Thomas Fritsch (16 January 1944 – 21 April 2021) was a German film, television and dubbing actor. He was regarded as the "Sonnyboy" in the German cinema of the 1960s, and became one of the best-known actors by his presence in television series. Later, he was the German voice of Russell Crowe, of Scar in The Lion King, and of Diego, a Smilodon, in Ice Age.
Biography[]
Fritsch was born in Dresden, the son of famous actor Willy Fritsch and dancer Dinah Grace [de]. The family moved to Hamburg after World War II. Director and actor Gustaf Gründgens encouraged the 16-year-old Thomas to become an actor. He trained at an acting school in Hamburg-Pöseldorf for three years.
He played his first film role in the 1962 Austrian Julia, Du bist zauberhaft at age 17, alongside Lilli Palmer. He starred opposite Daliah Lavi in Das schwarz-weiß-rote Himmelbett [de], and became a favourite of teenagers. He was frequently featured as the cover image of the Bravo youth magazine. He played in Das große Liebesspiel [de] in 1963, alongside Hildegard Knef. In 1964, he appeared in his only film together with his father, Das hab ich von Papa gelernt. He played two more times with his father, in ZDF television shows, Das gibts doch zweimal in 1965, and Andere Zeiten, andere Sitten. Die Thomas-Fritsch-Show in 1967. He had film roles in Drei Männer in Santa Cruz, Onkel Toms Hütte, and played one of the three men in the title of Drei Männer im Schnee, among many others.
In the 1970s, Fritsch appeared in the television series Der Kommissar and Derrick several times. From 1977, Fritsch appeared in a leading role in the popular series Drei sind einer zuviel [de] (Three are one too many) by Barbara Noack [de], portraying a man in a love triangle story. It made him one of Germany's most popular actors. He also starred in the television series Rivalen der Rennbahn (1989). In 2004, he made a return to cinema when he appeared as the villainous Earl of Cockwood in Der Wixxer, a comedy which spoofed the German Edgar Wallace films of the 1960s.
Fritsch became known as a voice actor. He was the German voice of Russell Crowe in Gladiator, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and Proof of Life. He starred voicing Scar in the German version of The Lion King in 1994, and voiced many other animated lions as well, and Diego, a Smilodon, in Ice Age and sequels, beginning in 2002. In the 2000s, he replaced the late Joachim Kemmer as Lumiere for the "Human Again" DVD feature of Beauty and the Beast. His last role was the narrator in the 2018 children's film Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer [de], an adaption of Michael Ende's Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver. He briefly reprised the narrator in the 2020 sequel, Jim Knopf und die Wilde 13, which would be his final film role, a year before his death.
Thomas Fritsch died on April 21, 2021 in Berlin.
Dubbing[]
Animated Movies:[]
- 1994 - The Lion King - Scar (speaking & singing)
- 1995 - Balto - Steele
- 1997 - Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas - Maestro Forte (speaking & singing)
- 1998 - Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World - Lumière ["Mrs. Potts' Party" short]
- 1998 - Lucky and Zorba - Poet
- 1998 - The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride - Scar
- 1998 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie - Slyly the Fox (speaking & singing)
- 2000 - Help! I'm a Fish - Joe (speaking & singing)
- 2001 - Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure - Buster (speaking & singing)
- 2002 - Ice Age - Diego
- 2002 - Beauty and the Beast - Lumière (speaking & singing) (added dialogue/song "Human Again")
- 2002 - Treasure Planet - Doctor Delbert Doppler
- 2003 - Finding Nemo - Nigel
- 2003 - Raining Cats and Frogs - Ferdinand Bauer
- 2005 - Robots - Jack Hammer
- 2005 - Corpse Bride - Bonejangles (speaking & singing)
- 2006 - Bambi 2 - The Great Prince of the Forest
- 2006 - The Hairy Tooth Fairy - La Rata
- 2007 - Surf's Up - Ezekiel "Big Z" Geek Topanga
- 2008 - Kung Fu Panda - Tai Lung
- 2009 - Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs - Diego
- 2010 - Animals United - Socrates the Lion
- 2010 - A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures - Old Sammy/Narrator
- 2012 - Ice Age: Continental Drift - Diego
- 2013 - Free Birds - Myles Standish
- 2016 - Ice Age: Collision Course - Diego
Live Action Movies:[]
- 1963 - Heavens Above! - Fred Smith
- 1993 - The Three Musketeers - Cardinal Richelieu
- 1994 - Clifford - Martin Daniels
- 1995 - Man of the House - Red Sweeney
