Stephanie Glaser (22 February 1920 – 14 January 2011) was one of Switzerland's most prominent stage, TV and film actresses, popular for her portrayal of down-to-earth, sympathetic characters.
Early life and education
Glaser was born 22 February 1920 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland to Willy Albert († 1949) and Alice (née Aeberli) Glaser. Her parents operated hotels and restaurants, most notably the Hotel de la Post in Bern, where she was primarily raised. Her paternal ancestors immigrated to Switzerland from Germany in the 1840s and became citizens of Niederhünigen in 1855. After some time in England and at finishing school, she studied acting at the Reinhardt-Seminar in Vienna
Career
Glaser then performed at various theatres in Switzerland and Germany. She was a member of the Bäretatze, Floigefänger and Fédéral comedy troupes, and became, alongside Walter Roderer, one of Switzerland's noted popular actresses as well as a leading figure of the 1950s Swiss comedy scene.
She became known to the general public for her roles in the Gotthelf film adaptations Uli der Knecht and Ueli, der Pächter, and notably for starring as "Aunt Elise" in the TV show Teleboy by Kurt Felix between 1974 and 1981. Later she was also cast in the TV series Motel and Die Direktorin.
A great success was "Stan und Ollie in der Schweiz", starring Ursula Schaeppi as Stan and Glaser as Ollie in 1987.
In the 1980s she returned to film work and in 2006, at the age of 86, she was cast in her first title role in the critically and commercially successful movie Late Bloomers (Die Herbstzeitlosen). Stephanie Glaser continued working as an actress in her old age. A few months before she died on 14 January 2011, aged 90, she had been shooting scenes for the TV movie Mord hinterm Vorhang.
Personal life
In 1954, Glaser married Oscar Düby (1904-1982), who was a movie producer. They did not have children, something that Glaser regretted later in life.
Selected filmography
1954: Uli der Knecht – Trinette
1955: Ueli der Pächter – Trinette
1955: Polizischt Wäckerli
1957: Taxichauffeur Bänz – Lilly
1984: Motel (TV show) 1988: Klassezämekunft – Lisbeth Schneider 1989: Leo Sonnyboy – Mother of Leo 1990: Der Tod zu Basel – Ms. Steiner 1994: Die Direktorin (TV show) 1998: Fascht e Familie (1 episode) 2000: Komiker – Mother Beck 2001: Spital in Angst – Patient 2001: Birdseye – Maya Vogelaug 2004: Sternenberg – Old Lady 2005: Mein Name ist Eugen – Aunt Melanie 2006: Late Bloomers – Martha Jost 2007: Wen der Berg ruft 2008: Hunkeler und der Fall Livius (TV movie) 2009: Das Fräuleinwunder – Frida Borel 2010: Mord hinterm Vorhang – Lydia Walliser
Awards
2006: Special Leopard of the Locarno International Film Festival for Late Bloomers 2006: SwissAward in the culture category for Late Bloomers 2006: Prix Walo
Bibliography
«Stephanie Glaser». In: Susanna Schwager. Das volle Leben: Frauen über achtzig erzählen. Wörterseh Verlag, Gockhausen b. Zürich, 2007, p. 45–67.
References
External links
CV (Swissfilms) Stephanie Glaser: ein filmischer Rückblick zum 90. Geburtstag (3 Minuten), SF, in: Glanz & Gloria of 22 February 2010 Eine kleine Winterreise – Unterwegs mit Stephanie Glaser, SF, in: Reporter (SF) of 30 December 2009