Biography of Ellen Schwiers

Ellen Schwiers (born 11 June 1930 in Stettin; died 26 April 2019 at Lake Starnberg) was a German actress and director. She worked for decades on stage, in film and on television and remained connected with theatre into old age.

Family and early stage work

Schwiers was born to the actor Lutz Schwiers. Theatre was part of her life early on. After the Second World War she began her career on stage, including in Koblenz and Göttingen. In Zurich she appeared in world premieres of plays by Friedrich Dürrenmatt and Max Frisch. This work rooted her in theatre that demanded linguistic precision and strong presence.

Film and television

From the 1950s Schwiers also worked in front of the camera. She appeared in feature films, television plays and series, including 08/15, Der letzte Zeuge, Tatort, Derrick, Der Bulle von Tölz and later 3096 Days. Her roles ranged from sharply drawn supporting parts to women who showed hardness, warmth or vulnerability without much explanation.

Jedermann and touring theatre

At the Salzburg Festival Schwiers appeared as Buhlschaft in Jedermann. In 1982 she founded the touring theatre Das Ensemble with her family. After the death of her husband Peter Jacob she continued that work. She performed on stage and also organised theatre work, guest performances and roles for several generations of her family.

Late years on stage

Schwiers acted into her eighties. At 84 she was still on stage in Altweiberfrühling with her daughter Katerina Jacob and her brother Holger Schwiers. In 2015 she said farewell to the stage after around seven decades. This farewell was not a break with theatre, but the end of a physically demanding career.

Farewell

Ellen Schwiers died on 26 April 2019 after a long illness at her house on Lake Starnberg. She was 88 years old. Her work connects postwar theatre, television history and a family form of theatre that she carried for many years herself.