Waltraut Haas passed away at 97 in Vienna: Farewell to a Film Legend

She will forever remain in the hearts of Austrians as Mariandl: Even though Waltraut Haas made around 70 films during her long career, it was this role in her debut film "Hofrat Geiger" in 1947 alongside Hans Moser that would indelibly shape her career. Now, Mariandl has passed away on Wednesday in the early morning hours at the age of 97 in Vienna, as her family announced.

"Despite all the endless grief, we are grateful that she had such a long life, was able to bring joy to so many people, and was also in relatively good physical condition until the end," said the bereaved in their communiqué, announcing a farewell in the closest family circle: "Besides her impressive career, she was above all one thing: a warm-hearted, humorous, and deeply lovable person."

With Haas, Austria loses one of the country's most beloved actresses, a grande dame of domestic film and theater, whose charming presence, distinctive voice, and joyful nature touched audiences across generations. "Waltraut Haas was the Mariandl and the Rösslwirtin of the nation - and will remain so forever," it was stated in a press release.

Waltraut Haas has died

In films like "Der Hofrat Geiger", "Mariandl", "Im weißen Rössl" or "Hallo Dienstmann", Haas became an icon of Austrian post-war cinema. Her long-standing collaboration with director Franz Antel particularly marked an entire era of domestic filmmaking. Haas repeatedly demonstrated her artistic versatility on stage, most recently for many years at the Wachaufestspiele Weissenkirchen. From 1966, Waltraut Haas was married to actor Erwin Strahl (1929-2011).

Waltraut Haas: Farewell in the closest family circle

"Besides her impressive career, she was above all one thing: a warm-hearted, humorous, and deeply lovable person. The gap she leaves behind is large," said the family, who asked "for the necessary peace and privacy to mourn." The farewell will take place in the closest family circle at Waltraut Haas's request.

To this day, the charm of the actress, born on June 9, 1927, in Vienna as the daughter of a hotelier family, is legendary. However, the path to her profession was not easy. At her mother's request, Haas first attended a household school before completing the Conservatory for Performing Arts in Vienna and additionally taking private acting lessons with Burgtheater actress Julia Janssen.

Theater came before Mariandl

The beginning of her career then led through theater stages, including the Landestheater Linz, the Bürgertheater, the Stadttheater, and Raimund Theater in Vienna, as well as the Titania-Palast Berlin and the Deutsches Theater Munich in Germany. Then, the discovery by Willi Forst marked the turning point: He cast her as Mariandl for his "Hofrat Geiger", which subsequently earned Haas numerous roles as a sweet Viennese girl.

As mentors and companions, figures such as Paul Hörbiger, Curd Jürgens, Johannes Heesters, Franz Antel, Heinz Rühmann, and above all Hans Moser were there to support the actress. In addition to her roles in "Mariandl", "Mariandls Heimkehr", "Hallo Dienstmann", "Kleiner Schwindel am Wolfgangsee", "Gruß und Kuß aus der Wachau" or "Keine Angst Liebling, ich paß schon auf" directed by her husband Erwin Strahl, Haas also recorded albums, including "Im Weißen Rössl" and "Wiener Lieder".

"Now I Say It" as Memoirs of Waltraut Haas

This eventful life was depicted by Waltraut Haas in her 2018 memoirs "Now I Say It", in which she not only talks about her experiences with Hollywood stars like Errol Flynn but also erects a literary monument to her husband Erwin Strahl, with whom she had their son Marcus Strahl, now an actor and director. Despite her fundamental optimism, she also spoke of disappointments and defeats. As the genre of the charming homeland film and thus her roles in works like "00Sex am Wolfgangsee" increasingly turned into shallow sex melodramas, Haas' path led her back to the theater stages, where she mostly stood in the spotlight under the direction of her husband, who passed away in 2011.

Additionally, the actress, who was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art in 2003 and the Golden Vienna Medal of Honour in 2010, discovered German-language television for herself. Most recently, in 2020, she was seen as a coma patient in Catalina Molina's "Das Glück ist ein Vogerl". Above all, Waltraut Haas remained always connected to the theater stage and was seen with the artist innkeepers Tamara Trojani and Konstantin Schenk in the Dinner Theater Schönbrunn or at the Wachau Festival.

On behalf of the family, Bestattung Himmelblau has set up an online condolence book: www.bestattung-himmelblau.at/waltraut-haas/. Here, the public can bid farewell to Waltraut Haas with personal words and express their condolences.

Reactions from Politics to the Death of Waltraut Haas

Below is a selection of reactions to the death of the 97-year-old:

Vice Chancellor and Minister of Culture Andreas Babler (SPÖ):

"With great dismay and sadness, I have learned of the death of Waltraut Haas. With her solid skills, charismatic presence, and humorous nature, she was active in theater as well as in film and television for decades and significantly shaped the film industry of the post-war period in Austria. Haas was a pronounced audience favorite and a fixture of Austrian acting and singing art, which shone beyond the national borders."

Mayor of Vienna Michael Ludwig (SPÖ):

"With the death of Waltraut Haas, we lose a legend of Austrian film and theater. As Mariandl alongside Hans Moser and Paul Hörbiger, and as Rösslwirtin with Peter Alexander, she captured the hearts of the audience in a storm. With charm, wit, and her unmistakable naturalness, she provided unforgettable moments as a true audience favorite and touched and inspired generations of viewers."

Vienna's Cultural Councillor Veronica Kaup-Hasler (SPÖ):

"Waltraut Haas was not only a popular actress but also a passionate ambassador of culture - she shone far beyond the Austrian borders with her performances, which she was able to fill with humanity and sensitivity."

FPÖ Cultural Spokesperson Wendelin Mölzer:

"With Waltraut Haas, Austria loses a great artist whose work has touched and inspired generations of people. Her memory will live on in the Austrian cultural landscape."

ÖVP Cultural Spokesperson Laurenz Pöttinger:

"With her, an era comes to an end. The grande dame of post-war cinema was a favorite with audiences for generations. With her work in films like 'Der Hofrat Geiger' as 'Mariandl' and 'Im weißen Rössl' as the innkeeper, she achieved great fame and entertained people for more than half a century."

Green Party Cultural Spokesperson Werner Kogler:

"With the death of Waltraut Haas, Austria loses an icon of domestic theater and cinema of the post-war period. Her versatile artistic work and personal charisma remain unforgettable. Alongside the mourning of her death, the memory of her great roles persists."

Lower Austria's Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP):

"Waltraut Haas was not only an icon of Austrian cinema but also a personality full of joie de vivre, warmth, warmth, and modesty. Generations of Austrians admired her for her acting skills and her lovable and unique charisma - whether as 'Mariandl' or later as the grande dame of the theater."

(APA/Red)

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