Ever heard of an actor who went from stage comedies to Spaghetti Westerns? We are standing in Vienna to celebrate the life of Josef Egger. This is a tribute to the Austrian actor Josef Egger. He lived from 1889 to 1966.
Josef Egger started his career in theater. He began as a secretary at the Stadttheater Leoben in 1907. By 1908, he was the office manager. But he wanted more. Josef Egger took on smaller roles. He chose acting as his profession. He then performed in Linz. In 1915, he got a job at the Raimund Theater in Vienna.
In the 1920s, Josef Egger often played funny roles. These were mostly in operettas. Besides the Raimund Theater, he performed at other theaters in Vienna. In the early 1930s, he appeared at the Deutsches Theater in Munich. Around this time, he received his first offers for film roles.
Josef Egger often played small supporting roles with Hans Moser. For example, he was a bailiff in Schrammeln. He was also a civil servant in Liebe ist zollfrei. Another role was a postman in Der Herr Kanzleirat. Josef Egger was known for playing characters with a Czech accent. He had a few leading roles. He played Windischgruber in Der Hofrat Geiger. He also played Frosch in Die Fledermaus. These roles showed his originality. But the era of Hans Moser only had room for one eccentric character.
Late in his career, Josef Egger played two of his most famous roles. He was a gravedigger in the Italo-Western Für eine Handvoll Dollar in 1964. In 1965, he played a quirky old man in the sequel Für ein paar Dollar mehr. In total Josef Egger appeared in 76 films between 1935 and 1965.
Before his film career, Josef Egger was also a comedian. He was known for doing tricks with his beard.
Josef Egger was married and had three sons. One son died young. Another became a classical pianist. He played live on the radio during the signing of the Austrian State Treaty in 1955. Later, this son moved to Brazil. The youngest son, Josef Egger Jr, was born in 1925 and died in 2022. He initially followed in his father’s footsteps. However, after a short time at the Stadttheater Baden, he chose a different career. He became a representative for large corporations like Suchard and Westinghouse. He supported cultural projects in Spain, Austria, and Switzerland.
Josef Egger is buried in the cemetery of Gablitz. This monument reminds us of Josef Egger’s diverse career. From theater stages to memorable film roles. He brought laughter and character to every performance. He remains a beloved figure in Austrian entertainment history.