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Cornelius Obonya, actor, Vienna
©Rafaela Pröll
  • Actor
Born 1969 in Wien (54 Years)

Basic data

LanguagesEnglishGerman
DialectsAmerican (Standard), Bavarian, Berliners, British (Standard), Northern German, Styrian, Tyrolese, Viennese (Native dialect)
SingingA cappellaChansonMusical
Skills (dance)Standard
Skills (sports)soccertennis
Immediate working areaVienna
1st residence (federal state or country)Austria - Vienna
NationalityAustrian
LicencesB (car) [eu]

Agency

Showreels

All videos

About Cornelius Obonya

Cornelius Obonya was born on March 29th, 1969 in Veinna, Austria. His parents are Elisabeth Orth-Obonya and Hanns Obonya (died 1978), his grandparents on my mother´s side were Paula Wessely and Attila Hörbiger, on his father´s side Marianne and Alois Obonya.

He visited primary school in Hietzing, Vienna and grammar school in the Schottenstift, Kollegium Kalksburg and the BORG III. After leaving school he joined the Max-Reinhardt-Seminar to study acting, left it after one year and worked with Gerhard Bronner. Bronner was one of the important people in his professional and private life , like Emmy Werner, former managing director of the Volkstheater Wien and Andrea Breth with whom he worked for many years at the Schaubühne Berlin and at the Burgtheater Wien. Cornelius Obonya is married to the director Carolin Pienkos, and father of son Attila.

Vienna, November 2009

Cornelius Obonya was born on March 29th, 1969 in Veinna, Austria. His parents  are Elisabeth Orth-Obonya and Hanns Obonya (died 1978), his grandparents on my mother´s side were Paula Wessely and Attila Hörbiger, on his father´s side Marianne and Alois Obonya. 

At the age of 17, he joined the Max-Reinhardt-Seminar to study acting, left it after one year and worked with Gerhard Bronner. Bronner was one of the important people in his professional and private life , like Emmy Werner, former managing director of the Volkstheater Wien and Andrea Breth with whom he worked for many years at the Schaubühne Berlin and at the Burgtheater Wien.

For his first role at the Volkstheater in Neil Simons „„Brighton Beach Memoirs“, he received the Nachwuchspreis des Karl-Skraup-Preises and one year later, the O.-E.-Hasse-Preis. With Andrea Breth he worked at the Berliner Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz (1992–1999), at the Burgtheater from 2000 on, he played in Edward Bond´s „The Sea“ (Hollarcut), Lessing´s „Emilia Galotti“ (Pirro), Schillers „Don Carlos“ (Domingo), Cechow´s „The Cherrygarden“ (Trofimow), Tennessee Williams’ „Cat on a hot tin roof“ (Gooper) und Lessing´s „Minna von Barnhelm“ (Paul Werner). In Andrea Breths ´direction of Schnitzler´s „Das weite Land“ ´in 2002 as Paul Kreindl he gave his debut at the Salzburg festival. And there he starred as "Monsieur Jourdain" in "Ariadne auf Naxos" by Richard Strauss in 2012.

At the Burgtheater Cornelius Obonya also played in the direction of Peter Zadek, Sven-Eric Bechtolf, Karin Beier, Carolin Pienkos, Anselm Weber, Stefan Bachmann and Falk Richter.

Further more  Cornelius Obonya played at the Theater in der Josefstadt where he starred in 2009/10 the „Lehrer“ in a dramatisation of Horváths „Yuth without a God“ by Christopher Hampton and in the  Ronacher, where he starred as „Max Bialystock“ 2008/09 in the famous Mel-Brooks-Musical „The Producers“. With this production he had performances at the Berliner Admiralspalast. A huge success came in 2010/11 with a solo-performance, „Cordoba – das Rückspiel“ by Florian Scheuba und Rupert Henning (who also directed) at the Rabenhof Theater in Vienna. 
For this he received the  "Salzburger Stier 2010" and a nomination for the  "Spezialpreis des Nestroy-Preises 2010“. He became „Schauspieler des Jahres“ (Actor of the year) of Ö1 of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation. After this, in 2011/12,  he played again at the Burgtheater, "Caligula" by Albert Camus, directed by Jan Lauwers of Belgium´s „Need-Company“ and "Menschenfeind" in the Burgtheater´s long running production of "Der Alpenkönig und der Menschenfeind" by Ferdinand Raimund directed by Michael Schachermaier. For this performance he received the „Raimund-Ring“ (Austrian theatre-award) this year. 

The saison of 2012 und 2013 started his co-orperation with Stadttheater Walfischgasse, where he starrer as " Andrew Wake" in „Revenge/Sleuth" by Anthony Shaffer , at his side was Rupert Henning. The play was directed by Carolin Pienkos. She also directed the premiere of "C(r)sah", written by Rupert Henning, "Leroy Brooks" was his part here. Since the summer-saison of 2013 Cornelius Obonya is „Jedermann“ at the Salzburg festival. 

He also played in countless TV-Productiuons, as there were criminal-series „Tatort" and „Soko Kitzbühel“, and he played in productions like "Polt" und "Die Hebamme“.

