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Welcome to the English section of rolfkanies.com. Rolf thanks you for your interest and hopes you find the information you are looking for.  Deutsch? Klicken Sie hier.

News

 

November 11, 2012 - Rolf's year was again full of wonderful and interesting work. He worked on eleven projects, all of which he enjoyed very much. He even got to do a play on a cruise that started in Luebeck then went to Tallin, St. Petersburg and Helsinki. His part was that of a surgeon in a German crime play called, "Mission in Hamburg".

This summer Rolf was shooting a mini-series called "One Thousand and One Nights" that was filmed in Tunisia. He played the Caliph, the father of Scheherazad for the Italian broadcast company RAI. The shooting was exiting for Rolf because he got to work with some great German colleagues of his: Bettina Zimmermann and Stipe Erceg, as well as many others from Italy, Turkey and America. While debuting in Italy on November 26, the series was shot in English and will should eventually be shown in many other countries.

Rolf once again guest stared in the television show "Wilsberg", but this time a scatterbrained policeman in a small German village, who loves to drink. (Ed. Note: Wilsberg is a German crime drama that has been on the air since 1995.)"

Another interesting project Rolf was involved in was a film about a famous actor of the last century named Heinrich George, the working title of the movie is "George". Rolf played Ernst Stahl-Nachbauer, a colleague of George. The film explores the question about how deep this great actor was involved in the Nazi Regime. The film was directed by Joachim Lang and the part of Heinrich George was played by his own son, Goetz George, who is a famous actor in Germany.

Rolf then played an old Russian author in a short film by Marc Wagenaar, a young director from the Netherlands. This film, "The Southside of Misery" will make its way through international film festivals next year. (Production Stills, under the title "The Southside of Misery" at http://www.stefanmohn.com/ ).

A first occurred this year, Rolf shot his first commercial. This Public Service Announcement was created by Danish film student Daniel Kragh-Jacobsen, who is studying in LA. The suicide awareness spot, which targets the need for young adults to talk to someone, managed to get the Award for "Best Young Director" at the Lions Festival in Cannes and was short listed as "Best Test Commercial". It can be viewed at several sites including: http://danielkraghjacobsen.com/commercial/frnd/  http://youtu.be/WtGzUoxXzq8  http://www.frnd.de/social-spot-"talk-before-its-too-late-fur-"freunde-furs-leben-e-v-gewinnt-young-director-award-in-cannes/ 

Rolf thanks a lot all his fans for the kind letters he has received and sends his best regards for the upcoming year!

 

Dec 18, 2011- Rolf was again very busy this year, working quite a bit on various television programs. Amongst other parts, he played a main role for the German broadcast station ARD. He played a tattooed ship's cook in a film called "Queens of heart on the Elbe". (Herzdamen an der Elbe) Rolf plays a formerly down on his luck restaurant assistant who falls in love with the owner, played by fellow actress Thekla Carola Wied. The director was Thamas Nennstiel.

In the autumn he played Colonel Finckh in the film "Rommel" which was directed by Niki Stein. Colonel Finckh was involved in the assassination attempt against Hitler, on July 20th, in "Operation Valkyrie". After the failed attempt Colonel Finckh was condemned to death by Freisler and hanged, amongst many others.

The film "Infant Prodigies" which Rolf shot in 2010, was released this year and has won several awards; a.o. in Italy and in Israel. No word on when this movie might make it to the States. 

His ongoing singing project, "The Winter Journey" by Schubert, has made progress and Rolf hopes that it might be available next winter. 

Rolf apologizes that he didn't forward more news and pictures this year, but in addition to all his many roles this year, he also suffered an minor injury in France while shooting "Rommel". Sadly this injury escalated into three surgeries, which sucked up any free time he might have had. But he wishes all his fans a very Merry Christmas and a happy, successful New Year!

