Rolf Hoppe
Rolf Hoppe (6 December 1930 – 14 November 2018) was a prolific German stage, cinema, and television actor, who played in more than 400 films in a career which spanned over six decades. To international audiences Hoppe is perhaps best known for his roles as the General in the Oscar-winning Mephisto (1981) and as the King in the East-German–Czechoslovak Holiday classic Three Wishes for Cinderella (1973).
Rolf Hoppe

Siebbi · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Rolf Hoppe
- Born
- 6 December 1930
- Birthplace
- Ellrich, Saxony, Prussia, German Reich
- Died
- 14 November 2018 (aged 87)
- Place of death
- Dresden, Saxony, Germany
- Education
- Staatliches Konservatorium, Erfurt
- Occupation
- Actor
- Nationality
- German Reich, German Democratic Republic and Germany.
- Fields
- acting.
- Honours
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, National Prize of East Germany, art award of the City of Dresden, Lessing Prize of the Free State of Saxony, Grimme-Preis and Golden Hen.
- Languages
- German.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Rolf Hoppe (6 December 1930 – 14 November 2018) was a prolific German stage, cinema, and television actor, who played in more than 400 films in a career which spanned over six decades. To international audiences Hoppe is perhaps best known for his roles as the General in the Oscar-winning Mephisto (1981) and as the King in the East-German–Czechoslovak Holiday classic Three Wishes for Cinderella (1973).
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
Rolf Hoppe (1930–2018) was an actor, film actor and stage actor and a national of German Democratic Republic and German Reich. Born in Ellrich, the actor died in Dresden.
Rolf Hoppe studied at Institut für Slavistik, Sprechwissenschaft und Phonetik. The actor worked for Aeros, Deutsches Theater and Staatsschauspiel Dresden, among others and was a member of Sächsische Akademie der Künste. Rolf Hoppe was active in acting.
Languages used include German. The actor received art award of the City of Dresden, Deutscher Schauspielpreis and Golden Hen, among others.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Rolf Hoppe. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
museum · 2279864958 · wikidata · Q69661 · wikipedia · Rolf Hoppe
In this article
Biography
Biography
Rolf Hoppe studied at Institut für Slavistik, Sprechwissenschaft und Phonetik. The recorded working language is German. The field of work recorded is acting. Employment is recorded with Aeros, Thalia Theater and young spectator's theatre. Distinctions recorded are Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, National Prize of East Germany, art award of the City of Dresden and Lessing Prize of the Free State of Saxony.

Rolf Hoppe, German actor and theater chief. He played the king in the famous Czech-German fairy-tale film from 1973 " Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel " (Three Wishes for Cinderella).
Siebbi

Waldfriedhof Dresden-Weißer
SchiDD
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Rolf Hoppe • Born — 6 December 1930 • Birthplace — Ellrich, Saxony, Prussia, German Reich • Died — 14 November 2018 (aged 87) • Place of death — Dresden, Saxony, Germany • Education — Staatliches Konservatorium, Erfurt • Occupation — Actor • Credits — * Three Wishes for Cinderella • Mephisto • Children — 2 • Years Active — 1948–2014
Early life
Early life
Hoppe was born the son of a master baker in Ellrich, Thuringia, Germany. After his apprenticeship as a baker, he worked from 1945 to 1948 as a coach driver.
Career
Career
Hoppe moved to Erfurt where he began formal training as an actor at the Staatliches Konservatorium from 1949 to 1951, during which time he supported himself by working as an animal handler at the Zirkus Aeros. He later performed at Thalia Theater in Halle (Saale) and at the Theater der jungen Welt (children's and youth theatre) in Leipzig. His stage performances included such notable venues as the Staatsschauspiel Dresden, the Deutsches Theater in Berlin, and the Salzburg Festival. Internationally, he worked in Switzerland, Italy, Poland and China. In the East German DEFA movies, Hoppe frequently played villains in different Osterns ("Red Westerns") of the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1973 fairytale film Three Wishes for Cinderella, a Czechoslovak–East German co-production, he appeared as the King. One of Hoppe's most notable roles is that of "the General" (based on Hermann Göring) in István Szabó's drama Mephisto, which was awarded the 1981 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In Peter Schamoni's historical drama Spring Symphony, he played Friedrich Wieck, the strict piano teacher of Robert Schumann and father of Clara Wieck. In addition to numerous appearances in feature films and television productions, Hoppe also worked as a voice-artist in children's radio plays and audio-books.
