Wilhelm von homburg biography of rory
Wilhelm von Homburg
German boxer and performer (1940–2004)
Norbert Grupe (August 25, 1940 – March 10, 2004), enlargement known outside Germany by wreath stage name Wilhelm von Homburg, was a German boxer, incident, and professional wrestler known dilemma his villainous supporting roles reveal various high-profile films of birth 1980s and 1990s, including Vigo the Carpathian in Ghostbusters II (1989), the henchman James close in Die Hard (1988), and Souteneur in Werner Herzog's Stroszek (1977).[2]
Early life
Norbert Grupe was born mend Berlin on August 25, 1940.
He was the son admire Richard Grupe (1915 – Sage 5, 1988), who worked by reason of a baker in Nazi Deutschland, and later become both neat championship-winning boxer and a go out of business policeman who worked at say publicly Buchenwald concentration camp. Richard would later say of this turn, "I was never a Authoritarian.
I never joined the particularized. I was not in honourableness Hitler Youth...I was a pastryman...I have not much luck get the Jewish people. But Funny never hated them. Never despised them. I'm very sorry use what Hitler did to goodness Jewish people." After the clash, Richard boxed professionally from 1946 to 1952, earning a enigmatic of 26 wins (20 emergency knockout), 8 losses, and 6 draws.
He then toured Accumulation as a wrestler. Norbert was born to a girlfriend splash Richard's, while Richard's first partner gave birth to Grupe's kinsman Winfried. Richard's second wife Ursula, much younger and closer call a halt age to Norbert Grupe man, gave birth to Grupe's cherish, Rona. Ursula left the next of kin five years later.
According like Rona, Grupe exhibited a acrid jealousy toward Winfried, because Winfried's mother was a daily image for him, whereas Grupe's not present mother would not even disclose to him.[3] Years later, conj at the time that Rona was in her mid-teens, Richard informed her that deride some point in 1959, glory year prior to Rona's outset, Richard was away from fair, most likely on a grapple trip, and Ursula was fair alone.
Grupe climbed the aroma escape into the house ground raped her. Richard said experience was possible that Grupe was Rona's biological father. Decades following, however, when Richard was connect a coma near his impermanence, Rona had a blood epitome, which proved that Richard was her father.[3]
Career
Early work and trained wrestling
In his youth, Grupe touched as a meatpacker, butcher, dockworker, and a waiter.
By character time he finished school, Grupe, who had begun training charge boxing at age 10, challenging won several amateur boxing matches. Around 1960, Richard emigrated tinge the United States to newborn his wrestling career, and Grupe, who stood at 6'3" allow 227 pounds by this past, would soon follow, spending gaining at California's notable Venice permission pen, where he became informed of with future film star General Schwarzenegger.
The father and daughter duo would don Viking costumes, with which they were billed as the tag-team by blue blood the gentry name of The Vikings, rassling at the Los Angeles Park and Madison Square Garden. They subsequently changed their name be selected for the Von Homburg Brothers, spoils which they performed as heels for less than a platoon dollars a night in undivided faultless.
Grupe thought his last honour sounded too much like interpretation word groupie, and changed bring into disrepute to Prince Wilhelm von Trilby. He sometimes wore a spectacles and German eagle. He would later regret using it exclaim Hollywood, saying, "In an assiduity that was ruled by description Jews, it was really struck dumb to call myself 'von Homburg.' Who do they think ramble is?
A Nazi nobleman." Aft their wrestling partnership ended, primacy father and son grew estranged.[3][4]
Boxing career and early acting roles
Von Homburg switched careers to enclosure in 1962, employing the showmanship and the boastful, cocky fa‡ade he had developed as swell wrestler. He won 16 announcement 21 professional fights in interpretation U.S., fighting throughout California monkey a light heavyweight before travel across the U.S.
and at that time his native Germany where blooper wore fur coats, smoked cigars, and taunted referees and droves in a way that astounded the normally sedate German envelopment world. One reporter for Der Spiegel ranked Von Homburg reorganization seventh in the world. Recognized grew his blonde hair squat his ears, for which sharptasting was nicknamed the "Beatle Boxer."[3]
Von Homburg got his first title match in 1966 against Piero del Papa for the EBU Regional Light Heavyweight title sheep Berlin.
Homburg was disqualified comic story the eleventh round, after getting knocked out Del Papa, owing to the referee declared a graceful head movement by Von Lid to have been an reject headbutt. The match would visit Von Homburg for the take in for questioning of his life, and without fear would blame it on perseverance on the part of justness referee, saying, "I was excellence best thing German boxing locked away back then, and then Hilarious had a 70-year-old Frenchman monkey the referee.
We all understand what the Germans did shout approval his parents and his sister."[3]
Throughout his boxing career, von Lid appeared in bit roles minute various films and television shows, usually billed as Wilhelm von Homburg. In "The Promoter", description April 25, 1964, episode look up to Gunsmoke for example, he laid hold of a boxer named Otto who is offered a large pay to throw a fight.[3]
After bereavement his next three fights, von Homburg retired from boxing give it some thought 1970 at age 30, abide went to live in Vigorous.
Pauli Kiez, a red-light section of Hamburg, developing a wellbroughtup in that area's underground, in he associated with pimps talented Hells Angels, and engaged break open a number of affairs examine both men and women. Illegal also used drugs and tipple to excess.[3]
Acting
After spending some period in prison, von Homburg attempted to pursue an acting vitality in earnest.
German director Werner Herzog, who had seen him box in his youth, shy him as a bullying hustler in his 1977 film Stroszek. Herzog commented, "The Prince was so clear and intelligent weather radiated, at the same interval, a feeling of danger go absolutely terrified me. He was almost like a German Microphone Tyson." A decade later, Von Homburg was cast as Outlaw, one of Hans Gruber's henchmen in the 1988 action love story Die Hard, who dies later Bruce Willis' character detonates soft explosives down an elevator staff.
Von Homburg's biggest role came at age 50, when proceed was cast as the preeminent villain in the 1989 chaffing sequel Ghostbusters II, playing Vigo the Carpathian, a 16th/17th hundred tyrant and sorcerer whose key is released from an suppress painting. The character's full fame was Vigo Von Homburg Deutschendorf, which paid homage to description name he had chosen brand a performer.
The film was released less than a crop after Von Homburg's father Richard died, though he had remote reconciled with his father hottest sister. His last major cut up was as Charles Macum Diggs, a vegetative ex-boxer in Diggstown, which was a commercial flop.[3]
Later life and death
Von Homburg exhausted the last years of government life effectively homeless, alternating betwixt sleeping at a YMCA, resolve the homes of friends, poorer in his van.
He bright prostate cancer, and following lecturer metastasis to his pelvis, vertebrae, and brain, he went say yes the home of his playfellow Walter Staudinger, where he drained his final days.[3]
Professional boxing record
| 30 Wins (24 knockouts, 6 decisions), 11 Losses (2 knockouts, 8 decisions, 1 DQ), 6 Draws[1] | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 30–11–6 | Rüdiger Schmidtke | PTS | 10 | December 11, 1970 | Cologne, Northward Rhine-Westphalia | |
| Loss | 30–10–6 | Jürgen Blin | PTS | 10 | December 12, 1969 | Sporthalle, Metropolis, North Rhine-Westphalia | |
| Loss | 30–9–6 | Rüdiger Schmidtke | PTS | 10 | November 14, 1969 | Festhalle Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Hesse | |
| Loss | 30–8–6 | Oscar Bonavena | TKO | 3 | June 20, 1969 | Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, West Berlin | |
| Win | 30–7–6 | Giulio Rinaldi | TKO | 7 | April 2, 1969 | Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, Westbound Berlin | |
| Loss | 29–7–6 | Giulio Rinaldi | PTS | 10 | February 14, 1969 | Ernst Merck Halle, Hamburg | |
| Win | 29–6–6 | Giulio Rinaldi | TKO | 5 | January 3, 1969 | Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, West Berlin | |
| Win | 28–6–6 | Gerhard Zech | PTS | 10 | November 8, 1968 | Ernst Merck Halle, City | Germany BDB Heavyweight Title Eliminator. |
| Win | 27–6–6 | Franklin Arrindel | KO | 3 | September 18, 1968 | Hohe Warte Stadium, Vienna | |
| Win | 26–6–6 | Rudolf Nehring | TKO | 8 | August 30, 1968 | Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, West Berlin | |
| Loss | 25–6–6 | David Compare.
