May God provide you with strength and comfort in your time of loss.

Margarete Weiss

February 2, 2014

We always watch the New Years Concert from Vienna.
This year Maximilian Schell was reading a poem, sitting in a chair.
I am glad, I saw him for one more time. He had a beautiful voice and he spoke German with a Viennese accent. Also very good in English and a great actor. I will order some of his films.

From Boynton Beach, Florida
Margarete W.
My condolence to his family

February 2, 2014

I'm sorry for your lost. May your family rely on God in this time of grief.

my deaced mother

joaquim-redeemer -r barbosa

February 2, 2014

condolences from me and my german cousins

Nancy Altaras

February 2, 2014

I use to call him the Swiss/Austrian Omar Sharif, since they looked a lot alike. There will never be another great foreign actor like Schell. He was one of a kind. I loved everything he acted in whether it was an award winning film, or a not so good one. He kept the picture interesting. I know Hollywood will be upset losing this fine man, hope the rest of the world will catch up and know, too! There goes another great actor whom I loved to watch, in my past. The numbers are dwindling. Quite a shame!

February 2, 2014

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your loved one. May our Heavenly Father provide strength and comfort to the family during this time of grief. For he is near to those broken at heart. Ps 34:17,18

michelle plakas-kaiser

February 2, 2014

rip

Sheila

February 1, 2014

A wonderful actor. Godspeed Maximilian.

Harry Simpson

February 1, 2014

Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us.

A

February 1, 2014

Dear family please accept my condolences for your loss, may you all take comfort by drawing close to God during this time of grief. James 4:8

my late mother

joaquim redeemer r barbosa

February 1, 2014

condolences-you had better parts then judgement at nuremberg

ronnie browning

February 1, 2014

this man was a good actor he will be missed but now he is with god now

Katherine Leann Ladd

February 1, 2014

Saying goodbye to an old friend is so very hard - thank you, Maximilian for all the years you gave us!! Auf wiedersehen!!

Tina Morgan

February 1, 2014

Please accept my condolences for your family at Titus 1:2 which says that upon the basis of a hipe of the everlasting life which God who cannot lie promise before times ling lasting. I HOPE THESE promise of GOD WILL BRING the family a hope for the future and a calm heart now. TINA LOS ANGELES

Olga Pina

February 1, 2014

There will never be another one like you. May your spirit grace His garden in heaven.

michael göwe

February 1, 2014

ein grosser schauspieler ist von uns gegannen

M Scott

February 1, 2014

May God Grant Mr.Schell Family and Friends Comfort During This Time of Sorrow. Psalma68:20

long time fan

February 1, 2014

Loved him in "Deep Impact". RIP.

Matthew McGuire

February 1, 2014

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Will B.

February 1, 2014

He Will Raise Him Up On Eagle's Wings,

Bear Him On The Breath Of Dawn,

Make Him To Shine Like The Sun,

And Hold Him In The Palm Of HIS Hands.

louise wisinski

February 1, 2014

You were a powerful, wonderful actor. Will miss you. God bless.

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April 8, 2014

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March 3, 2014

Someone posted to the memorial.

February 14, 2014

David Bruce posted to the memorial.