Horst Gentzen
Description
Horst Gentzen was a German actor and voice actor, born on March 14, 1930, in Berlin. He began his artistic training in 1946 and made his stage debut the same year at the Schlosspark-Theater in Berlin, going on to appear in various theater productions in the city. His film acting career started in 1947, and he appeared in several movie productions through the 1950s.
From the 1950s onward, Gentzen increasingly focused on voice acting, becoming a prominent figure in German dubbing. His voice, often described as high-pitched and slightly affected, made him particularly suited for comedic and eccentric roles. He became the standard German dubbing voice for the American comedian Jerry Lewis, providing his voice for over thirty films across three decades. He was also the first German voice of Kermit the Frog, starting with The Muppet Show and including the films The Muppet Movie and The Muppets Take Manhattan. His portrayal of Kermit, for which he sometimes used the phrase Applaus, Applaus, became iconic. Among his many other notable dubbing credits were Ringo Starr in the early Beatles films, Peter Lorre in new dubs of Casablanca and the Mr. Moto series, Roman Polanski in Dance of the Vampires, and actors such as Gene Wilder, Danny DeVito, and Gérard Depardieu. In animation, he lent his voice to characters like Ludwig Von Drake and Woody Woodpecker.
In the realm of anime, Gentzen is specifically recognized for voicing the character Cyborg 007 / Great Britain in the 1980 film Raumstation Cyborg 009 & Gefährlicher Countdown für Cyborg 009. This work represents a notable entry in his extensive career as a voice actor for international productions.
Horst Gentzen passed away on August 9, 1985, in Berlin. His legacy is defined by his prolific work as a voice actor, having performed in over 330 speaking roles. He is remembered for creating the definitive German voices for beloved characters like Kermit the Frog and for being the long-standing voice of Jerry Lewis, making him a significant figure in the history of German dubbing.
From the 1950s onward, Gentzen increasingly focused on voice acting, becoming a prominent figure in German dubbing. His voice, often described as high-pitched and slightly affected, made him particularly suited for comedic and eccentric roles. He became the standard German dubbing voice for the American comedian Jerry Lewis, providing his voice for over thirty films across three decades. He was also the first German voice of Kermit the Frog, starting with The Muppet Show and including the films The Muppet Movie and The Muppets Take Manhattan. His portrayal of Kermit, for which he sometimes used the phrase Applaus, Applaus, became iconic. Among his many other notable dubbing credits were Ringo Starr in the early Beatles films, Peter Lorre in new dubs of Casablanca and the Mr. Moto series, Roman Polanski in Dance of the Vampires, and actors such as Gene Wilder, Danny DeVito, and Gérard Depardieu. In animation, he lent his voice to characters like Ludwig Von Drake and Woody Woodpecker.
In the realm of anime, Gentzen is specifically recognized for voicing the character Cyborg 007 / Great Britain in the 1980 film Raumstation Cyborg 009 & Gefährlicher Countdown für Cyborg 009. This work represents a notable entry in his extensive career as a voice actor for international productions.
Horst Gentzen passed away on August 9, 1985, in Berlin. His legacy is defined by his prolific work as a voice actor, having performed in over 330 speaking roles. He is remembered for creating the definitive German voices for beloved characters like Kermit the Frog and for being the long-standing voice of Jerry Lewis, making him a significant figure in the history of German dubbing.
All Characters
- GermanAnime overview: Cyborg 009 Gekijō Ban: Chō Ginga Densetsu