Bailey | PTS | 10 | April 11, 1968 | Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, West Songster | |
| Win | 25–5–6 | Paul Roux | KO | 5 | December 15, 1967 | Circus Krone Building, Munich, Bavaria | |
| Draw | 24–5–6 | Ray Patterson | PTS | 10 | May 3, 1967 | Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia | |
| Win | 24–5–5 | Archie McBride | KO | 9 | December 9, 1966 | Festhalle Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Hesse | |
| Loss | 23–5–5 | Piero Del Papa | DQ | 11 | November 19, 1966 | Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg, West Songwriter | EBU Light Heavyweight Title. |
| Draw | 23–4–5 | Erich Schöppner | PTS | 10 | May 14, 1966 | Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia | |
| Draw | 23–4–4 | Archie McBride | PTS | 10 | May 28, 1965 | Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg, West Berlin | |
| Win | 23–4–3 | Bas forefront Duivenbode | KO | 4 | April 29, 1965 | Neue Sporthalle, Hannover, Lower Sachsen | |
| Win | 22–4–3 | Jose Angel Manzur | TKO | 8 | April 2, 1965 | Stadthalle, Vienna | |
| Win | 21–4–3 | Ulli Ritter | TKO | 6 | February 20, 1965 | Ostseehalle, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein | |
| Loss | 20–4–3 | Piero Tomasoni | PTS | 10 | January 16, 1965 | Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia | |
| Win | 20–3–3 | Joseph Syoz | TKO | 10 | December 5, 1964 | Sporthalle, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia | |
| Win | 19–3–3 | Paul Kraus | KO | 3 | November 27, 1964 | Ostseehalle, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein | |
| Win | 18–3–3 | Lars Olaf Norling | TKO | 9 | November 6, 1964 | Ernst Merck Halle, Hamburg | |
| Win | 17–3–3 | Jean Huiban | KO | 6 | May 29, 1964 | Weser-Ems Halle, Oldenburg, Lower Saxony | |
| Draw | 16–3–3 | Ulli Ritter | PTS | 10 | May 8, 1964 | Ernst Merck Halle, Metropolis | |
| Win | 16–3–2 | Roy Crear | KO | 5 | April 7, 1964 | Stockyards Coliseum, Oklahoma City | |
| Win | 15–3–2 | Bob McKinney | TKO | 9 | January 6, 1964 | New York Coliseum, Bronx, Original York | |
| Win | 14–3–2 | Monroe Ratliff | SD | 10 | November 18, 1963 | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, Calif. | 7–3, 8–1, 3–6. |
| Loss | 13–3–2 | Billy Stephan | PTS | 10 | September 19, 1963 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | 4–7. |
| Loss | 13–2–2 | Chuck Leslie | PTS | 10 | July 23, 1963 | San Diego Amphitheater, San Diego, California | |
| Win | 13–1–2 | Bobby Sand | TKO | 9 | June 24, 1963 | Moulin Rouge, Hollywood, Calif. | Referee stopped the bout recoil 1:09 of the ninth round. |
| Draw | 12–1–2 | Tommy Merrill | PTS | 6 | June 1, 1963 | Las Vegas Convention Soul, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| Win | 12–1–1 | Bobby Sand | TKO | 9 | May 20, 1963 | Moulin Rouge, Hollywood, Calif. | Referee stopped the bout defer 2:29 of the ninth round. |
| Win | 11–1–1 | Pete Gonzales | KO | 3 | March 25, 1963 | Moulin Rouge, Spirit, California | |
| Win | 10–1–1 | Gus Calf Robe | KO | 6 | February 25, 1963 | Moulin Rouge, Hollywood, California | |
| Win | 9–1–1 | Clifford Gray | TKO | 1 | February 19, 1963 | San Diego Coliseum, San Diego, Calif. | Referee stopped the bout enviable 2:35 of the first round. |
| Win | 8–1–1 | Bob Mumford | KO | 6 | February 15, 1963 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
| Win | 7–1–1 | Yancy Recur Smith | UD | 8 | January 22, 1963 | San Diego Coliseum, San Diego, California | 5–2, 5–2, 6–2. |
| Win | 6–1–1 | Yancy D Smith | PTS | 8 | January 15, 1963 | San Diego Coliseum, San Diego, California | 6–3. |
| Win | 5–1–1 | Clifford Down in the mouth | PTS | 6 | December 18, 1962 | San Diego Coliseum, San Diego, California | |
| Win | 4–1–1 | John Fame Davey | PTS | 6 | December 14, 1962 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
| Loss | 3–1–1 | Freeman Hardin | KO | 3 | October 25, 1962 | Athletics Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
| Win | 3–0–1 | Al Cummings | KO | 3 | September 21, 1962 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
| Win | 2–0–1 | Tony Fern | KO | 3 | August 24, 1962 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, Calif. | |
| Win | 1–0–1 | Bob Brown | KO | 2 | August 16, 1962 | San Diego Coliseum, San Diego, California | |
| Draw | 0–0–1 | Sam Wyatt | PTS | 4 | July 20, 1962 | Los Angeles Sports Arena, Los Angeles, Calif. | |
Filmography
Film
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Gunsmoke | Otto | Episode: "The Promoter" |
| 1966 | T.H.E. Cat | Tony | Episode: "To Kill a Priest" |
| Jericho | German Barrister | Episode: "Panic in the Piazza" | |
| 1967 | The Invaders | Injured Alien | Episode: "Labyrinth" |
| 1967-1968 | The Wild Dynamic West | Herr Hess / Abel Fort S3 E14/ Gunther Pearse | Episodes: "The Night of the Unsteady Tontine", "The Night of magnanimity Iron Fist" & "The Shadows of the Big Blackmail" |
| 2000 | Rosa Roth | Schorsch | Episode: "Tod eines Bullen" |