| Peter Alexander | |
| Birth Name: | Peter Alexander Ferdinand Maximilian Neumayer |
| Birth Date: | 1926 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Vienna, Austria |
| Death Place: | Vienna, Austria [1] |
| Occupation: | Actor, singer |
| Years Active: | 1948–1996 |
Peter Alexander Ferdinand Maximilian Neumayer (30 June 1926 – 12 February 2011), commonly known as Peter Alexander, was an Austrian actor, singer and one of the most popular entertainers in the German-language world between the 1950s and his retirement.[2] His fame emerged in the 1950s and 1960s through popular film comedies and successful recordings, predominantly of Schlager and operetta repertory. Later, Alexander established himself as the acclaimed host of television shows. His career as a live singer touring the German language countries lasted until 1991, while he continued his television work until 1996.
Born in Vienna, Alexander attended the Max Reinhardt Seminar for actors until 1948 and then began his career in acting. He starred in several musical comedies, including Liebe, Tanz und 1000 Schlager and Peter schießt den Vogel ab. He recorded Ralph Benatzky's operetta Im weißen Rößl, singing the lead role of Leopold Brandmeyer. He then performed in the 1960 movie version of the operetta. He later starred in the Count Bobby movies and the Lümmel-series.
In the 1970s, Alexander started a second career as a TV host and entertainer. His music show, the , was shown on black and white TV from 1963 until 1966. From 1969, the German TV station ZDF started to air a new colour version which was broadcast until 1996. The Peter Alexander Show has been seen by more than 38 million viewers and has averaged a 71% viewing rate.
After his death, Media Control Charts named him the biggest singles artist ever with 459 songs having charted on the German singles chart. The single "Und manchmal weinst du sicher ein paar Tränen" had the longest run with 34 weeks on that chart, while 2 other songs, "Der letzte Walzer" and "Liebesleid", were able to reach the No. 1 position.[3] Alexander won 10 Bambi Awards and in 1996 was awarded a Bambi for lifetime achievement.[4]
Alexander married Hilde Haagen in 1952; they had two children, Susanne Neumayer-Haidinger (1958–2009),[5] [6] an artist, and Michael Neumayer (1963–2019). Alexander was widowed in 2003.[7] [8]
Alexander died on 12 February 2011, aged 84, in his native Vienna.
| Year | Film | Director | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Der Engel mit der Posaune | Visitor | ||
| 1952 | Vanished Melody | Piano player | ||
| 1952 | Queen of the Arena | Singer | ||
| 1953 | Salto Mortale | Singer | ||
| 1953 | The Sweetest Fruits | Singer | ||
| 1953 | ||||
| 1954 | Franz Antel | Musician Karl Munk | ||
| 1954 | The Big Star Parade | Singer | ||
| 1955 | Love, Dance and a Thousand Songs | Paul Martin | Singer Peter Alexander | |
| 1956 | Singer Peter Martin | |||
| 1956 | Bonjour Kathrin | Music student Pierre | ||
| 1956 | Jazz singer Peter Moll | |||
| 1957 | Jazz singer Peter Hagen | |||
| 1957 | Géza von Cziffra | Student, artist and singer Toni Matthis | ||
| 1957 | Die Beine von Dolores | Géza von Cziffra | Singer (uncredited) | |
| 1958 | Munchhausen in Africa | Music teacher Peter von Münchhausen | ||
| 1958 | When She Starts, Look Out | Géza von Cziffra | Jazz musician Peter Holunder | |
| 1958 | So ein Millionär hat's schwer | Géza von Cziffra | Millionaire's Heir Edward Collins | |
| 1959 | Peter Shoots Down the Bird | Géza von Cziffra | Porter Peter Schatz | |
| 1959 | Géza von Cziffra | Registrar Hugo Bartels | ||
| 1959 | Géza von Cziffra | Student and butler Peter Keller | ||
| 1959 | aka: Mein ganzes Leben ist Musik | Géza von Cziffra | Teacher and amateur musician Peter Karmann | |
| 1960 | Kriminaltango | Géza von Cziffra | Houseowner Peter Martens | |
| 1960 | Yes, Women are Dangerous | Paul Martin | Fashion designer Peter Hollmann | |
| 1960 | The White Horse Inn | Werner Jacobs | Head waiter Leopold Brandmeyer | |
| 1961 | Season in Salzburg aka: Wenn der Toni mit der Vroni | Waiter Heinz Doll | ||
| 1961 | The Adventures of Count Bobby | Géza von Cziffra | Count Bobby (Robert) Pinelski | |
| 1962 | Die Fledermaus | Géza von Cziffra | Dr. Gabriel Eisenstein | |
| 1962 | The Merry Widow | Werner Jacobs | Danilo | |
| 1962 | Wedding Night in Paradise | Paul Martin | Operetta star Dr. Ulrich Hansen | |
| 1962 | The Sweet Life of Count Bobby | Géza von Cziffra | Count Bobby (Robert) Pinelski | |
| 1963 | Charley's Aunt | Géza von Cziffra | Diplomat Dr. Otto Wilder | |
| 1963 | The Model Boy | Werner Jacobs | CEO Dr. Fritz Geyer | |
| 1963 | Schweik's Awkward Years | Josef Schwejk | ||
| 1964 | Help, My Bride Steals | Werner Jacobs | Commercial artist Valentin Haase | |
| 1964 | In Bed by Eight | Werner Jacobs | Teacher Dr. Eduard Frank | |
| 1965 | Who Wants to Sleep? | Peter Sommer | ||
| 1966 | Count Bobby, The Terror of The Wild West | Paul Martin | Count Bobby (Robert) Pinelski | |
| 1966 | How to Seduce a Playboy | Peter Knolle | ||
| 1968 | Zum Teufel mit der Penne Part #2 of the series: Die Lümmel von der ersten Bank | Werner Jacobs | TV reporter Dr. Peter Roland, Substitute teacher Dr. Wilhelm-Maria Tell | |
| 1969 | Hurra, die Schule brennt! Part #4 of the series: Die Lümmel von der ersten Bank | Werner Jacobs | Teacher Dr. Peter Bach | |
| 1972 | Teacher Dr. Peter Markus |