 

Dec 2, 2010-  Rolf has been very busy, he was working on six different parts all at the same time. He just finished working on the film “Nobody is an Island” (“Niemand is eine Insel”), Rolf played a naughty journalist. The story is based on a novel, written by Johannes Mario Simmel, a famous German author. 

Rolf was also one of the main characters in a mini-series called “Alpha 0.7. - The Enemy in yourself” (”Alpha 0.7 – Der Feind in Dir”) It is the story of three men, who invent a brain scanner that discovers criminals, before they commit a crime. This invention brings power and wealth to a few, who are determined to keep it, going so far as to manipulate the brains of others to turn them into human weapons. The decreasing civil freedoms and increased monitoring of the public does not sit well with some young revolutionaries.  The director was Marc Rensing, who became famous last year with his film “Parcour”.

Rolf also shot another two part mini-series called “Family secrets” (“Familiengeheimnisse”). This film starts in Kenya, where he, his wife (Karin Boyd) and his daughter (Dennenesch Zoudè) are helping children in the slums of  Kibera in Nairobi to survive.  Before his wife dies from cancer they tell their daughter that he is not really her father. The daughter flies to Berlin to find out the truth from her biological father (Hardy Krueger).

Rolf enjoyed working with this film, he got to spend time with an old fellow actor Hardy Krueger, his good friend Karin Boyd and Dennenesch Zoudè, a wonderful young German actress.

The countryside and wild animals of Kenya, which he saw the first time in his life, where of course amazing. But it was a very emotional shoot with all the millions of poor people in that area. He thinks that we really can consider ourselves lucky to be born in another part of the world.

Rolf also was in a feature film situated in the Third Reich, called “Wunderkinder” (Child Prodigies). It is the story about two Polish-Jewish child prodigies, a violinist and a pianist and their young German prodigy friend. 

Stalin rules Poland and Rolf is playing Colonel Tapilin, Chief of Polish Intelligence, who is using the children for party propaganda. But when Hitler and the SS invade Poland, his character has to flee  and the children captured by a terrible SS man, played by Konstantin Wecker.

Rolf notes that the young violinist, who was played by a real child prodigy named Elin Kolev.

In closing Rolf writes that Germany has received a lot of snow and it is freezing cold! But it's all good since he really likes wintertime. In fact he like all the seasons!  He wishes all his fans a very Merry Christmas and sends his kindest regards from Berlin.

Nov 5, 2010- Rolf just got home from shooting "Wunderkinder" he promises more later.

Oct 25, 2010- Rolf hopes we are all well. He and Paul Donovan recently screened the film "Blissestrasse". Rolf liked it very much, but he isn't sure where or when it will be released, however Mr. Donovan is working on that. But until then, here is a link for several stills from the film which were taken by Stefan Mohn.

He send all his best regards from Berlin.

May 2, 2010- Rolf is still having fun shooting a film with Iris Berben. 

Last week he was asked to do a charity event for "A Heart For Children." (Ein Herz fuer Kinder) He was asked to join 2000 men kicking a football from Hamburg to South Africa for the world champion chip. So he got to kick the ball for a little while, be interviewed, and get this lovely picture taken. Nice knees ya got there Rolf!

Rolf sent received a new picture from the producer of "The Bible Code", (Der Bibelcode) where he again played a priest. 

He says spring has arrived in Berlin, so it is not that freezing cold anymore and he hope we are all doing fine.

April 5, 2010 - Rolf hopes we all had a Happy Easter. He has just returned from a trip thru Germany where he visited friends and his father. His dad turned 86 this last February and is still going strong. Yea dad!  

Before he left on his tour he shot an episode of a famous German series called "The Old Man" with Ulrich Noethen.  ("Der Alte") 

Now that he is back he is preparing for a new role, he will be playing an evil journalist with Iris Berben, in a film directed by Carlo Rola.

