Miguel Herz-Kestranek (born April 3, 1948) is an Austrian actor and author.
Life
Miguel Herz-Kestranek was born the son of an industry and art family from the former Viennese Jewish upper middle class on April 3, 1948, in St. Gallen, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Born in a Jewish family and raised as a Christian, Miguel Herz-Kestranek established himself as a "Jewish Buddhist" through his friendship with the Buddhist monk Banthe Seelawansa Thero, who lives in Vienna.
Miguel Herz-Kestranek has been married to Miriam since September 2016 and has a daughter, Theresa, who is an alternative dog trainer in Lower Austria from an earlier relationship with the Austrian actress Dorothea Parton.
Growing up by the lake, Miguel Herz-Kestranek is a passionate sailor and founded the former Austrian O-dinghy association in the 1980s. In addition to many regattas, he also participated in the European O-Dinghy Championships in 2005 on Lake Wolfgang. As early as 1984 he donated a prize named after him.
Miguel Herz-Kestranek lives in seclusion, alternating between Vienna and Lake Wolfgang.
Volunteering and memberships
1993 Founder and director of the Österreichischer Filmschauspielerverband (VÖFS), president since 2003 1993 to 1995 member board of the Dachverband der Österreichischen Filmschaffenden 2000 to 2011 vice president of the Österreichischer P.E.N.-Club since 2000 curation member of the DÖW of the Dokumentationsarchiv des österreichischen Widerstandes since 2000 founder and president of the Gesellschaft zur Förderung Österreichischer Advent-Kultur since 2004 advisory board member of the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Europapolitik (ÖGfE) since 2008 vice president of the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Exilforschung (ÖGE) 2012 founder member of the BürgerInnenforum Europa 2020
Filmography (selection) 1974: Fräulein Else 1974: Perahim – die zweite Chance 1975: Die Alpensaga 1975: Der selige Herr aus dem Parlament 1976: Die liebe Familie 1976: Abschiede (Hochzeitsreise)