He played General von Choltitz in Schlöndorff’s “Diplomacy”: Niels Arestrup became known for his nuanced playing. Now the character actor has died at the age of 75.
Paris.
He was one of the best-known character actors in France, in Germany he was best known for the prison film “The Prophet” by Jacques Audiard and for his performance as a German general in the Parisian World War II drama “diplomacy” by Volker schlöndorff: l Actor Niels Arestrup has died at the age of 75.
The French media reported it, quoting his wife. He passed away at the end of “a courageous fight against the disease”, “surrounded by the love of his family”, France Info radio said.
Dark and deep
In his long career, Niels Arestrup has often played deep and dark roles, such as in “The Prophet”, in which he plays a brutal Corsican mafioso. For this role he received his first César for best supporting actor.
He won the same award for his role in Audiard’s “The Taste of Rust and Bone.” He also filmed the thriller “The Wild Beat of My heart” with Audiard.
Schlöndorff’s ”diplomacy” also lives on his acting skills. In the drama about the failed destruction of Paris in 1944, he played the German general Dietrich von Choltitz. In a thrilling psychological duel between two completely different men, the film tells how a Swedish diplomat (André Dussollier) uses an unprecedented fight to dissuade the steadfast Nazi general (Arestrup) from his murderous plan to blow up the French capital according to what ordered by Hitler (“Paris must not fall into the hands of the enemy or merely as a field of rubble”).
Along with Audiard and Schlöndorff, Arestrup also worked with many other famous directors, including Alain Resnais and Steven Spielberg. Arestrup was also a theater director and himself successfully appeared on stage.
Magnetic presence in front of the camera
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati praised Arestrup as a great X-rated actor: he impressed Jacques Audiard, Bertrand tavernier, Julian Schnabel and Albert Dupontel with the strength of his performance and his magnetic presence in front of the camera. He will be remembered as one of the greatest actors.
Arestrup was born near Paris on 8 February 1949,the son of a father of Danish origin and a French mother. He discovered his passion for acting early. He studied at renowned acting schools in Paris. (dpa)
#general #Diplomacy #niels #Arestrup #dead