March 5, 2010 - Rolf has been very busy lately. In late February he attended the 60th Anniversary Berlinale. (Berlin International Film Festival)  He has also been shooting pictures for the cover of his 'Winter Journey' CD project. Have I seen the pictures? Yes I have, but you can't because they are not ready for prime time. Butt when the project is closer to completion I will post a few.   He is thinking about doing an English version of 'Winter Journey' also, so that will be great for us.

While fellow thespian Michael McManus is still in Berlin, Rolf reports that Paul Donovan has returned to Canada, where he is editing 'Blissestrasse'.  Donovan is expected to be back in Germany come April, so perhaps then we will have word on when and where we can expect to see Rolf's part in this movie. 

What else? Not much, they had lots of late snow also, but it is gone now and while cold, Spring is in the air in Rolf-land.

January 31, 2010 - On the home front, literally, Rolf writes that his remodel in Italy has hit a snag and he had to get a different architect and contractor. 

On the work front he has spent several weeks in a sound studio playing and singing various songs for a project called "The Winter Journey" by Schubert. He says the songs are incredible and that they want to use an orchestra to make something new with them so that even younger people will like to listen them. He said that they are sounding very modern and incredible, but that it will take another another two years to finish the project. 

January 10, 2010 - Since he doesn't have to shovel it, Rolf is thrilled with the huge amount of snow Berlin is currently getting. He is enjoying the weather and loves winter time! 

Rolf is scheduled to leave soon for Italy to meet with an architect about some changes he wants done to a house he bought about five years ago. The house is from the 15th century and of course it is going to be a bit of a money pit. As houses often are. Apparently the aim is to get the house fixed enough this year to actually live in.  Hummmm, I bet Italy doesn't get the winters that Berlin does......  (Ed. Note: Rolf writes - You were wrong, Madame! This year it (Italy) was as cold and (had) as much snow than we had in Berlin. It was incredible!)

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Bio

Rolf Kanies is a German born actor who has been interested in performing since childhood.  He studied acting at the Westphalian Actor`s School, Bochum and the Academy of Fine Arts, Berlin. He began his career on the stage and has since had theater engagements all across Europe . His various stage roles included Hamlet, Faust, Romeo, Mercutio and Biff, all while traveling from Germany to Austria, Switzerland, and even over the channel to the Garsington Opera Festival in Oxford, England. He has also played main parts in several musicals.

In 1998 Rolf decided to start working in cinema and television and accepted an offer by director Christoph Schrewe to act in an international television series called Lexx.  He flew to Canada and was cast as Priest in an episode called 'The Battle'. The next year Lexx producer, Paul Donovan, invited Rolf to return to play a parody of President George H. Bush, but again as Reginald J. Priest, a continuation of his previous season’s character. In between shooting the fourth season of Lexx, he worked on several films in Germany and played Adolf Hitler in the American Starz! Picture production of 'Joe and Max', with Till Schweiger and Peta Wilson.

Since then Rolf has been all over the globe. In 2005 he played General Hans Krebs in a Oscar Nominated feature film called 'The Downfall' directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel. He has been in numerous German and International productions including the award winning 'A Woman In Berlin', directed by Max Faerberboeck and the 2008 film 'The Countess'  which is scheduled for a 2010 early spring release in the United States.

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Links

Rolf Kanies Agency Information

Above the Line GMBH

Rolf Kanies IMBD 

Rolf's Listing on the Internet Movie Data Base

Rolf Kanies Show Reel 

Fourteen Minute Video of several of Rolf's Roles

Rolf Kanies Wikipedia German

German Version of Rolf's Wikipedia Page

Rolf Kanies Wikipedia English 

English Version of Rolf's Wikipedia Page

The Rolf Kanies Interview

An interview by thefrey for Sadgeezer.com - January 2002.

The Rolf Kanies Chat 

Transcript from a Sadgeezer.com Sponsered chat February 2002

 

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Contact

Email

rolfkanies@hotmail.com

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Phone: +49 30 288 773 0

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