August Schmölzer

Schmölzer was born on June 27, 1958, into a farming family in St. Stefan ob Stainz in Styria, Austria. He initially training as a chef, completing a cooking apprenticeship.^[1][2] Schmölzer began studying acting in 1979 at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz and later undertook further training at the Herbert Berghoff Studio in New York.^[1]

Following his graduation in Graz in 1982, he made his stage debut at the Heilbronn Theatre and went on to perform at venues including Theater in der Josefstadt in Vienna, the Salzburg Festival, and the Munich Residenz Theatre. From the late 1980s, he also established himself as a film and television actor, with early leading roles in productions such as Tunnelkind  [de] (1990) and Requiem for Dominic (1990). He later appeared in films including Schindler's List (1993), Der Unfisch (1997), Bandits (1997), and Downfall (2004), and had recurring roles in television series such as Julia – Eine ungewöhnliche Frau and Die Landärztin.^[1]

After Oktoberfest  [de] (2005), Schmölzer appeared less frequently in cinema, though he had roles in Ludwig II (2012), Erik & Erika  [de] (2018), and the films Marlene and Sleep [de] (both 2020).^[1]

In addition to acting, Schmölzer has worked as an author, publishing both fiction and non-fiction, including his first novel in 2014, Am Ende wird alles sichtbar (English: In the end, everything will become clear), which was later adapted into a 2023 film of the same name [de].^[1][2][3] Schmölzer is also involved in charitable initiatives, founding an organisation in 2005 focused on supporting children and young people in education. In recognition of his humanitarian work, he was named Austrian of the Year in 2012 and received the Medal of Honour of the State of Styria in 2016.^[1]