Maximilian Schell Biography Austrian actor Maximilian Schell rose to prominence when he turned in an Oscar-winning performance in Judgment at Nuremberg. Established as a Hollywood actor, Schell went on to have notable roles in The Man in the Glass Booth, Julia, and others. He is also noted for his much praised directorial efforts. Maximilian Schell was born December 8, 1930 in Vienna, Austria. His parents were Margarethe Noe von Nordberg and Hermann Ferdinand Schell, an actress and poet respectively. Acting proved to be prevalent in the family tree as Schell’s sister is fellow actress Maria Schell. When Schell was eight years old, the entire family relocated to Zurich, Switzerland. Entering the Swiss Army, Schell ascended to corporal before being discharged. After his military service came to an end, Schell began pursuing his acting career at the Basel Theater. Transitioning to work in front of the camera, Schell made his onscreen debut in 1955 with Kinder, Mutter und ein General. After two years in Austrian film, Schell crossed into the American market. To that end, his first Hollywood film was The Young Lions in 1958. He played a relatively minor role opposite Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, Dean Martin, and Hope Lange.
After several more roles, Schell made another notable appearance in the 1960 televised version of The Three Musketeers. Costars included John Colicos, Joan Fontaine, Jack Gwillim, Vincent Price, and others. But it was the following year that would really put him on the acting map. In 1961, he took the role of Hans Rolfe in Stanley Kramer’s Judgment at Nuremberg. Sharing the screen with an all-star cast, the film featured Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, and William Shatner. While many of the stars earned Oscar nominations, it was Schell that walked away with the Oscar win. It remains his first and only Academy win. Having established himself as an Oscar-caliber actor, Schell continued to work steadily throughout the remainder of the 60s and 70s. Turning in another powerful performance in 1975’s The Man in the Glass Booth, Schell earned another Oscar nomination. He ultimately lost out to Jack Nicholson’s iconic performance in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. 1977 saw him rubbing elbows with actors such as James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Robert Redford, and many others in A Bridge Too Far.
The same year, he took to the screen with Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, and Jason Robards in Julia. Schell added another Oscar nomination to his distinguished list of accolades. Others may recognize Schell for his work in The Diary of Anne Frank with Melissa Gilbert as well as The Phantom of the Opera opposite Jane Seymour. From 2003 to 2007, he also appeared in the family television series Der Furst und das Madchen. He is currently in post-production for The Brother Bloom along with Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz, and Mark Ruffalo. Schell is also noted for his writing and directing credits. This includes the Oscar nominated 1974 film The Pedestrian. He was also responsible for the very well-received 1984 documentary Marlene. In his personal life, Schell was romantically linked to model Donyale Luna. Reports circulated that the two were engaged, but nothing ever came of the rumors. He did eventually marry in 1985 to fellow actor Natalya Andreychenko with whom he had one child. They recently made headlines with their pending divorce. Schell is also noted for being the godfather of Hollywood starlet Angelina Jolie. | 
