Helmut Qualtinger [1]
Helmut Qualtinger [2] was born in Vienna in 1928. After the WWII he worked as a journalist. From 1947 he performed as a cabaret artist. In 1949 his first play was premièred. In German speaking world, Qualtinger was famous for being as Mr. Karl [3]. With this character, Qualtinger criticized “normal” Viennese. Mr. Karl was a fictional character, who worked in the basement of a grocery store. He talked about his life and seemed to be a nice man. In reality he was a Nazi sympathizer and collaborator.
Qualtinger is famous and notorious for his pranks. In 1951 he spread among newspaper reporters, that the famous Eskimo poet Kobuk would visit Vienna. Many reporters gathered together at Vienna West Station. Qualtinger stepped out from the train in a fur coat and fur hat. A radio reporter asked him about hist first impression on Vienna. Qualtinger answered “Viennese”.
Until 1960 he worked a cabaret piece with the nameless ensemble. In the 1970s, Qualitinger played in many films. His last film was The Name of the Rose [4] with Sean Connery. Qualtinger at that time was very ill and suffered from severe pains. Qualtinger died at the age of 57 in his birth city Vienna.+
[1]. Translated by me from: p. 299. Helmut Qualtinger. Ein Kursbuch für die Mittelstufe. 3rd Edition. Prisca Augustyn & Nikolaus Euba. Cengage Learning. USA. 2015
[2]. Helmut Qualtinger. 10/8/1928-9/29/1986. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmut_Qualtinger
[3]. Mr. Karl. “Der Herr Karl”. One man play, written by Helmut Qualtinger. On Austrian TV in 1961.
Check on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmut_Qualtinger
The Mr. Karl in German:
[4]. The Name of the Rose trailer:
