Manfred Lehmann
German actor (born 1945)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Manfred Lehmann (born 29 January 1945 in Berlin as Franz Lehmann) is a German actor and voice actor. He is best known as the German dubbing voice of Bruce Willis and Gérard Depardieu.
29 January 1945
Manfred Lehmann | |
|---|---|
Manfred Lehmann (2006) | |
| Born | Franz Lehmann 29 January 1945 Berlin, Germany |
| Occupations | Actor, voice actor |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Children | Dascha Lehmann |
| Relatives | Dennis Schmidt-Foß (son-in-law) Dalia Mya Schmidt-Foß (granddaughter) |
Life and career
Lehmann received his acting training from Edith Hildebrandt in Berlin. His first stage experience was at the Forum-Theater Berlin in 1968/69. From 1969 to 1971, he performed at the Berliner Komödie and the Schaubühne am Halleschen Ufer, from 1974 to 1977 at the Schillertheater, and in 1980 at the Grips-Theater.
Manfred Lehmann appeared in various German television productions, including multiple episodes of Tatort and Ein Fall für zwei.[1] He also appeared in international films, for example alongside Lewis Collins and Klaus Kinski in Code Name: Wild Geese (Geheimcode: Wildgänse) and Commando Leopard.[2] For the weekly ZDF consumer magazine WISO, Lehmann played the character "Detective Sommer".
Lehmann became known to a broad audience primarily through his work as a voice actor.[3] He is the standard German voice for Bruce Willis and Gérard Depardieu; additionally, he dubs Dolph Lundgren, Kurt Russell, and James Woods, among others.[4] He lent his voice to Steven Seagal once in the film The Patriot and twice to actor and comedian Bill Murray. Furthermore, he can be heard in radio and television commercials – most notably for the REWE "Award Ceremony", the hardware store chain Praktiker (with the famous slogan "20 percent off everything, except pet food"), Navigon ("Any questions?"), or Meda Kitchens – as well as in audio plays (e.g., in Jeff Wayne's musical version of The War of the Worlds) and documentaries.[5] Some of these commercials have been humorously archived on YouTube.[6]
In 2025, Lehmann successfully sued a YouTuber who used an AI-generated version of his voice.[7]
Manfred Lehmann lives in Berlin-Wilmersdorf. His daughter Dascha Lehmann, his son-in-law Dennis Schmidt-Foß, and his granddaughter Dalia Mya Schmidt-Foß are also active as voice actors.
Filmography
Actor (Selection)
- 1972: Tatort: Kennwort Gute Reise (TV series)
- 1974: Der Verfolger
- 1975: Autoverleih Pistulla (Episode 5)
- 1976: Auf Biegen oder Brechen
- 1977: Liebe das Leben, lebe das Lieben
- 1978: Ein Mann will nach oben (TV series)
- 1978: Kümo Henriette as Manfred Seemann
- 1978: Tatort: Schlußverkauf
- 1979: Iron Gustav (TV series)
- 1979: Lena Rais
- 1979: Kommissariat 9: Big Business
- 1979: Die wilde Flamme
- 1980: Didi die Nervensäge (TV series)
- 1981: Alles im Eimer
- 1981: Der Fuchs von Övelgönne: Unter falschem Verdacht
- 1981: Ach du lieber Harry
- 1981: Auf Schusters Rappen
- 1981: Überfall in Glasgow
- 1982: Tatort: Tod auf dem Rastplatz
- 1982–1991: Drei Damen vom Grill
- 1983: Didi der Schnüffler
- 1983: Didis tolle Späße
- 1983: Girl in a Boot (Einmal Ku'damm und zurück)
- 1983: Zelleriesalat
- 1984: Non-Stop Trouble with My Double (Didi – Der Doppelgänger)
- 1984: Code Name: Wild Geese (Geheimcode: Wildgänse)
- 1984: Der Alte: Zwei Särge aus Florida
- 1985: Commando Leopard
- 1985: Eine Frau für gewisse Stunden
- 1985: Ein Heim für Tiere (TV series, one episode)
- 1986: Operation Nam (Die Rückkehr der Wildgänse)
- 1986: Vertrauen gegen Vertrauen
- 1986, 1994: Liebling Kreuzberg
- 1986–1991: Die Wicherts von nebenan
- 1986–2007: Ein Fall für zwei (4 episodes)
- 1987: Praxis Bülowbogen
- 1988: The Commander
- 1988: Starke Zeiten
- 1989: Schwarzenberg
- 1989: Die Männer vom K3 – Tödlicher Export
- 1989: Der Alte, TV series, Episode 136: Der lange Atem
- 1989: Drunter und drüber
- 1989: Der Landarzt (Season 5)
- 1990: Ein Schloß am Wörthersee
- 1991: Tatort: Finale am Rothenbaum
- 1992: Terror Stalks the Class Reunion
- 1992: Rotlicht
- 1992: Mutter mit 16
- 1993: Nervenkrieg
- 1994: Tatort: Die Sache Baryschna
- 1994: Im Namen des Gesetzes
- 1996: Die Männer vom K3 – Eine saubere Stadt
- 1996: Der Tourist
- 1997: Post Mortem – Der Nuttenmörder
- 1997: Happy Birthday (TV series)
- 1997: Balko – Vaterliebe
- 1998: Der Eisbär
- 1998: Die Straßen von Berlin – Endstation
- 1998: Medicopter 117 – Jedes Leben zählt – Flug in die Hölle
- 1999: Der Clown – Mayday
- 2000: Der Pfundskerl – Tote buchen keinen Urlaub
- 2000: Der Runner
- 2001: Zwölfeläuten
- 2003: Alles Atze (Episode 31, Schwere Jungs)
- 2004: Germanikus
- 2005: Mit Herz und Handschellen – Familienbande
- 2005: Das Duo: Blutiges Geld
- 2007: Die Küstenwache – Schatten der Vergangenheit
- 2008: Pfarrer Braun – Die Gärten des Rabbiners
- 2009: In aller Freundschaft (Episode 436: Gutes tun)
- 2010: Murder Is No Fairy Tale (Wolfsfährte)
- 2012: Alarm für Cobra 11 – Die Autobahnpolizei – Engel des Todes
- 2013: The Miserere (Choral des Todes)
- 2016: Circus HalliGalli (Season 8, Episode 2)
- 2020: Charlatan
Voice acting roles (Selection)
- 1988: Die Hard as John McClane
- 1990: Die Hard 2 as John McClane
- 1991: The Last Boy Scout as Joseph "Joe" Hallenbeck
- 1991: Hudson Hawk as Hudson Hawk
- 1994: Pulp Fiction as Butch Coolidge
- 1995: 12 Monkeys as James Cole
- 1996: Last Man Standing as John Smith
- 1997: The Jackal as The Jackal
- 1997: The Fifth Element as Korben Dallas
- 1998: Mercury Rising as Art Jeffries
- 1998: Armageddon as Harry Stamper
- 1999: The Sixth Sense as Malcolm Crowe
- 2000: The Whole Nine Yards as "Jimmy the Tulip" Tudeski
- 2000: Unbreakable as David Dunn
- 2001: Bandits as Joseph "Joe" Blake
- 2003: Tears of the Sun as Lt. A.K. Waters
- 2004: Ocean's Twelve as Bruce Willis
- 2004: The Whole Ten Yards as "Jimmy the Tulip" Tudeski
- 2005: Sin City as John Hartigan
- 2006: Lucky Number Slevin as Mr. Goodkat
- 2007: Live Free or Die Hard as John McClane
- 2007: Perfect Stranger as Harrison Hill
- 2009: Surrogates as Tom Greer
- 2010: The Expendables as Mr. Church
- 2010: Red as Frank Moses
- 2011: Setup as Biggs
- 2012: The Cold Light of Day as Martin Shaw
- 2012: The Expendables 2 as Mr. Church
- 2012: Moonrise Kingdom as Captain Sharp
- 2012: Looper as Joe (old)
- 2013: A Good Day to Die Hard as John McClane
- 2013: Red 2 as Frank Moses
- 2013: Sin City: A Dame to Kill For as John
- 2014: The Prince as Omar
- 2017: Once Upon a Time in Venice as Steve Ford
- 2018: Acts of Violence as Detective James Avery
- 2019: Glass as David Dunn
- 2020: Hard Kill as Donovan Chalmers
- 2021: Fortress
- 2021: Midnight in the Switchgrass
- 1978: Up in Smoke as Pedro De Pacas
- 1989: Ghostbusters II as Dock Supervisor
- 1998: Paulie as Ignacio
- 1987: Masters of the Universe as He-Man
- 1990: Dark Angel as Jack Caine
- 1992: Universal Soldier as Andrew Scott / GR13
- 1994: Men of War as Nick Gunar
- 1998: Blackjack as Jack Devlin
- 2005: The Mechanik as Nick Cherenko
- 2007: Diamond Dogs as Xander Ronson
- 2018: Aquaman as King Nereus
- 2018: Black Water
- 2019: Creed II as Ivan Drago
- 1980: Loulou as Roger Morzini
- 1981: Choice of Arms as Mickey
- 1986: Les Fugitifs as Jean Lucas
- 1990: Green Card as Georges
- 1992: 1492: Conquest of Paradise as Christopher Columbus
- 1994: My Father the Hero as Andre
- 1996: Bogus as Bogus
- 1998: The Man in the Iron Mask as Porthos
- 1998: The Count of Monte Cristo as Edmond Dantes
- 1999: Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar as Obelix
- 2000: Les Misérables as Jean Valjean
- 2001: 102 Dalmatians as Jean-Pierre Le Pelt
- 2002: Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra as Obelix
- 2003: Nathalie... as Bernard
- 2005: Boudu as Boudu
- 2007: La Vie en rose as Louis Leplée
- 2008: Hello Goodbye as Alain Gaash
- 2010: Potiche as Maurice Babin
- 2012: Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia as Obelix
- 2013: The Miserere (Choral des Todes) as Lionel Kasdan
- 2016: Marseille (TV series) as Mayor Robert Taro
- 2017: Let the Sunshine In as Denis
- 2018: Alad'2 as Christopher Columbus
- 1994: The Specialist as Ned Trent
- 1995: Casino as Lester Diamond
- 2001: Scary Movie 2 as Father McFeely
- 1981: Escape from New York as Snake Plissken
- 1982: The Thing as R.J. MacReady
- 1989: Tango & Cash as Gabriel "Gabe" Cash
- 1991: Backdraft as Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey
- 1992: Unlawful Entry as Michael Carr
- 1994: Stargate as Colonel Jack O'Neil
- 1996: Executive Decision as David Grant
- 1996: Escape from L.A. as Snake Plissken
- 1997: Breakdown as Jeffrey "Jeff" Taylor
- 2001: Vanilla Sky as Dr. McCabe
- 2001: 3000 Miles to Graceland as Michael Zane
- 2006: Poseidon as David Ramsey
- 2007: Death Proof as Stuntman Mike
- 2015: Furious 7 as Frank Petty / Mr. Nobody
- 2016: Deepwater Horizon as Jimmy Harrell
- 2015: The Hateful Eight as John Ruth
- 2017: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as Ego
- 2017: The Fate of the Furious as Frank Petty / Mr. Nobody
- 2019: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Randy / Narrator
- 2021: F9 as Mr. Nobody
- 1992: Reservoir Dogs as Mr. Blonde / Vic Vega
- 1992: Beyond the Law as Blood
- 1989: Born on the Fourth of July as Charlie
- 1994: Clear and Present Danger as John Clark
Dubbing in Films (Misc)
- 1969: The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes – Shelly Novack as Johnny Finney
- 1974: The Young Graduate (1969) – Michael Walker as Tony
- 1974: Dark Star – Brian Narelle as Lt. Doolittle
- 1976: The French Woman – Roland Blanche as Robert
- 1979: Meatballs – Bill Murray as Tripper Harrison
- 1979: Flatfoot in Egypt – Riccardo Pizzuti as Salvatore Coppola
- 1982: Evil Under the Sun – Nicholas Clay as Patrick Redfern
- 1982: Les Maîtres du temps as Claude
- 1983: The Big Chill – William Hurt as Nick Carlton
- 1983: Krull – Liam Neeson as Kegan
- 1984: Hot Dog...The Movie – Sandy Hackett as Wet-T-Shirt-Contest-MC and Robin Haynes as Announcer
- 1984: Places in the Heart – Ed Harris as Wayne Lomax
- 1984: The Karate Kid – Martin Kove as John Kreese
- 1985: Day of the Dead – Joe Pilato as Cpt. Rhodes
- 1985: Year of the Dragon – Mickey Rourke as Capt. Stanley White
- 1985: Runaway Train – Jon Voight as Oscar "Manny" Manheimer
- 1986: Manhunter – Brian Cox as Dr. Hannibal Lecter
- 1986: Critters – Don Keith Opper as Charlie McFadden
- 1987: The Last Innocent Man – Ed Harris as Harry Nash
- 1988: Scrooged – Bill Murray as Frank Cross
- 1988: They Live – Roddy Piper as Nada
- 1988: Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw as Beamer
