Kurt Raab


Kurt Raab 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 in 1969. Over the next few years, he made numerous films with Fassbinder, including Warum läuft Herr R. Amok? and Der Amerikanische Soldat in 1970, Warnung vor einer heiligen Nutte in 1971, and Der Händler der vier Jahreszeiten 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 Germany. In 1987, he discussed his illness in Herbert Achternbusch's Wohin?, a film about AIDS hysteria. In 1988, he made Mitten im Leben, a documentary about AIDS, for Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen.
However, the illness remained poorly understood and Raab was placed in quarantine-like conditions in the Hamburg Tropical Institute. 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.
Raab was friends with Freddie Mercury of Queen, and appears as a ballerina in the band's music video for It's a Hard Life. He is also seen in Mercury's Living on My Own video, dressed in drag as Mary, Queen of Scots.
He is buried in Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Hamburg.

Filmography

YearFilmAmerican titleCharacter
1969Liebe ist kälter als der TodLove Is Colder Than DeathAufsichtsperson im Kaufhaus
1970Götter der PestGods of the PlagueGast in der Kneipe
1970' 'Don Marzio
1970Mathias KneisslMathias KneisslFritz Rechthaler, Jungbauer
1970Der Amerikanische SoldatThe American SoldierRicky's brother
1970' 'Bishop
1970Weg vom Fenster n/an/a
1971Warum läuft Herr R. Amok?Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?Herr R
1971Rio das Mortes Rio das MortesTankwart
1971WhityWhityThe Pianist
1971Warnung vor einer heiligen NutteBeware of a Holy WhoreFred
1971Die Ahnfrau - Oratorium nach Franz Grillparzer n/an/a
1972Händler der vier JahreszeitenThe Merchant of Four SeasonsKurt
1972Acht Stunden sind kein Tag Eight Hours Don't Make a DayHarald
1972' 'Carpenter
1972' 'Factory Boss
1973Zärtlichkeit der WölfeThe Tenderness of WolvesFritz Haarmann
1973'Welt am Draht' World on a WireMark Holm
1974Der Verfolger n/an/a
1974'Car Mechanic
1974Wupke, prison guard
1974Martha MarthaSecretary
1974Effi Briest Effi BriestVoice: Apotheker Gieshübler
1974' n/an/a
1975Wie ein Vogel auf dem Draht Like a Bird on a WireBarbesucher
1975Faustrecht der FreiheitFox and His FriendsWodka-Peter
1975Mutter Küsters Fahrt zum HimmelMother Küsters' Trip to HeavenBarbesitzer Gustav
1975' 'Herr Bauer
1976SatansbratenSatan's BrewWalter Kranz
1977Adolf und MarleneAdolf and MarleneFührer
1977EierdiebePetty Thievesn/a
1977Gruppenbild mit DameGroup Portrait with a LadyParteifunktionär
1977' 'Xaver Ferdinand Maria Bolwieser - Station Master
1977Belcanto oder Darf eine Nutte schluchzen?n/an/a
1978Leidenschaftliche BlümchenPreppy School GirlsFletcher
1979'The FallTheopont Dirlewanger
1979Der ganz normale Wahnsinn n/aFranz
1979Der DurchdreherIt Can Only Get WorseFranz
1979Victor n/an/a
1979' n/an/a
1979Bildnis einer TrinkerinTicket of No ReturnChef
1980Unter Verschluß Under Lock and Keyn/a
1980'n/an/a
1980Endstation Freiheitn/aBeekenbrandt
1981Sechsunddreißig Stunden n/an/a
1981Der glücklose Mann n/an/a
1981Die Fahrt nach Schlangenbad n/aAlfred Wittkowsky
1981Exil n/aHeilbrunn
1981Total vereistTotally FrozenHerr Münch
1981Wie die Weltmeistern/aOberamtmann
1981Engel aus EisenAngels of IronChauffeur
1981Frankfurt KaiserstraßeFrankfurt: The Face of a CityOnkel Ossi
1981Heute spielen wir den Boßn/an/a
1982Komplizen, Die n/aMarcel Lambert
1982Ich werde warten n/aHerr Dankert
1982Dr. Margarete Johnsohn n/aHerr Körber
1982Feuer und Schwert - Die Legende von Tristan und IsoldeFire and SwordGanelon
1982Bekenntnisse des Hochstaplers Felix Krull n/an/a
1982Der ZauberbergThe Magic MountainDr. Krokowski
1982LiebeskonzilCouncil of LoveGerichtspräsident
1983Derrick - Season 10, Episode 1: "Via Genua" n/aButler
1983Traumlage n/an/a
1983Krimistunde n/an/a
1983''Pevney
1983Der ZapplerThe Twitchern/a
1983Das GespenstThe GhostPoli
1983Bella Donnan/an/a
1983Die Olympiasiegerinn/an/a
1983Hauptsache konsequent n/an/a
1984Die Schwarzen Brüder n/aMan with scar
1984Der RekordThe RecordP.K. Wütrich
1984Rambo Zambo n/an/a
1984Humus n/aHorst
1984Franz Xaver Brunnmayr n/an/a
1984TricheursYouthful SinnersJorg
1984AbwärtsOut of OrderElevator mechanic
1984'n/aIntendant
1985Kleine Stadt, ich liebe dich n/an/a
1985''Mephisto
1985Mussolini: The Decline and Fall of Il Duce Mussolini and IHitler
1985Boleron/aRado
1986Das Totenreich n/an/a
1986Schloßherren
1986 n/an/a
1986Bittere ErnteAngry HarvestMaslanka
1986Transitträumen/aKaderleiter
1986Miko - aus der Gosse zu den Sternenn/aWalter Hahn
1986Kir Royal n/aMichel, butler
1986ParkerBonesHaag
1987Motten im Lichtn/an/a
1987Escape from Sobibor Escape from SobiborCommandant Frenzel
1987Das Rätsel der Sandbank The Riddle of the SandsUnderwood
1987Der Elegante Hund n/an/a
1987Reporter n/an/a
1988Wohin?n/aGast