Hein Riess (11 September 1913 – September 1993) was a German actor and folk singer.

Hein Riess as Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring in the Battle of Britain (1969)

Riess was born in Hamburg-Eilbek. He was previously a sailor who began work as a cabin boy on ships and then became a professional singer, mainly of sea shanties. An LP of his recordings was released and a single on Polydor Records entitled The Story of the Pale Mary.[1]

As an actor, he made appearances on several German television productions and in German films including the 1963 Werner Jacobs directed drama Homesick for St. Pauli (German: Heimweh nach St. Pauli), but he is best known internationally for his performance as Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring in the film Battle of Britain (1969). According to a booklet publicising the movie, he had allegedly once met Göring himself during the war.[2] Former fighter ace Adolf Galland who worked as a technical consultant on the film had known Göring and was impressed with his performance[3] and said his voice was exactly like Göring's.

Riess died of heart failure at age 79.[4]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1963 Homesick for St. Pauli Kuddel
1967 Hotel Clausewitz Boxer
1969 Battle of Britain Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring

References

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  1. ^ Hein Riess at The Austrian Charts Retrieved 20 June 2016
  2. ^ Battle of Britain film publicity booklet "Hankin p. 48."
  3. ^ Battle of Britain reincarnates Goering in: St. Petersburg Times from 14 April 1968
  4. ^ Hein Riess at Hamburger abendblatt (German language) at Internet archive. Retrieved 19 June 2016
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