Kurt Raab (20 July 1941 – 28 June 1988) was a West German stage and film actor, as well as a screenwriter and playwright. Raab is best remembered for his work with German film director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, with whom he collaborated on 31 film projects.
Biography Raab was born in Bergreichenstein, which is now Kašperské Hory, Czech Republic. He completed the abitur at Musische Gymnasium Straubing, and studied in Munich.
He made his cinema debut in Fassbinder's Liebe ist kälter als der Tod (Love Is Colder than Death) in 1969. Over the next few years, he made numerous films with Fassbinder, including Warum läuft Herr R. Amok? (Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?) and Der Amerikanische Soldat (The American Soldier) in 1970, Warnung vor einer heiligen Nutte (Beware of a Holy Whore) in 1971, and Der Händler der vier Jahreszeiten (The Merchant of Four Seasons) in 1972.
He also worked as a production designer, assistant director, producer, and a screenwriter.
On 28 June 1988, at age 46, Raab died of AIDS-related complications. Before Raab died, he worked to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in West Germany. In 1987, he discussed his illness in Herbert Achternbusch's Wohin?, a film about AIDS hysteria. Internet movie database, retrieved 7 June 2009 In 1988, he made Mitten im Leben, a documentary about AIDS, for Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen. Kurt Raab filmography, retrieved 11 June 2010 However, the illness remained poorly understood and Raab was placed in quarantine-like conditions in the Hamburg Tropical Institute. While confined to a hospital bed, Raab and his friend Hans Hirschmüller compiled the documentary Sehnsucht Nach Sodom, in which they explored "subjects as taboo as AIDS, death and the Catholicism of a gay person." Sehnsucht was released posthumously in 1989.
Prejudice about AIDS was also evident when Raab's body was refused burial in Steinbeißen, the Lower Bavarian town in which his family had settled in 1945. He is buried in Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Hamburg.
Filmography YearTitleEnglish titleRoleNotes1969Liebe ist kälter als der TodLove Is Colder Than DeathAufsichtsperson im Kaufhaus1970Götter der PestGods of the PlagueGast in der KneipeUncredited1970Don MarzioTV movie1970Warum läuft Herr R. Amok?Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?Herr R1970Der Amerikanische SoldatThe American SoldierRicky's brother1970BishopTV movie1970Weg vom Fenstern/aErster ErzieherTV movie1971Rio das MortesRio das MortesTankwartTV movie1971Mathias KneisslMathias KneisslFritz Rechthaler, Jungbauer1971WhityWhityThe PianistUncredited1971Warnung vor einer heiligen NutteBeware of a Holy WhoreFred1971Die Ahnfrau - Oratorium nach Franz Grillparzern/aPfarrerTV movie1972Händler der vier JahreszeitenThe Merchant of Four SeasonsKurt1972 Factory BossTV movie1972CarpenterTV movie1972–1973Acht Stunden sind kein TagEight Hours Don't Make a DayHarald4 episodes1973Zärtlichkeit der WölfeThe Tenderness of WolvesFritz Haarmann1973Welt am DrahtWorld on a WireMark Holm2 episodes1974Angst essen Seele aufAli: Fear Eats the SoulCar MechanicUncredited1974Wupke, prison guard1974MarthaMarthaSecretaryTV movie1974Der Verfolgern/an/aTV movie1974 Effi BriestEffi BriestApotheker