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Actor Karlheinz Böhm dies aged 86

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Actor Karlheinz Böhm dies aged 86
Karlheinz Böhm. Photo: APA

Böhm became famous in Austria and Germany for his role as Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria in the Sissi trilogy, starring alongside Romy Schneider.

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After a long illness Böhm passed away on Thursday night in Grödig near Salzburg, surrounded by his family. 
 
Internationally Böhm was known for his role as Mark, the psychopath protagonist of Peeping Tom, directed by Michael Powell. 
 
As well as acting in 45 films he also founded the trust Menschen für Menschen (Humans for Humans), which helps people in need in Ethiopia.  
 
His appeal on the popular German-language TV programme Wetten, dass? - "I bet that not one third of viewers would give one Deutschmark, one Swiss franc, seven Austrian schillings for the people suffering in the Sahel region", prompted up to 1.2 million Deutschmark (about €610,000) in donations.
 
In 2002, he was awarded one of Austria's top honours for services to the state and was later named an honorary citizen of Ethiopia.
 
Böhm was married to Almaz, a native of Ethiopia, since 1991. They have two children, Nicolas and Aida. Böhm had five more children from previous marriages.

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