- 1989: The January Man – Alan Rickman as Ed
- 1989: Enemies, A Love Story – Ron Silver as "Herman Broder"
- 1989: Pet Sematary – Dale Midkiff as Dr. Louis Creed
- 1989: An Innocent Man – M. C. Gainey as Malcolm
- 1990: Blue Steel – Clancy Brown as Nick Mann
- 1990: Alice – William Hurt as Doug Tate
- 1990: I Love You to Death – William Hurt as Harlan James
- 1991: New Jack City – Wesley Snipes as Nino Brown
- 1992: Passenger 57 – Wesley Snipes as John Cutter
- 1992: Reservoir Dogs – Michael Madsen as Mr. Blonde / Vic Vega
- 1993: True Romance – Val Kilmer as Elvis Presley
- 1994: The Chase – Ray Wise as Dalton Voss
- 1998: The Negotiator – David Morse as Cmdr. Adam Beck
- 1998: The Patriot – Steven Seagal as Dr. Wesley McClaren
- 2003: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen – Naseeruddin Shah as Captain Nemo
- 2004: The Girl Next Door – James Remar as Hugo Posh
- 2004: Shrek 2 – Larry King as Doris
- 2007: Shrek the Third – Larry King as Doris
- 2010: Shrek Forever After – Larry King as Doris
- 2017: Sie nannten ihn Spencer – as Riccardo Pizzuti
TV Series (Dubbing)
- 1983: Hart to Hart – William Lucking as Vince
- 1986: Hart to Hart – James Luisi as McGarity
- 1987: Miami Vice – Jeroen Krabbé as Klaus Herzog
- 1991: Hawaii Five-O – Don Stroud as Nathan Purdy
- 1992: Samurai Pizza Cats – Kōichi Yamadera as Bad Bird
- 1993–1995: The Animals of Farthing Wood – Ron Moody as Toad
- 1994: Hogan's Heroes – Paul Picerni as Jack Williams
- 1996: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Clarence Williams III as Omet’iklan
- 2003: Sex and the City – James Remar as Richard Wright
Video Games
| Year | Game | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Broken Helix | Jake Burton |
| 1998 | The Settlers III | Helios |
| 1998 | Apocalypse | Trey Kincaid (Bruce Willis) |
| 1998 | Nightlong: Union City Conspiracy | Joshua Reev |
| 1999 | Omikron: The Nomad Soul | Krill |
| 1999 | Outcast | Cutter Slade |
| 2000 | Battle Isle: The Andosia Conflict | Narrator |
| 2002 | The Thing | Blake |
| 2002 | Neocron | Voice over of the German trailer |
| 2002 | Die Hard: Vendetta | John McClane |
| 2003 | Nocturne | Stranger |
| 2003 | Wanted: A Wild Western Adventure | Joe Banister |
| 2004 | Sacred | Gladiator |
| 2004 | The Moment of Silence | Peter Wright |
| 2005 | Earth 2160 | Michael R. Falkner |
| 2008 | Drakensang: The Dark Eye | Ritter Traldar |
| 2008 | Mirror's Edge | |
| 2011 | Duke Nukem Forever | Duke Nukem |
| 2011 | Crysis 2 | Colonel Barclay |
| 2016 | Dishonored 2 | Corvo Attano |
| 2021 | Age of Empires IV | Prelate |
| 2021 | World of Warships | Johannes Meck-Leyne |
Audio plays and features
- Various voices for radio commercials
- 1977–1978: Kimba the White Lion Episodes 2, 4, 7 (Poly), various roles
- 1980: Winnetou (Mein Freund Winnetou) Episodes 2, 5 (Europa Jugend). Role: Yaqui
- 2011: Michael Lissek: Saat des Sieges. Wie Gärtner (mal wieder) die Welt retten wollen (Narrator) (Radio Feature)
- 2014: Elodie Pascal: Blowback | Der Auftrag – Director: Elisabeth Pulz (Audio play – DKultur)
- 2014: Gruselkabinett Episodes 86, 87, 89 (Titania Medien), various roles
- 2014: Sherlock Holmes Episodes 12, 14 (Titania Medien), various roles
- 2014: Titania Special Episode 10: Pinocchio (Titania Medien), Role: Farmer
- Since 2014: C. Auguste Dupin in the series Sherlock Holmes & Co. and Die geheimnisvollen Fälle von Edgar Allen Poe und Auguste Dupin
- 2021: Voice-over for a recruitment film for the Berlin Police[8]
- 2023: Intro speaker for the YouTube format Survival Squad[9]