Special Honor for Peter Weck on His 95th Birthday
At the celebration in the Plachutta restaurant on Wollzeile, Ludwig praised the extraordinary life work of the jubilarian Peter Weck, who has shaped theater, film, and television in the German-speaking world for decades.
Honorary Gift from the City of Vienna for Peter Weck
"Peter Weck has sensitized generations of viewers to quality and shown that entertainment and artistic ambition are not opposites," emphasized Ludwig in his laudation. "As a promoter of talents, team leader, and visionary director, he has sustainably positioned Vienna on the cultural map of Europe."
The Viennese mayor particularly praised Weck's contributions to Vienna: "He has placed our city on the musical map of Europe with foresight and courage, thereby making an invaluable contribution to Vienna's cultural landscape." Ludwig concluded the laudation with the words: "Thank you for the standards that remain: professionalism, curiosity, humanity - the most beautiful traditions because they enable the future."
An Artistic Life Full of Highlights
Peter Weck, born on August 12, 1930, in Vienna, began his artistic career as a member of the Vienna Boys' Choir. After graduating with honors from the Max Reinhardt Seminar, Weck initially established himself as a stage actor. From 1957 to 1968, he was a member of the ensemble at the Vienna Burgtheater for eleven years and regularly performed at the Salzburg Festival.
His film career led him in the 1950s and 1960s to roles in classics such as "The Story of Vickie" and the legendary "Sissi" trilogy with Romy Schneider. His work on television remains unforgettable: With the cult series "I Marry a Family" (1983-1986), he made TV history. In 14 episodes, Weck not only took on the lead role of Werner Schumann but also directed all the episodes.
As the director of the Theater an der Wien, Peter Weck revolutionized the Austrian theater landscape from 1983 onwards. With courage and foresight, he brought the musical "Cats" in German to Vienna - the German-language premiere on September 24, 1983, marked the beginning of a new era. This was followed by other major productions such as "The Phantom of the Opera". In 1992, the world premiere of "Elisabeth" took place, a milestone with international appeal.
Numerous Honors for Weck
After the death of his long-time wife Ingrid in 2012 - with whom he had two children - Weck temporarily withdrew from the public eye. In 2010, he published his memoirs under the title "Was that it? Memories" - a book that provides insights into a fulfilling artistic life.
Peter Weck's versatile work was honored with numerous awards: multiple Golden Cameras, Bambi, Romy (Platinum) for lifetime achievement, the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st Class, the Golden Medal of Honour of the City of Vienna, the Golden Badge of Honour for Services to the State of Vienna, and the Golden Rathausmann.
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