Thomas Gottschalk
Thomas Gottschalk | |
---|---|
Born | Thomas Johannes Gottschalk 18 May 1950 |
Occupation(s) | Radio and TV host, entertainer, actor |
Years active | 1971–present |
Spouse |
Thea Hauer
(m. 1976; sep. 2019) |
Children | 2 |
Thomas Johannes Gottschalk (born 18 May 1950) is a German radio and television host and entertainer. He is best known for hosting Wetten, dass..?, for many years Europe's biggest television show,[1][2] which he steered to huge success in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and South Tyrol between 1987 and 2023. Until 2015, he was also the brand ambassador in television advertisements for Haribo confectionery.
Early life
Gottschalk was born in Bamberg, Bavaria, the son of a lawyer. After attending the Humanistisches Gymnasium (humanities-oriented high school) in Kulmbach, he studied history and German philology, eventually taking his exams as a teacher for primary and secondary schools; however, it was during this time that he discovered his true vocation: entertainment.[citation needed]
Career
From 1971 on, Gottschalk worked as a
Starting in 1977, Gottschalk hosted the TV show Telespiele. Initially broadcast on the Bayerischer Rundfunk's television channel, it switched to the national public
From 1982 to 1987, Gottschalk hosted the show Na sowas on
In 1987, Gottschalk replaced
From 1992 to 1995, Gottschalk also hosted a late night show on television, Gottschalk Late Night, and while it was not very successful, it is considered a predecessor to such shows such as
Gottschalk has been awarded a number of prizes for his work; apart from those mentioned above. These include the
Gottschalk also co-hosts the German TV show Die 2 – Gottschalk und Jauch gegen alle together with Günther Jauch.[7]
Personal life
Gottschalk married his wife Thea in 1976. He has two sons, Roman and Tristan and one grandson (born 2010). In 2019, he announced that he and Thea would be getting divorced after 43 years of marriage.[8]
On 16 November 2004, Gottschalk bought Castle Marienfels in Remagen, Germany. He lived there from 2006 to 2013. It was announced at the end of January 2013 that he had sold the castle to Frank Asbeck.[9][10] He has had a second home in Malibu, California, since the beginning of the 1990s. The residence burned down in the 2018 California wildfires.[11]
In 2005, Gottschalk received an entry in the Guinness World Records, having been featured in longest running ad featuring one person; between 1991 and 2015 he regularly appeared in ads for the sweets company Haribo.[12]
On 20 November 2008, he won €1 million for charity in a celebrity version of
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | Summer Night Fever | DJ | |
1981 | Piratensender Powerplay | Tommy Jürgensen | |
1983 | Die Supernasen | Tommy Jürgensen / Prince Faruk al Habib | Also co-writer |
1984 | Zwei Nasen tanken Super | Tommy Jürgensen | Also co-writer |
1984 | Mama Mia – Don't Panic | Frank Müller | |
1985 | Big Mäc | Bernhard Maurer | |
1985 | Die Einsteiger | Tommy Jürgensen | Also co-writer |
1985 | Seitenstechen | Showmaster | |
1987 | Three Crazy Jerks (a.k.a. Lovable Zanies) | Richy | Also writer |
1988 | Three Crazy Jerks II (a.k.a. Lovable Zanies II) | Richy | Also writer, director and composer |
1990 | Harry and Harriet | Harry | |
1990 | Think Big | Mr. Roberts | |
1991 | Keep on Running | Latin teacher | Cameo appearance |
1991 | Trabbi goes to Hollywood
|
Gunther Schmidt | |
1992 | Ring of the Musketeers | Peter Porthos | |
1993 | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit | Father Wolfgang | |
1999 | Late Show | Hannes Engel | |
2004 | Garfield: The Movie | Garfield (voice) | German dub |
2007 | Meet the Robinsons | Cornelius Robinson (voice) | German dub |
2008 | 1½ Knights – In Search of the Ravishing Princess Herzelinde
|
King Gunther | |
2011 | Zookeeper | Jürgen Mavroc |
Audiobooks
- Herbstblond: Die Autobiographie (ISBN 978-3837130768
- Herbstbunt: Wer nur alt wird, aber nicht klüger, ist schön blöd (ISBN 978-3837145885
Awards
- Goldener Gong(1983)
- Telestar (1987)
- Deutscher Fernsehpreis Beste Show für Wetten, dass..? (gemeinsam mit Viktor Worms und Alexander Arnz) (1999)
- Bayerischer FernsehpreisEhrenpreis des Bayerischen Ministerpräsidenten (1999)
- Rose d'Or Goldene Rose für Game-Show-Moderation für Wetten, dass..? (2005)
References
- ^ Ehrenberg, Markus (4 December 2014). "So lief die letzte Ausgabe von "Wetten, dass...?"". Der Tagesspiegel Online.
- ^ "Europas größte Show macht Gottschalk weiter Spaß25 Jahre "Wetten dass...?" - Jubiläums-Sendung am MittwochINTERVIEW Thomas Gottschalk".
- ^ "Thomas Gottschalk war der erste deutsche Rapper—Auch wenn es weh tut". Noisey (in German). 16 August 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "G.L.S.-United – Rapper's Deutsch – hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ "Wetten, dass..?: Thomas Gottschalk bald bei "Sister Act"".
- ^ http://dailyherold.tv/2011/02/12/gottschalk-leaves-wetten-dass-after-accident-with-samuel-koch/ [dead link]
- ^ "RTL: Die 2: Gottschalk und Jauch gegen alle".
- ^ "Thomas Gottschalk äußert Zweifel nach Ehe-Aus: "Schlechtes Gewissen"". 23 October 2019.
- ^ Solarworld-Gründer kauft Gottschalk-Schloss, Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, 25. Januar 2013
- ^ Luxus-Immobilie am Rhein: Solarworld-Chef kauft Gottschalks Schloss spiegel.de, 26. Januar 2013, retrieved, 26 January 2013
- ^ "Hier lebte er den Traum vieler Deutscher: Thomas Gottschalks Villa in Malibu ist abgebrannt".
- ^ Guinness World Records
External links
- Thomas Gottschalk at IMDb
- Thomas Gottschalk at the German Dubbing Card Index