Distinguished German actor of stage and screen, renowned for his rich, sonorous voice and refined, gentlemanly demeanor. Born to an architect, Schoenfelder pursued his passion for acting at the Prussian State Theatre in Berlin, studying under the esteemed Gustaf Gründgens and making his stage debut in 1936.
His career was temporarily interrupted by military service during World War II, and he spent a year as a prisoner-of-war, being released in 1946. Following his return, Schoenfelder continued to hone his craft, performing at numerous theatres throughout Germany for over a decade and a half. He often portrayed the charming bon vivant, with his warm voice, dignified bearing, and prematurely graying hair perfectly capturing the essence of the gentlemen about town in musicals and boulevard comedies.
Schoenfelder's transition to the screen began in 1949, initially in leading roles. From the 1960s, he became a staple in television productions, taking on prominent secondary roles, often as benevolent aristocrats, judges, professors, or diplomatic envoys. He also gained popularity as a voice-over artist, lending his voice to English or American stars such as Alec Guinness, Henry Fonda, Vincent Price, and Peter Cushing.
In addition to his film and television work, Schoenfelder was a prolific voice-over artist, providing narration for popular nature documentary series like "Wild Kingdom" (1963),dubbing for Marlin Perkins. On stage, he performed for over seven decades, taking on a wide range of roles, from German-speaking productions of Shakespeare to comedy, such as "Pension Schoeller" and "Harvey".
One of his most notable and enduring roles was his portrayal of Colonel Pickering and later Professor Higgins in over 1,200 performances of "My Fair Lady" at the Theater des Westens in Berlin, a role he took on from 1961. An irrepressible performer who loved his craft, Schoenfelder continued to work well into his 90s, with his final stage appearance coming at the age of 91 in the play "November" by David Mamet at the Renaissance Theater in Berlin.
