Wolfgang Petersen Wiki Biography
Wolfgang Petersen (born 14 March 1941) is a German film director and screenwriter. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for the 1981 World War II submarine warfare film Das Boot (1981). His other films include The NeverEnding Story (1984), Enemy Mine (1985), In the Line of Fire (1993), Outbreak (1995), Air Force One (1997), The Perfect Storm (2000), Troy (2004), and Poseidon (2006).
| Full Name | Wolfgang Petersen |
| Net Worth | $20 Million |
| Date Of Birth | March 14, 1941 |
| Place Of Birth | Emden, Germany |
| Height | 5′ 11″ (1.8 m) |
| Profession | Director, Producer, Writer |
| Education | Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums |
| Nationality | German |
| Spouse | Maria Borgel-Petersen |
| Children | Daniel Petersen |
| IMDB | http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000583 |
| Awards | German Film Award for Best New Direction, Bambi – Direction |
| Nominations | Academy Award for Best Director, Academy Award for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay, Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film |
| Movies | Das Boot, Troy, The NeverEnding Story, Poseidon, The Perfect Storm, Air Force One, In the Line of Fire, Outbreak, Enemy Mine, Shattered, The Consequence, One or the Other of Us, Reifezeugnis, Schwarz und weiß wie Tage und Nächte, Bicentennial Man, Red Corner, Vier gegen die Bank, I Will Kill You, … |
| TV Shows | The Agency |
| Trademark | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Frequently casts Jürgen Prochnow. |
| Quote | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Theaters are always going to be around, and doing fine. With computers and technology, we’re becoming more and more secluded from each other. And the movie theater is one of the last places where we can still gather and experience something together. I don’t think the desire for that magic will ever go away. |
| Fact | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Directed one Oscar nominated performance: John Malkovich in In the Line of Fire (1993). |
| 2 | Was offered the chance to direct The Sum of All Fears (2002), but declined. |
| 3 | Attended the ‘Deutsche Film und Fernseh Akademie Berlin’ (DFFB) from 1966 to 1970. |
| 4 | Father of Daniel Petersen. |
| 5 | Got to know his second wife, Maria-Antoinette Borgel, during the shooting of Smog (1973), where she worked as a script girl. |
| 6 | Broke into the entertainment industry in 1960 with the Hamburg Ernest Deutsch Theater as an assistant director. |
| 7 | Received the “Bayerischer Verdienstorden” (Bavaria’s highest decoration) on 17 July 2003. |
| 8 | Speaks English and German fluently. |
Director
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vier gegen die Bank | 2016 | ||
| Poseidon | 2006 | ||
| Troy | 2004 | ||
| The Perfect Storm | 2000 | ||
| Air Force One | 1997 | ||
| Outbreak | 1995 | ||
| In the Line of Fire | 1993 | ||
| Shattered | 1991 | ||
| Das Boot | 1985-1987 | TV Mini-Series 6 episodes | |
| Enemy Mine | 1985 | ||
| The NeverEnding Story | 1984 | ||
| Das Boot | 1981 | ||
| Schwarz und weiß wie Tage und Nächte | 1978 | TV Movie | |
| Planübung | 1977 | TV Movie | |
| Die Konsequenz | 1977 | ||
| Tatort | 1971-1977 | TV Series 6 episodes | |
| Vier gegen die Bank | 1976 | TV Movie | |
| Hans im Glück | 1976 | TV Movie | |
| Stellenweise Glatteis | 1975 | TV Movie | |
| Die Stadt im Tal | 1975 | TV Mini-Series 2 episodes | |
| Aufs Kreuz gelegt | 1974 | TV Movie | |
| Einer von uns beiden | 1974 | ||
| Van der Valk und die Reichen | 1973 | TV Movie | |
| Smog | 1973 | TV Movie | |
| Anna und Totò | 1972 | TV Movie | |
| I Will Kill You, Wolf | 1971 | ||
| Der Eine – der Andere | 1969 | Short | |
| Ich nicht | 1969 | Short | |
| Die rote Fahne | 1968 | Documentary short | |
| Stadt auf Stelzen | 1965 | TV Movie |
Producer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vier gegen die Bank | 2016 | producer | |
| Poseidon | 2006 | producer | |
| Chicxulub | 2006 | Short executive producer | |
| Avenger | 2006 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Troy | 2004 | producer | |
| The Agency | 2001 | TV Series executive producer – 4 episodes | |
| The Perfect Storm | 2000 | producer | |
| Bicentennial Man | 1999 | producer | |
| Instinct | 1999 | executive producer | |
| Red Corner | 1997 | executive producer | |
| Air Force One | 1997 | producer | |
| Outbreak | 1995 | producer | |
| In the Line of Fire | 1993 | executive producer | |
| Shattered | 1991 | producer |
Writer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shattered | 1991 | screenplay | |
| Das Boot | TV Mini-Series 3 episodes, 1987 screenplay – 3 episodes, 1985 | ||
| The NeverEnding Story | 1984 | screenplay | |
| Das Boot | 1981 | screenplay | |
| Schwarz und weiß wie Tage und Nächte | 1978 | TV Movie uncredited | |
| Planübung | 1977 | TV Movie | |
| Die Konsequenz | 1977 | screenplay | |
| Tatort | TV Series 1 episode, 1975 by – 1 episode, 1977 | ||
| Smog | 1973 | TV Movie additional writer – uncredited | |
| I Will Kill You, Wolf | 1971 | ||
| Der Eine – der Andere | 1969 | Short | |
| Ich nicht | 1969 | Short writer |
Actor
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Die Stadt im Tal | 1975 | TV Mini-Series | Demonstrant auf dem Marktplatz (1975) (uncredited) |
Assistant Director
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuckucksjahre | 1967 | TV Movie assistant director |
Miscellaneous
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonnabend der 1. | 1970 | Short contributor |
Thanks
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teresa | 2015 | TV Movie thanks | |
| Poseidon: A Ship on a Soundstage | 2006 | Video short special thanks | |
| In the Line of Fire: The Ultimate Sacrifice | 2000 | Video documentary short special thanks | |
| HBO First Look | 2000 | TV Series documentary short special thanks – 1 episode | |