GieshüblerVoice1975n/aPeter PicklTV movie1975Wie ein Vogel auf dem DrahtLike a Bird on a WireBarbesucherTV movie, Uncredited1975Faustrecht der FreiheitFox and His FriendsWodka-Peter1975Mutter Küsters Fahrt zum HimmelMother Küsters' Trip to HeavenBarbesitzer Gustav1975Herr BauerTV movie1976Die AtlantikschwimmerThe Atlantic SwimmersPolizist1976SatansbratenSatan's BrewWalter Kranz1977EierdiebePetty Thievesn/a1977Adolf und MarleneAdolf and MarleneFührer1977Gruppenbild mit DameGroup Portrait with a LadyParteifunktionär1977BolwieserThe Stationmaster's WifeXaver Ferdinand Maria Bolwieser - Station MasterTV movie1977Belcanto oder Darf eine Nutte schluchzen?n/aArthur1978Leidenschaftliche BlümchenPreppy School GirlsFletcher1979Victorn/aEin ZirkusansagerTV movie1979Der DurchdreherIt Can Only Get WorseMann von Glorias Freundin1979Die BuddenbrooksThe Buddenbrooksn/aTV series1979Bildnis einer TrinkerinTicket of No ReturnChef1979Der Sturzn/aTheopont Dirlewanger1979–1980Der ganz normale Wahnsinnn/aFranz5 episodes1980Film-Hitler1980Unter VerschlußUnder Lock and Keyn/aTV movie1980Maria Franz Beekenbrandt1981Total vereistTotally FrozenHerr Münch1981Engel aus EisenAngels of IronChauffeur1981Exiln/aHeilbrunn2 episodes1981Wie die Weltmeistern/aOberamtmann1981Heute spielen wir den Boßn/aReichenstein1981Onkel Ossi1981Sechsunddreißig Stundenn/an/aTV movie1981Feuer und Schwert - Die Legende von Tristan und IsoldeFire and SwordGanelon1981Die Fahrt nach Schlangenbadn/aAlfred WittkowskyTV movie1981Der glücklose Mannn/an/aTV movie1982Bekenntnisse des Hochstaplers Felix KrullThe Confessions of Felix KrullSally Meerschaum5 episodes1982LiebeskonzilCouncil of LoveGerichtspräsident1982Der ZauberbergThe Magic MountainDr. Krokowski1982Ich werde wartenI'll Be WaitingHerr DankertTV movie1982Die Komplizenn/aMarcel LambertEpisode: "Mein kleiner Betrüger/Das Haus des Colonels/Tschüs, Charlie!/Schmerzlose Behandlung/Schabernack mit einer alten Frau"1982Das GespenstThe GhostPoli1982Dr. Margarete Johnsohnn/aHerr KörberTV movie1983Pevney1983Der ZapplerThe TwitcherNachbar1983Derrickn/aButlerEpisode: "Via Genua"1983Bella Donnan/an/a1983Die Olympiasiegerinn/an/a1983Hauptsache konsequentn/an/aTV movie1983Traumlagen/aFellnerTV movie1983Krimistunden/an/aTV series1983Boleron/aRado1984TricheursCheatersJorg1984Humusn/aHorstShort1984Rambo Zambon/an/aTV movie1984AbwärtsOut of OrderElevator mechanic1984Der RekordThe RecordP.K. Wütrich1984n/aIntendant1984Die Schwarzen Brüdern/aMan with scarTV mini-series1985Kleine Stadt, ich liebe dichn/an/aTV mini-series1985Bittere ErnteAngry HarvestMaslanka1985ParkerBonesHaag1985Franz Xaver Brunnmayrn/an/aEpisode: "Das Palais"1985Mephisto1985Mussolini: The Decline and Fall of Il DuceMussolini and IHitler3 episodes1986Transitträumen/aKaderleiter1986Miko – Aus der Gosse zu den Sternen Miko: From the Gutter to the StarsWalter Hahn1986Motten im Lichtn/aBrenner1986n/a1. GeigeEpisode: "Kulturpause"1986Kir Royaln/aMichel, butlerEpisode: "Das Volk sieht nichts"1986Schloßherrenn/an/aTV series1986Das Totenreichn/aJohn HagenTV movie1987Escape from SobiborEscape from SobiborCommandant FrenzelTV movie1987Das Rätsel der SandbankThe Riddle of the SandsUnderwoodTV movie, Uncredited1987Der elegante Hundn/an/aTV series1988Wohin?n/aGast1989Reportern/an/aTV series, (final appearance)
References
External links
Kurt Raab at Allmovie