Johan Marius Nicolaas "Johannes" Heesters (5 December 1903 – 24 December 2011), known professionally as Johannes Heesters, as a Dutch actor, singer, and entertainer.
He worked for 91 years, and almost always worked in German-speaking Europe. Heesters was one of the oldest working people in entertainment. Some people have had problems with Heesters because he once sang for Adolf Hitler. He also supported the Nazi Germany during World War II.
Heesters was married twice: to Belgian actress Louise Ghijs (1906-1985) from 1930 until her death and from 1992-2011 to Simone Rethel. Heesters has two daughters from his first marriage and five grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, twenty-five great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great-grandson as of 2011. His younger daughter Nicole Heesters is a well-known actress in the German-speaking world, as is his granddaughter Saskia Fischer.
On 1 January 2008, he fell down some stairs in his holiday house in Tyrol and broke two ribs.
On 29 November 2011, he suddenly fell ill and was rushed into a hospital. He was operated on to fit a heart pacemaker. He was allowed home less than a week later. This was in time to spend his 108th birthday the next day with family. He did not feel strong enough to make the planned stage appearance to sing in celebration of his birthday. He also missed the premiere of his latest movie, Ten. Due to a relapse in his condition, on 17 December he went back to the hospital. He had a stroke and died on Christmas Eve 2011.
Discography
Albums
1965: Jetzt geh' ich ins Maxim
2003: Ich werde 100 Jahre alt
Singles
1937: "Ich werde jede Nacht von ihnen träumen" 1939: "Musik, Musik, Musik" (featuring Marika Rökk) 1941: "Liebling, was wird nun aus uns beiden" 1941: "Man müßte Klavier spielen können" 1949: "Das kommt mir spanisch vor" 1949: "Tausendmal möchte' ich dich küssen" 1998: "Ich werde 100 Jahre alt" (song) 2007: "Generationen" (featuring Claus Eisenmann)
Honours, decorations, awards
1984: Bavarian Order of Merit
1993: Berlinian Order of Merit
2000: Ring of Honour of the City of Vienna
Bambi in 1967, 1987, 1990, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
2001: Platinum Romy (TV award) 2003: Goldene Kamera 2004: Kammersänger
Filmography
References
Other websites
Official website (in German) Postcards and tobacco cards
1903 births
2011 deaths
Deaths from stroke
Dutch centenarians
Dutch movie actors
Dutch people of World War II
Dutch singers
Dutch stage actors
Dutch television actors
Dutch voice actors
Musicians from Utrecht (province) People from Amersfoort