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Zoltan Paul, born on December 25, 1953, in Budapest, Hungary, and sadly passed away on July 1, 2022, in Berlin, Germany, was a remarkable Austrian personality who excelled in various creative domains. His journey from Hungary to Austria and his subsequent contributions to the world of arts, particularly in acting, directing, and music, left a significant mark on the cultural landscape.
Zoltan Paul’s Early Years and Music Career
Zoltan Paul’s life took a turn when, at the age of 12, he emigrated to Austria. There, he embarked on a musical journey that gained him recognition and popularity. As the guitarist and vocalist of the rock group “Dust,” he made waves in the music scene. The band’s music resonated with audiences, and they achieved considerable success, winning several band competitions. Zoltan Paul’s exceptional guitar skills earned him the title of the “fastest guitarist in Upper Austria.”
Despite his musical success, Zoltan Paul’s creative spirit led him to explore the world of acting. In 1978, he graduated from the Vienna School of Acting, marking the beginning of his acting career. During his time in drama school, he also made a name for himself as a writer, with several of his short stories published in Vienna’s literary journals.
Zoltan Paul’s artistic journey included collaborations with renowned artists, such as Hermann Nitsch, in the Orgien-Mysterien-Theater (Theatre of Orgies and Mysteries), a significant avant-garde theater movement in Vienna.
Zoltan Paul’s Film and Theater Career
Zoltan Paul’s acting career flourished as he appeared in films directed by notable directors like Michael Haneke (in “Lemminge”) and Reinhard Schwabenitzky, among others. Following a two-year engagement at the Schauspielhaus Wien (Vienna’s Playhouse), he pursued theater opportunities at the Stadttheater Münster, the Vereinigte Städtische Bühnen Krefeld, and Mönchengladbach, and later at the Grillo-Theater Essen in Germany. Concurrently, he also graced the screen in various German television productions.
In the 1990s, Zoltan Paul transitioned to directing, taking the helm at theaters in both Austria and Germany. His directorial work included the creation of his plays, such as “Salieris Mozart” (staged in Vienna and Innsbruck) and “Rausch,” a rock opera inspired by Carlo Goldoni’s play “Der Lügner” (The Liar).
Zoltan Paul ventured into filmmaking with the aspiration to write film scripts and direct. In 2001, he realized his vision with his first short film, “Gone.” In 2003, his own production company, Atoll Film, produced the feature film “Gone – Eine tödliche Leidenschaft” (“Gone – A Deadly Passion”), starring his then-wife Adele Neuhauser in the lead role. This film gained international recognition, including an entry in the competition at the Festival Internacional de Cine de Mar del Plata in Argentina and a German theatrical release in 2004.
In 2008, Zoltan Paul directed the comedy “Unter Strom,” produced by Next Film Film Production Berlin, for which he received the Thomas Pluch Prize for Best Screenplay. The film, featuring music composed by his son Julian Pajzs, premiered at the Munich Film Festival in June 2009, with a German theatrical release in December 2009 and an Austrian release in October 2010.
In 2012, he directed “Frauensee,” a film centered around a homosexual women’s quartet. This movie was screened at various film festivals worldwide, including the Hofer Filmtage and the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea, as well as numerous LGBTQ+ film festivals. “Frauensee” was released in 2013 through Edition Salzgeber.
What was Zoltan Paul’s Cause of Death?
The world of entertainment was struck by a sudden and profound loss on Friday, July 1, 2022, as the accomplished actor and director, Zoltan Paul, unexpectedly passed away. At the age of 68, his untimely departure left a void that will be deeply felt by those who admired his talent and creativity. However, his exact cause of death is not revealed.
References
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoltan_Paul
https://ucm.one/en/ucm-one-and-darling-berlin-mourn-the-death-of-zoltan-paul/