- 1996 - Muppet Treasure Island - Long John Silver (speaking & singing), Calico (singing)
- 1996 - Hamlet - Horatio
- 1997 - Titanic - Brock Lovett
- 1997 - A Kid in Aladdin's Palace - Luxor
- 1998 - The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story - Shere Khan
- 1998 - Lost in Space - Professor John Robinson
- 1998 - Dr. Dolittle - Lucky the Dog
- 1999 - Bicentennial Man - Rupert Burns
- 1999 - Halloweentown - Kalabar
- 2000 - Gladiator - Maximus Decimus Meridius
- 2000 - Thomas and the Magic Railroad - Mr. Conductor (speaking & singing)
- 2000 - Dungeons & Dragons - Profion
- 2001 - Planet of the Apes - Karubi
- 2001 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Garrick Ollivander
- 2001 - Dr. Dolittle 2 - Lucky the Dog
- 2001 - Scary Movie 2 - Professor Oldman
- 2002 - Austin Powers in Goldmember - Steven Spielberg
- 2003 - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Mouth of Sauron (extended edition only)
- 2004 - Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events - Lemony Snicket (character)
- 2004 - Pride - Eddie
- 2005 - Kingdom of Heaven - Tiberias
- 2006 - Eragon - Brom
- 2006 - Dr. Dolittle 3 - Lucky the Dog
- 2006 - Copying Beethoven - Ludwig van Beethoven
- 2008 - Valkyrie - Erwin von Witzleben
- 2008 - Snow Buddies - Talon
- 2008 - Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief - Lucky the Dog
- 2008 - The Incredible Hulk - Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross
- 2008 - The Dark Knight - Det. Gerard Stephens
- 2009 - Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts - Lucky the Dog
- 2009 - The Twilight Saga: New Moon - Marcus Volturi
- 2009 - He's Just Not That Into You - Ken Murphy
- 2010 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - Garrick Ollivander
- 2011 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - Garrick Ollivander
- 2011 - The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 - Marcus Volturi
- 2011 - Zookeeper - Bernie the Gorilla
- 2011 - African Cats - Narrator
- 2011 - Dolphin Tale - Reed Haskett
- 2012 - The Words - The Old Man
- 2013 - Beautiful Creatures - Macon Melchizedek Ravenwood
- 2013 - Angels Sing - The Colonel
- 2014 - Dolphin Tale 2 - Reed Haskett
- 2015 - Jenny's Wedding - Eddie Farrell
- 2015 - High-Rise - Anthony Royal
- 2016 - Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice - Alfred Pennyworth
- 2017 - Justice League - Alfred Pennyworth
Animated Short Films:[]
- 2011 - Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas - Diego
- 2016 - Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade - Diego
Live Action TV Movies/Specials:[]
- 2004 - The Nanny Reunion: A Nosh to Remember - Maxwell Sheffield
- 2008 - Mein Herz in Chile - Carlos Sanchez
- 2008 - Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic - Lord Vetinari
Animated Series:[]
- 1994-1997 - Gargoyles - Goliath & Thailog
- 1995-1999 - Timon & Pumbaa - Speedy the Snail
- 1997-present - South Park - Russell Crowe, Steven Spielberg (season 6 only)
- 2012 - The Little Prince - Fox
Live Action Series:[]
- 1993-1999 - The Nanny - Maxwell Sheffield
- 2004-2012 - Desperate Housewives - Glen Wingfield
- 2011-2019 - Game of Thrones - Randyll Tarly (1st voice) (S06E06 only)
- 2013-2020 - Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Robert Gonzales
Anime Series:[]
- 1981-1982 - Queen Millennia - Professor Anamori
- 1990-1992 - Moomin - Narrator
Anime Movies:[]
- 2002 - The Cat Returns - The Cat King
- 2004 - Steamboy - Lloyd Steam
Video Games:[]
- 2005 - Kingdom Hearts II - Scar
- 2012 - Diablo III - Barbarian (Male)
Original roles:[]
Animated Series:[]
- 1999-2001 - Jim Button - Jim Button/Jim Knopf (character)
Audiobooks:[]
- 2005 - Little Saucebox Thomas - The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt
- 2005 - Thomas On Own Rails - The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt
- 2005 - Winter Adventures With Thomas - The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt
- 2006 - Toby and Henrietta - The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt
- 2006 - Things Always Seem To Happen When You Least Expect Them - The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt
- ???? - Emily Can Do It! - A Manager
Live Action Movies:[]
- 2018 - Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver - Narrator
- 2020 - Jim Button and the Dragon of Wisdom - Narrator
Awards:[]
- 1963: Bambi Award, Bambi Award 1963 [de], as the best newcomer for Das schwarz-weiß-rote Himmelbett
- 2002: Deutscher Preis für Synchron [de] for Second Chance – Alles wird gut