Austria mourns the loss of Otto Schenk: an artist's life full of humor and heart

Austria mourns the loss of Otto Schenk: an artist's life full of humor and heart

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - The ORF mourns the loss of a legend: Otto Schenk, who died on January 9, 2025 at the age of 94. A terrific artist who significantly shaped Austria's theater and film scene for over seven decades. As an actor, director and cabaret artist, he created unforgettable moments in the domestic cultural world. Due to its remarkable life's work, the programs of ORF 1, ORF 2, ORF III and Ö1 have made a special change today to commemorate this extraordinary talent, as reported [orf.at]

a life for art

born on June 12, 1930 in Vienna, Schenk was at home both in the comedy and in the theater of the absurd. He made his debut in the cabaret and achieved great popularity with his performances, including the legendary double conférencen with Helmut Lohner. He became particularly well known through his synchronization of the figure Carl Fredricksen in the Disney film "Oben", which was well received even when it was recently received. His career led him on important stages such as the Vienna State Opera and the Milan Scala, where he impressed as an opera director. As [ots.at] emphasizes, it was an indispensable size of the Austrian cultural scene and leaves a rich legacy.

Schenk knew how to combine humor with wisdom and thus touched the hearts of his audience. His role as a chamber actor and his work as a director in various institutions underlined his influence in the cultural sector. His partner, the actress Renee Michaelis, was also formative of his life and worked in numerous productions before she died in April 2022. Otto Schenk is one of the most popular actors in Austria, whose ability to make people laugh, remains unforgettable and whose memory continues in his many appearances.