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Wilhelm von Homburg

Wilhelm von Homburg

6 movies on Netflix

Biography

Wilhelm von Homburg, born Norbert Grupe in Berlin in 1940, was a German boxer, professional wrestler, and actor. He trained in boxing from age ten and later wrestled professionally before beginning a boxing career that ran from 1962 to 1970 and produced a final record of 30 victories, 11 defeats, and 6 draws. During the mid-1960s he began taking small film and television roles, including an episode of Gunsmoke and a twin in Alfred Hitchcock's Torn Curtain (1966). After leaving the ring, he played a bullying pimp in Werner Herzog's Stroszek (1977). A decade later he appeared in Die Hard (1988) as the henchman James and then in Ghostbusters II (1989) as the villain Vigo the Carpathian. His last major role was a vegetative ex-boxer in Diggstown. Gerd Kroske directed the 2002 documentary about him, Der Boxprinz.

63years old at death

Born August 25, 1940Berlin
Died March 10, 2004Puerto Vallarta
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22

Movie Career

Films: 6
Career span: 26 years1968 to 1994

Genres

Action50%, 3 films
Comedy50%, 3 films
Drama33%, 2 films
Fantasy33%, 2 films
Adventure17%, 1 film

First and latest

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Big break
Von Homburg got his biggest screen role at age 50, playing the villain Vigo the Carpathian in Ghostbusters II, and the character's full name nodded to the stage name he had chosen.
A first
Von Homburg's first championship fight, a 1966 EBU light heavyweight title bout against Piero del Papa in Berlin, ended in disqualification after he knocked Del Papa out and the referee ruled a head movement an illegal headbutt.

Wilhelm von Homburg movies on Netflix

In the Mouth of Madness1994IMDb rating 7.1as Simon
Ghostbusters II1989IMDb rating 6.6as Vigo
Die Hard1988IMDb rating 8.2as James
Stroszek1977IMDb rating 7.7as Souteneur
The Swiss Conspiracy1976IMDb rating 5.1as Hit Man in cook suit
The Wrecking Crew1968IMDb rating 5.5as Gregor

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Ghostbusters II1989 Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fias Vigo
IMDb rating 6.6242K votes
Stroszek1977 Comedy, Dramaas Souteneur
IMDb rating 7.717K votes
In the Mouth of Madness1994as Simon
IMDb rating 7.192K votes
Die Hard1988as James
IMDb rating 8.21.0M votes
The Wrecking Crew1968as Gregor
IMDb rating 5.54.3K votes
The Swiss Conspiracy1976as Hit Man in cook suit
IMDb rating 5.1751 votes

Worked with

Wilhelm von Homburg shares two films with Elke Sommer, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Elke Sommer

Bruce Willis

Bill Murray

Dan Aykroyd

David Warner

Sigourney WeaverJohn McTiernanDirector, 1 film

Ivan ReitmanDirector, 1 film

John CarpenterDirector, 1 film

Films together

Elke Sommer2 films together, 1968 to 1976
Elke Sommer's page
- The Swiss Conspiracy1976IMDb rating 5.1Homburg as Hit Man in cook suitSommer as Rita Jensen
- The Wrecking Crew1968IMDb rating 5.5Homburg as GregorSommer as Linka Karensky
Bruce Willis1 film together, 1988
Bruce Willis's page
- Die Hard1988IMDb rating 8.2Homburg as JamesWillis as John McClane
Bill Murray1 film together, 1989
Bill Murray's page
- Ghostbusters II1989IMDb rating 6.6Homburg as VigoMurray as Dr. Peter Venkman
Dan Aykroyd1 film together, 1989
Dan Aykroyd's page
- Ghostbusters II1989IMDb rating 6.6Homburg as VigoAykroyd as Dr. Raymond Stantz
David Warner1 film together, 1994
David Warner's page
- In the Mouth of Madness1994IMDb rating 7.1Homburg as SimonWarner as Dr. Wrenn
Sigourney Weaver1 film together, 1989
Sigourney Weaver's page
- Ghostbusters II1989IMDb rating 6.6Homburg as VigoWeaver as Dana Barrett
John McTiernanDirector, 1 film, 1988
All films by John McTiernan
- Die Hard1988IMDb rating 8.2Homburg as James
Ivan ReitmanDirector, 1 film, 1989
All films by Ivan Reitman
- Ghostbusters II1989IMDb rating 6.6Homburg as Vigo
John CarpenterDirector, 1 film, 1994
All films by John Carpenter
- In the Mouth of Madness1994IMDb rating 7.1Homburg as Simon

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.