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Hans-Joachim Preil’s legacy as a talented comedian and actor continues to be celebrated to this day.
In today’s article, we take a look into his life as we find out more about his life as well as delve more into his death and what actually caused it.
Hans-Joachim Preil’s Biography
Hans-Joachim Preil was born on June 26, 1923, in Köslin, Weimar Republic. He began studying acting in 1939 and went on to appear on the stages of theatres in Quedlinburg, Aschersleben, Bernburg, and Magdeburg.
Preil met fellow actor Rolf Herricht at Magdeburg, and the two formed a comedy partnership known as ‘Herricht & Preil’. In 1953, they presented their debut sketch, titled “The Chess Match.”
Herricht played the ‘comic’ while Preil played the ‘ straight guy’ in their routine. Their humorous chemistry was unmistakable, and they rose to prominence as comedians in the German Democratic Republic in the 1950s.
During this time, Preil worked as an artistic director in the theatres of Magdeburg and Bernburg, while also sketching with Herricht.
In 1959, Deutscher Fernsehfunk showed one of their acts, which was well received by the audience. As a result, they began appearing on television on a regular basis, cementing their reputation as beloved comedians in East Germany.
During the 1960s, the team also dabbled in film, appearing in two DEFA comedy pictures that highlighted their humorous abilities.
In their first picture, ‘Hands Up, Or I’ll Shoot,’ Herricht played a mentally ill investigator named Holmes, while Preil played an antique expert.
However, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany banned the film because it was critical of the criminal justice system. It wasn’t officially released until 2009.
In their second movie, ‘My Friend Sybille,’ they played junior and senior travel advisors on a Black Sea trip.
In addition to acting, Preil worked as an assistant director at DEFA’s Babelsberg Studios and wrote several plays for the stage. His talent and dedication to the arts earned him the German Democratic Republic’s Art Prize in 1977.
In 1981, tragedy struck when Rolf Herricht died. Preil stopped appearing in live comedy skits when Herricht died, but he continued directing and acting on television. He eventually retired in 1991, having made an unforgettable imprint on the East German comedy scene.
Preil was honoured with the Golden Hen Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1998, recognising his substantial contributions to the world of comedy. He received the honour in the presence of President Roman Herzog.
Hans-Joachim Preil was a well-known actor who appeared in a number of television programmes and films.
Throughout his career, he also wrote and directed various works, demonstrating his versatility and love of the arts.
Hans-Joachim Preil died on November 2, 1999, at the age of 76, in Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.
Hans-Joachim Preil’s Cause Of Death
Hans-Joachim Preil’s cause of death remains unknown as there is no information on what actually led to his demise.
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