Became a member of the famous Vienna Boy's Choir at the age of 9 and
later studied at the Academy for Music and Performing arts from 1949 to
1951, but finally graduated at the Max-Reinhardt-Seminar in
1953.
Got to know his wife Ingrid, a former model, in the cafeteria of the
Vienna Burgtheater in 1966. They have two children, Barbara and Philipp
Daniel.
After his stage debut in Klagenfurt (1953), he also performed in
Vienna, Munich, Hamburg and Zurich.
Impressario of the Theater an der Wien in Vienna from 1983 to 1992.
During this period, the theater was the location for some important
premieres such as the German version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats" (1983),
"Freudiana" (1990) and "Elisabeth" (1992).
Received the "Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst", Austria's highest
decoration for scientists and artists in 1993.