Private life and death
Private life and death
Hoppe died 14 November 2018 in Dresden, where he lived in the suburb of Weißig. He was interred in the Waldfriedhof Weisser Hirsch (cemetery), Dresden. He was survived by his wife Friederike with whom he had two daughters: Josephine and Christine, the latter is also an actress. His grandson Oscar Hoppe is an actor as well.
Selected filmography
Selected filmography
• 1963: Jetzt und in der Stunde meines Todes, as Portier • 1965: Solange Leben in mir ist, as Abgeordneter • 1965: Die besten Jahre, as Lehrer Klein • 1965: Der Frühling braucht Zeit, as Rudi Wiesen • 1965: Karla (1965 film), as Lehrer Eiffler • 1966: Fräulein Schmetterling, as Himmelblau • 1967: Frau Venus und ihr Teufel, as Siegfried • 1968: I Was Nineteen, as Major Behring • 1968: Die Nacht im Grenzwald, as Bennigsen • 1968: Spur des Falken, as Bashan • 1968: Hauptmann Florian von der Mühle, as Polizeidirektor • 1968: Mohr und die Raben von London, as Bankier • 1968–1970: Ich – Axel Cäsar Springer (TV series) • 1969: Lebende Ware, as Grabau • 1969: Jungfer, Sie gefällt mir, as Reitender Bote • 1969: Nebelnacht, as Herr Kranepuhl • 1969: Weiße Wölfe, as James Bashan • 1970: Tödlicher Irrtum, as Allison • 1970: Jeder stirbt für sich allein (TV Mini-Series) • 1971: Männer ohne Bart, as Gangster • 1971: Goya or the Hard Way to Enlightenment, as Charles IV of Spain • 1971–1973: Die Brüder Lautensack (TV miniseries) • 1972: Leichensache Zernik, as Werner W. Bergmann • 1972: The Stolen Battle, as Josef Barody • 1972: Eolomea, as Prof. Oli Tal • 1973: Das zweite Leben des Friedrich Wilhelm Georg Platow, as Dr. Hoppe • 1973: Apachen, as Captain Burton • 1973: Susanne und der Zauberring, as Schleusenwärter • 1973: Die Hosen des Ritters von Bredow, as Ritter Götz von Bredow • 1973: Three Wishes for Cinderella, as King • 1973: Die Zwillinge (TV Movie), as Generaldirektor Beißer • 1974: Orpheus in der Unterwelt, as Jupiter • 1974: Leben mit Uwe, as Dr. Bohnsack • 1974: Der nackte Mann auf dem Sportplatz, as Tautz • 1974: Für die Liebe noch zu mager, as Onkel Carlo • 1974: Ulzana, as Captain Burton • 1974: Wie füttert man einen Esel, as Otto-Ernst Schuster • 1974: Hans Röckle und der Teufel, as Meister Hans Röckle • 1974: Johannes Kepler, as Emperor Rudolf II • 1974: Kit & Co, as Shorty • 1975: Between Day and Night • 1975: Die Bösewichter müssen dran, as Christian • 1975: Ikarus, as Brigadier • 1975–1996: Polizeiruf 110: Die Rechnung geht nicht auf (TV Series), as Goertz / Hopfer / Paul Kramer • 1976: Daniel Druskat (TV Mini-Series), as Herr Mühlstädt • 1976: Das Licht auf dem Galgen, as Pfarrer Clark • 1976: Unser stiller Mann, as Schuster • 1976: Beethoven – Tage aus einem Leben, as Ignaz Schuppanzigh • 1977: Zur See (TV Series), as Havarie-Kapitän Topf • 1977: Unterwegs nach Atlantis, as Alexander Grey • 1977: Die Flucht, as Der Runde • 1977–1979: Das unsichtbare Visier (TV Series) • 1978: Jörg Ratgeb – Maler, as Gaukler • 1978: Sabine Wulff, as Professor • 1978: Fleur Lafontaine, as Bullklein • 1978: Volpone (TV Movie), as Volpone • 1978: Ein Sonntagskind, das manchmal spinnt, as Lehrer Schütterow • 1979: Schatzsucher, as Blinder • 1980: Komödianten-Emil, as Kommissar • 1980: Yunost Petra • 1980: Levins Mühle, as Froese • 1980: Heute abend und morgen früh • 1981: Mephisto, as Tábornagy • 1981: Pugowitza, as Hopf • 1981: Feuerdrachen (TV Series), as Solka • 1982: Rächer, Retter und Rapiere (TV Series), as Heinrich von Müffling • 1982: Die Gerechten von Kummerow, as Superintendent • 1982: Der lange Ritt zur