Josef Hader

Josef Hader is an Austrian comedian and actor. Born in Waldhausen, Austria, he attended grammar school in Melk and began university studies in 1981, but soon turned his attention to comedy. He wrote his first cabaret play, Fort Geschritten, in 1982, and his second, Der Witzableiter und das Feuer, won the Salzburger Stier award in 1985. After further stage pieces, Biagn und Brechen and Bunter Abend, he broke through with the tragicomic play Indien, which Paul Harather filmed in 1993 with Hader in the leading role. The Austrian thriller Come Sweet Death (2000) marked his return to cinema in a lead part, and he also wrote its screenplay. With Indien, Im Keller and Privat he became one of Austria's most successful and respected comedians.