RIP Arne Elsholtz

Arne Elsholtz: Tom Hanks' German voice actor is dead

Spiegel online

04/26/2016

Tom Hanks, Bill Murray, Kevin Kline: all were spoken in the German version of their films by Arne Elsholtz. Now one of the most well-known voice actors of Germany has died.

His voice is almost as well known as the Hollywood counterparts: Arne Elsholtz is not only the German voice of Tom Hanks, but also synchronized Bill Murray, Kevin Kline - and the father in "Das kleine Arschloch". But German cinema audiences must continue now to do without the familiar voice. Elsholtz died in Berlin, his agency Sprecherdatei announced.

"Everyone knew Arne," said an agency spokeswoman. Elsholtz, born in 1944, had among others voiced Hanks in "Forrest Gump". He also dubbed Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day" (1993) and Kevin Kline in the German version of the comedy "A Fish Called Wanda" (1988). After health problems in 2008, he shared the synchronization of Hanks movies with the voice actor Joachim Tennstedt.

"He was said Otto Sander the only one who was allowed to smoke in the dubbing booth", says the CEO of the Berliner recording studios Live Live, Frank Willer. "And he always had while working, a good glass of white wine." Elsholtz enjoyed life to the fullest, spreading a good mood, donating champagne - chain and smoking. "He was a very human person. We will miss him," adds Willer.

TV viewers heard Elsholtz in commercials. His voice with many small nuances made any recording a highlight, informed his agency. The voice actor also had drama training.

ELSHOLTZ, Arne

Born: 1944, Germany

Died: 4/26/2016, Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Arne Elsholtz’s western – voice actor:

Shatterhand – 1963 [German voice of Alain Tissier]

A Place Called Glory - 1965 [German voice of Angel del Pozo]

Rampage at Apache Wells - 1965 [German voice of Petar Petrovic]

Ace High – 1967 [German voice of Irish family member2]

Let Them Rest - 1967 [German voice of Franco Citti]

Professionals for a Massacre – 1967 [German voice of Edd Byrnes]

Cemetery Without Crosses – 1968 [German voice of Philippe Baronnet]

Sartana – 1968 [German voice of Luigi Antonio Guerra]

Fistful of Lead - 1970 [German voice of Lou Kamante]

Have a Nice Funeral - 1970 [German voice of Aldo Berti]

A Bullet for a Stranger – 1971 [German voice of Chris Chittell]

The Return of Alleluia – 1972 [assistant director]

Challenge of White Fang - 1974 [German voice of John Steiner]

The Stranger and the Gunfighter – 1974 [German voice of Gene Collins]

Rustler’s Rhapsody - 1984 [German voice of Tom Berenger]

Silent Tongue - 1993 [German voice of Dermot Mulroney]