Waltraut Haas: Movies & Filmography

Waltraut Haas was born on June 9, 1927, in Vienna, Austria, where she spent her childhood at Schloss Schönbrunn, as her mother served as a restaurateur there; her father, who worked as a teacher, tragically passed away when she was merely five years old. During the turbulent years of World War II, she initially pursued practical training for three years at a fashion school, but once the war concluded, she dedicated herself to the performing arts by enrolling at the prestigious Konservatorium für darstellende Kunst and studying privately under Julia Janssen, a respected actress from the Burgtheater. She made her professional stage debut in Linz in 1946, rapidly ascending in Vienna's vibrant theatrical landscape with performances at the Bürgertheater, Stadttheater, Raimund Theater, and ultimately the illustrious Burgtheater itself by 1948, while also expanding her presence to Germany with appearances at Berlin's Titania-Palast and Munich's Deutsche Theater. Her cinematic breakthrough arrived immediately with her discovery by director Willi Forst for the cult classic Der Hofrat Geiger (1947), where she immortalized the character Mariandl alongside screen legends Hans Moser—who became a beloved father figure to her—and Paul Hörbiger, establishing her archetype as the quintessential Viennese girl. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, she became a staple of Austrian cinema, starring in numerous Heimatfilm productions including Kleiner Schwindel am Wolfgangsee, Gruß und Kuß aus der Wachau, and Hallo, Dienstmann (1952), as well as Der Zigeunerbaron (1954) and Wenn der Vater mit dem Sohne (1955) opposite Heinz Rühmann. Her second defining role emerged in 1960 when she portrayed Josepha Vogelhuber in Im weißen Rößl alongside Peter Alexander, a performance that solidified her status as one of Austria's most popular actresses and led to successful musical recordings such as Im Weißen Rössl and Wiener Lieder.

After completing approximately 70 films, predominantly comedies and musicals, Haas gradually withdrew from cinema around 1970 as the Heimatfilm genre declined in popularity, redirecting her artistic energy toward the stage where she frequently performed under the direction of her husband, actor and director Erwin Strahl, whom she married in 1966 and remained with until his death in 2011. The couple shared a rich personal and professional partnership, performing together in both theatrical productions and films, and they raised one son, Marcus Strahl, who subsequently established himself as an actor and director, residing primarily in Vienna's Hietzing district. Despite her retreat from the big screen, Haas maintained an remarkably active career well into her 90s, demonstrating her enduring vitality with a stage appearance in Ken Ludwig's Otello darf nicht platzen at the Gloria Theater in 2016 and a role in Catalina Molina's television film Das Glück ist ein Vogerl in 2020. In 2018, she published her candid memoir Jetzt sag ich's, revealing fascinating encounters with Hollywood icons like Errol Flynn and offering intimate reflections on her decades-long career alongside her husband. Her exceptional contributions to Austrian culture were recognized with numerous honors, including the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art in 2002, the Goldenen Rathausmann of Vienna in 2016 celebrating her 70th stage anniversary, and the prestigious Dr.-Friedrich-Wilhelm-Prinz-von-Preußen-Preis in 2018. Haas passed away in her beloved Vienna on April 23, 2025, at the age of 97, leaving behind an indelible legacy as one of the nation's most cherished and enduring performing arts legends.