Schule, as Trapper • 1982: Sonjas Rapport • 1982: Bahnwärter Thiel (TV Movie), as Pfarrer • 1983: Spring Symphony, as Friedrich Wieck • 1983: Mein Vater ist ein Dieb • 1983: Martin Luther (TV Series) • 1983–1985: Der Staatsanwalt hat das Wort (TV Series), as Clemens Gerlach / Tristan • 1984: Woman Doctors, as Dr. Böblinger • 1984: Who Was Edgar Allan? (TV Movie), as Edgar Allan • 1985: Irrläufer (TV Movie), as Bergmann • 1985: ', as Gefängnisdirektor • 1985: Hälfte des Lebens • 1985: Kaiser und eine Nacht, as Eddie • 1985: Besuch bei Van Gogh, as Amadeus Bergk • 1985: Die Gänse von Bützow, as Dr. Hane • 1985: Sachsens Glanz und Preußens Gloria (TV Series), as Augustus III • 1986: The House on the River, as Director Hüsgen • 1986: Der Nachbar, as Georg Walz • 1986: Boundaries of Time: Caspar David Friedrich (TV Movie) • 1987: Johann Strauss: The King Without a Crown, as Duke Ernest II • 1987: Liane, as Jürgens Vater • 1987: Magnat, as Heinberg • 1987: The Tribulations of a Chinese Gentleman • 1988: Melanios letzte Liebe (TV Movie), as Melanio Altolaguirre • 1988: Zimmer 36 • 1989: ', as Bruno Markward • 1989: Pestalozzi's Mountain, as Zehender • 1989: Bangkok Story, as Hart • 1989: The Dancing Girl (舞姫), as Robert Koch • 1989: Ein brauchbarer Mann, as Heiner Rudolf • 1990: Kohl – ein deutscher Politiker • 1991: Das Licht der Liebe • 1991: Ende der Unschuld (TV Movie), as Otto Hahn • 1991: Bronstein's Children, as Gefangener • 1992: Die Männer vom K3 (TV Series), as Adolf Buchegger • 1992: Schtonk!, as Karl Lentz • 1992: Night on Fire (film), as Tobler • 1992: The Democratic Terrorist, as Lodge Hecht • 1992: Das große Fest (TV Movie), as Friedrich • 1993: Durchreise – Die Geschichte einer Firma (TV Mini-Series) • 1993: Die Lok, as Hans Kastler • 1993–2000: Das Traumschiff (TV Series), as Kommisar Franz Engel / Kurt Steiner • 1993–1999: Rosamunde Pilcher (TV Series), as Peter Green / Grenville Bayliss • 1994: Die Elefantenbraut (TV Movie), as Krottendorf • 1994: Constable Zumbühl, as Gemeindepräsident Mathis • 1994: Mario and the Magician, as Prefecto Angiolieri • 1994–2003: Tatort (TV Series), as Dr. Paul Knödgen / Karsunke / Mr. Sudhoff / Walter Severing / Karl Ammond / Tauber • 1995: La piovra, (TV Mini-Series), as Professor Ramonte • 1995: Zu treuen Händen (TV Movie), as Theo Krautinger • 1995: Matulla und Busch (TV Movie), as Senft • 1995: Inspector Rex (TV Series), as Erich Staller • 1997: Geisterstunde – Fahrstuhl ins Jenseits (TV Movie), as Frank • 1997: Lorenz im Land der Lügner, as König • 1997: Der Hauptmann von Köpenick (TV Movie), as Zuchthausdirektor • 1997: Comedian Harmonists, as Gauleiter Streicher • 1997: Die Healthy, as Georg Mosbacher • 1997: Reise in die Dunkelheit (TV Movie) • 1998: Palmetto, as Felix Malroux • 1998: Sugar for the Beast (TV Movie), as Prof. Weihrauch • 1998: One Step Too Far (TV Movie), as Anwalt Bornstein • 1999: Hans im Glück, as Reiter • 1999: Klemperer – Ein Leben in Deutschland (TV Series), as Opa Findeisen • 2000: Am Ende siegt die Liebe (TV Movie), as Max Sander • 2000: Models (TV Movie), as Berhard Rief • 2001: Die Verbrechen des Professor Capellari (TV Series), as Dr. Walter Schneider • 2001: Der Bulle von Tölz (TV Series), as Dr. Berthold Schwaninger • 2001–2006: SOKO Kitzbühel (TV Series), as Manninger / Santigo / Konsul Tichalski • 2002: Der letzte Zeuge (TV Series), as Josef Karzmann • 2002: Trenck (2002 film) (TV Movie), as Johann Kirnberger • 2004: Wilsberg (TV Series), as Erwin Kuhn • 2004: Donna Leon (TV Series), as Gabriele Cossato • 2004: Am Kap der