Person biography:
Horst Janson was born and raised in Mainz, Bad Soden, and Wiesbaden, Germany. He discovered his passion for theater at a young age and began his acting career with student performances. At 16, he took an aptitude test as an actor at the Frankfurter Bühnengenossenschaft and later attended the Wiesbaden School for Acting, where he earned his living as a taxi driver.
Janson made his stage debut at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden in Alfred de Musset's dance drama "Lorenzaccio". He then completed his training in the UFA junior studios and began his screen career with a role in Alfred Weidenmann's film adaptation of "The Buddenbrooks" in 1959.
Throughout his career, Janson appeared in numerous leading and supporting roles in German and international productions, including "Das Riesenrad", "Call of the Wild Gänse", "Escape from East Berlin", "A Woman Looking for Love", and "The McKenzie Break". He also gained popularity through his roles in television series such as "Salto mortale", "Der Bastian", and "Sesame Street".
In the 1970s, Janson became a star of German post-war cinema, starring alongside Gustav Gründgens and Liselotte Pulver in films such as "The Glass of Water". He also appeared in crime films and romantic comedies, and won several awards for his performances, including the "Golden Otto" and the "Bambi" media prize.
In the 1980s, Janson continued to act in films and television series, including "Our Most Beautiful Years", "Northern Lights", and "Forest Inspector Buchholz". He also directed the children's program "Sesame Street" from 1980 to 1983.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Janson continued to work in film and television, appearing in productions such as "Sonderdezernat K l", "A Case for Two", and "Coast Guard". He also starred in the ARD TV series "Under White Sails" as Bernd Jensen, an authentic captain who travels the world's oceans.
Janson lives with his family in Munich and has been married twice, first to actress Monika Lundi and then to Hella Helgardt Ruthardt. He has two daughters, Sarah-Jane and Laura-Maria, who are also actresses.
