Pierre Brice, a renowned actor, was born on February 6, 1929, in Brest, France. Prior to embarking on his acting career, he volunteered for the French Army and fought in Indochina. Following his military service, Brice attended acting lessons and secured his first minor role in the 1955 film "Ça va barder."
Fast forward to 1962, when German producer Horst Wendlandt was on the hunt for an actor to portray the iconic Native American chief Winnetou in a Western movie adaptation of Karl May's novels. Brice's path crossed with Wendlandt at the Berlin Film Festival, and he was subsequently cast in the role that would define his career.
Brice went on to star in ten films alongside co-star Lex Barker as "Old Shatterhand," cementing his status as a superstar in Germany. His performances earned him numerous accolades, including the Bambi and the Golden Otto, as voted by the readers of teenage magazine "Bravo." Despite appearing in countless other movies and television shows, Brice remains forever associated with his iconic portrayal of "Winnetou," which he also brought to life on stage at the Bad Segeberg open air theater.