| Witnesses to the Storm | 2000 | Video documentary short special thanks |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offene Wunde deutscher Film | 2017 | Documentary | Himself |
| Reimagining the NeverEnding Story | 2014 | Video short | Himself |
| Stardust Hollywood – Sternenstaub und Götterwelten | 2013 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Hollywood’s Best Film Directors | 2012 | TV Series | Himself – Interviewee / Film Director |
| Der Bernd | 2012 | Documentary | Himself |
| Días de cine | 2010 | TV Series | Himself |
| Mein Leben | 2009 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Attacking Troy | 2007 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Troy in Focus | 2007 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| 37 Grad | 2006 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Shipmate’s Diary | 2006 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Poseidon: A Ship on a Soundstage | 2006 | Video short | Himself |
| Poseidon: Upside Down | 2006 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Corazón de… | 2006 | TV Series | Himself |
| HypaSpace | 2006 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| HBO First Look | 1995-2006 | TV Series documentary short | Himself / Himself – Director / Producer |
| Hollywood Science | 2006 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Rogue Waves | 2006 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Filmlegenden. Deutsch | 2005 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The 100 Greatest War Films | 2005 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Troy: From Ruins to Reality | 2005 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Troy: In the Thick of Battle | 2005 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| The Making of ‘Troy’ | 2004 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| 4Pop | 2004 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Troy: An Effects Odyssey | 2004 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Starbuck Holger Meins | 2002 | Documentary | Himself |
| Film Genre | 2002 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Michael Ballhaus – Begegnung mit dem Auge Hollywoods | 2001 | Documentary short | Himself |
| In the Line of Fire: Catching the Counterfeiters | 2001 | Video short | Himself |
| In the Line of Fire: How’d They Do That? | 2001 | Video short | Himself |
| Charlie Rose | 2000 | TV Series | Himself – Guest |
| The Directors | 2000 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Mundo VIP | 2000 | TV Series | Himself |
| Bernd Eichinger – Wenn das Leben zum Kino wird | 2000 | TV Movie documentary | |
| Creating an Emotion | 2000 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Die goldene Kamera 1999 | 1999 | TV Movie | Himself |
| One Vision | 1998 | Documentary | Himself |
| Mondän! | 1998 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Hollywood, Germany | 1997 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Ôsama no buranchi | 1997 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Making of ‘Air Force One’ | 1997 | Video short | Himself |
| Wolfang Petersen: Mein Weg nach Hollywood | 1995 | TV Short documentary | |
| In the Line of Fire: Behind the Scenes with the Secret Service | 1993 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| Wetten, dass..? | 1991-1993 | TV Series | Himself |
| Shooting ‘In the Line of Fire’ | 1993 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The Making of ‘Shattered’ | 1991 | Video short | Himself |
| Häuser auf dem Sunset Boulevard | 1990 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Bitte umblättern | 1985 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Treffpunkt Kino | 1985 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| 60 Millionen für Phantásien – Wie die ‘unendliche Geschichte’ ins Kino kam | 1984 | TV Movie documentary | Himself (uncredited) |
| Na sowas! | 1983 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 55th Annual Academy Awards | 1983 | TV Special | Himself – Nominee |
| Das ist Ihr Leben | 1979 | TV Series | Himself |
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| And the Oscar Goes To… | 2014 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
Won Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Golden Camera | Golden Camera, Germany | 25th Anniversary Camera | Das Boot (1981) |
| 2001 | ShoWest Award | ShoWest Convention, USA | Director of the Year | |
| 1999 | Golden Camera | Golden Camera, Germany | Success in Hollywood | |
| 1997 | Bambi | Bambi Awards | Direction | Air Force One (1997) |
| 1995 | Bambi | Bambi Awards | Film – International | Outbreak (1995) |
| 1986 | C.S.T. Award | Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival | Enemy Mine (1985) | |
| 1986 | Antennae II Award | Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival | Enemy Mine (1985) | |
| 1984 | Bambi | Bambi Awards | Film – National | Die unendliche Geschichte (1984) |
| 1982 | Bavarian Film Award | Bavarian Film Awards | Best Director (Regiepreis) | Das Boot (1981) |
| 1974 | Film Award in Gold | German Film Awards | Best New Direction (Beste Nachwuchsregie) | Einer von uns beiden (1974) |
Nominated Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Critics Award | Deauville Film Festival | Shattered (1991) | |
| 1986 | Hugo | Hugo Awards | Best Dramatic Presentation | Enemy Mine (1985) |
| 1985 | International Fantasy Film Award | Fantasporto | Best Film | Die unendliche Geschichte (1984) |
| 1983 | Oscar | Academy Awards, USA | Best Director | Das Boot (1981) |
| 1983 | Oscar | Academy Awards, USA | Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium | Das Boot (1981) |
| 1983 | BAFTA Film Award | BAFTA Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | Das Boot (1981) |
| 1983 | DGA Award | Directors Guild of America, USA | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Das Boot (1981) |
| 1978 | Gold Hugo | Chicago International Film Festival | Best Feature | Die Konsequenz (1977) |