Liebe (TV Movie), as Ferdinand Hansen / Paul Freeman • 2005: Alles auf Zucker!, as Rabbi Ginsberg • 2007: Giganten (TV Series), as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe • 2007: SOKO Rhein-Main (TV Series), as Rosenbaum • 2007: Mein alter Freund Fritz • 2007–2009: Commissario Laurenti (TV Series), as Galvano • 2008: The Visit (2008 film) (TV Movie), as Georg Riemann • 2009: Swinki, as Weber • 2009: Oh, What a Mess (TV Movie), as Mosche 'Zaide' Pulver • 2009: Eine Liebe in Petersburg (TV Movie), as Grischa • 2010: Küstenwache (TV Series), as Gunther Breitscheid • 2011: Bittere Kirschen • 2011: Linda geht tanzen (TV Movie), as Wilhelm Hessler • 2012: Shores of Hope, as Oberst Seler • 2013: Die letzte Instanz (TV Movie), as Otmar Koplin • 2014: Ohne Dich, as Hans • 2016: The Bloom of Yesterday, as Professor Norkus
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1930
Rolf Hoppe born at Ellrich.
2018
Rolf Hoppe died at Dresden.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Ellrich.
Birth place
Dresden.
Death place
Discography
• 2010: Hoppe spricht Schöne Frühlingslieder
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q69661: Rolf Hoppe
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
- “Rolf Hoppe”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Institutional database
authority file
Awards
• 1971: National Prize of East Germany 1. class for art and literature • 1981: Critics Award of the Hungarian Journalist. Association for his role in Mephisto • 1995: Lessing Prize of the Free State of Saxony • 1998: Grimme-Preis for his role in the TV miniseries Sardsch • 2005: Goldene Henne for his lifetime achievement • 2007: Art Award, City of Dresden • 2010: Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Der Dresdner Schauspieler Rolf Hoppe ist tot. In: Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten, 14 November 2018.
- 2.Tohle jste o pohádce Tři oříšky pro Popelku určitě nevěděli!. TV Prima.
- 3.Tři oříšky pro Popelku/Tre nøtter til Askepott.
- 4.Der Dresdner Schauspieler Rolf Hoppe ist tot. In: Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten, 14 November 2018.
- 5.IMDb Christine Hoppe Biography. IMDb.
- 6.Frühlingslieder auf Frühlingslieder.com (retrieved 19 June 2010)
Bibliography printed in the source article · 1
- Görner, Eberhard. Der Schauspieler Rolf Hoppe. Henschel. 1 January 1996. 3-89487-253-5.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
OpenStreetMap gazetteer entry for Rolf Hoppe, Mozartstraße, Rathenauviertel, Südstadt, Neustadt/Süd, Innenstadt, Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen, 50674, DeutschlandOpenStreetMap Foundation
Verifiedauthority file
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Rolf Hoppe worked in acting. He was employed by Aeros, Thalia Theater, young spectator's theatre, Deutsches Theater and Staatsschauspiel Dresden. He belonged to Sächsische Akademie der Künste. Hoppe received Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, National Prize of East Germany, art award of the City of Dresden, Lessing Prize of the Free State of Saxony, Grimme-Preis and Golden Hen.
Career and activity
Recognition and collections
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,408 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Rolands KalniņšPerson
- Rolf BotvidPerson
- Rolf ForsbergPerson
- Rolf HansenPerson
- Rolf LassgårdPerson
- Rolf LudwigPerson
- Rolf MeyerPerson
- Rolf OlsenPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Rolf Hoppe?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.