FRIEDMANN, SIEGWART:

German actor; born at Budapest April 25, 1842. He was a pupil of Dawison, who not only educated him for the stage, but took him into his own home and family. He made his début at Breslau Oct. 18, 1863, as Ferdinand in "Egmont," which was not successful.

In 1864 he made his reentry, with Dawison, at the Königliche Schauspielhaus, Berlin, where he remained until 1871. The next year was spent in Schwerin; from 1872 to 1876 he worked with Laube, at the Stadttheater, Vienna, and soon ranked as one of the best actors on the German stage. In 1876 he went to Hamburg, returning three years later to Vienna. His most important work in behalf of the stage was the founding of the Deutsche Theater, at Berlin, with Ludwig Barnay, Adolf l'Arronge, and Friedrich Haase (1883). In 1888 he went on a starring tour through Germany and Austria, retiring from the stage in 1892.

Friedmann's best rôles were those of modern writers, though he was excellent as Charles IX. (Lindner's "Die Bluthochzeit"), and in several of Shakespeare's male characters.

Bibliography:
  • Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, s.v.
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