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Mario Adorf

Acting

Born September 8, 1930 · Zürich, Switzerland

Died April 8, 2026

Biography

Mario Adorf (born 8 September 1930) was an Italian-German film and stage actor, best known for his lead role in the 1978 film The Tin Drum and The Italian Connection.

Awards & recognition

  • Herbert Strate Award · 2019
  • Orden wider den tierischen Ernst · 2009
  • Order of Merit of Rhineland-Palatinate · 2005
  • Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany · 2001
  • Pro meritis scientiae et litterarum · 2001
Show all 19 awards →
  • Order of Karl Valentin · 1997
  • Bavarian TV Awards · 1996
  • Berliner Bär · 1996
  • Carl Zuckmayer Medal · 1996
  • Golden Schlitzohr · 1996
  • Grimme-Preis · 1994
  • Bavarian Order of Merit
  • Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
  • honorary doctor of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
  • Jupiter Awards
  • Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
  • Romy
  • European Film AwardBest Actor · 1997 · nominated
  • Grammy AwardBest Opera Recording · 1991 · nominated

Filmography34 titles

Gentlemen in White Vests

1970as Bruno 'Dandy' Stiegler

Caliber 9

1972as Rocco Musco

I Knew Her Well

1965as Emilio Ricci, aka Bietolone

Lion of the Desert

1980as (uncredited)

The Treasure of San Gennaro

1966as Sciascillo

The Visitor

1963as Cucaracha

Never Be Boring: Billy Wilder

2017as Self

The Endless Night

1963as Juanitas Friend

What Have They Done to Your Daughters?

1974as Insp. Valentini

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage

1970as Berto Consalvi

The Tin Drum

1979as Alfred Matzerath

The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum

1975as Kommissar Beizmenne

The Italian Connection

1972as Luca Canali

Lola

1981as Schuckert

Execution Squad

1972as sostituto procuratore Ricciuti

Apache Gold

1963as Frederic Santer

Closed Circuit

1978as Harry (archive footage)

Felidae

1994as Blaubart (voice)

Major Dundee

1965as Sergeant Gomez

The Camp Followers

1965as Castagnoli

Same Same But Different

2009as Herr Behr

Francesco

1989as Cardinal Ugolino

Short Night of Glass Dolls

1971as Jacques Versain

Der letzte Mentsch

2013as Marcus Schwarz / Menachem Teitelbaum

Deadlock

1970as Charles Dump, the rat

Ten Little Indians

1965as Joseph Grohmann

The Red Tent

1969as Giuseppe Biagi

Jester Till

2003as Mayor (voice)

The Dirty Game

1965as Callaghan

A Sky Full of Stars for a Roof

1968as Harry

The Specialists

1969as El Diablo

The Holcroft Covenant

1985as Erich Kessler / Jürgen Mass

King, Queen, Knave

1972as Prof. Ritter

When Women Lost Their Tails

1972as Pap