The latest performances on screen saw Cornelius Obonya,  as „The Policeman“ in „Spanien“ by Anja Salomonowitz and in „The Trapp-Family - A Life for Music“ by Ben Verbong.

Cornelius Obonya also is a Opera-Director Cornelius Obonya-directing with Carolin Pienkos. They produced the first production of Joh. Strauß´s DIE FLEDERMAUS (The Bat) at Teatro alla Scala in Milan and Mozart´s ZAUBERFLÖTE (The Magic Flute)in the festival Oper im SAteinbruch in St.Margarethen, Austria

Training

Year 
1986/9 to 1987/9Max Reinhardt Seminar

Film awards

YearFilmAwardCategory 
2020
Maria Theresia II
Romy [at]Beliebtester Schauspieler Kino/TV-FilmNominated
2014Spuren des Bösen - ZauberbergRomy [at]Film- und SerienstarNominated

Awards

YearAward
2013"Ferdinand Raimund - Ring"
2010"Schauspieler des Jahres" des Österreichischen Rundfunks ORF
2010Nominierung für den "Spezialpreis des Nestroy-Preises" für "Cordoba - Das Rückspiel"
2010"Salzburger Stier" für "Cordoba - Das Rückspiel"
1990"O.E.Hasse-Preis"
1989Nachwuchspreis des "Karl-Skraup-Preises"

Movies as actor

Filter
YearTitleGenreDirectorRole
2023Tatort - Murot und das 1000-jährige Reich (WT)
n.a. [SR]
TV Movie, HR [de]Matthias X. Obergn.a. [SR]
2023How to Be Normal (WT)
Klaus [L]
Feature FilmFlorian PochlatkoKlaus [L]
2022Vienna Blood - Der Schattengott
George Kirnich [SR]
TV-Movie (Series), ORF [at], ZDF [de]Robert DornhelmGeorge Kirnich [SR]
2022Sachertorte
Karls Chef [SR]
TV Movie, Prime Video (Amazon)Tine RogollKarls Chef [SR]
2021Tatort - Unten im Tal
Josef Winterfeld [L]
TV-Movie (Series), SWR [de]Julia LanghofJosef Winterfeld [L]
2021Alma & Oskar
Franz Ferdinand [SR]
Feature FilmDieter BernerFranz Ferdinand [SR]
2021The Fox
Bauer [SR]
Feature FilmAdrian GoigingerBauer [SR]
2021Muttertag. Ein Taunuskrimi
n.a. [SR]
TV Movie (multi-part), ZDF [de]Felix Herzogenrathn.a. [SR]
2020Letzter Gipfel - Der zweite Altaussee Krimi
Franz Gasperlmaier [L]
TV-Movie (Series), Servus TV [at]Julian Roman PölslerFranz Gasperlmaier [L]
2020Meiberger - Im Kopf des Täters
Nepo Wallner [SS]
TV Series, Servus TV [at]Michael PodogilNepo Wallner [SS]
2019
Louis van Beethoven

Johann [L]
TV Movie, ARD [de], Degeto [de], ORF [at], WDR [de]Niki SteinJohann [L]
2019Meiberger - Im Kopf des Täters
Nepo Wallner [SS]
TV Series, Servus TV [at]MultipleNepo Wallner [SS]
2019
Stadtkomödie - Der Fall der Gerti B.

Jonas Lipansky [L]
TV-Movie (Series), ORF [at]Sascha BiglerJonas Lipansky [L]
2019
Adults in the Room

Wims [SR]
Feature FilmCosta-GavrasWims [SR]
2019
Maria Theresia II

Spannagel [SR]
TV Movie (multi-part), arte, Ceska televize [cz], ORF [at], RTVS [sk], ZDF [de]Robert DornhelmSpannagel [SR]
2019Letzter Kirtag
Franz Gasperlmaier [L]
TV-Movie (Series), Servus TV [at]Julian Roman PölslerFranz Gasperlmaier [L]
2018Meiberger - Im Kopf des Täters
Nepo Wallner [SS]
TV Series, Servus TV [at]MultipleNepo Wallner [SS]
2018
Unter anderen Umständen - Im finsteren Tal

Franz Robanegg [SR]
TV-Movie (Series), ZDF [de]Judith KennelFranz Robanegg [SR]
2018
Tatort - Glück allein

Raoul Ladurner [L]
TV-Movie (Series), ARD [de], ORF [at]Catalina MolinaRaoul Ladurner [L]
2018
Blei

Georg [SR]
Short FilmBenjamin LeichtensternGeorg [SR]

Movies as voice actor / speaker

YearTitleGenreRoleActor
2017Maximilian I. - Der Brautzug zur MachtDocumentary, arte, ORF [at], ZDF [de]Erzählstimme
2016Salzburg - Gesamtkunstwerk im Herzen EuropasDocumentarySprecher
2011Cathedrals of VolatilityDocumentary, 3sat, ORF [at]Main Voiceover [L]
2011Heilig, Rein & SauberDocumentary, 3sat, ORF [at]Main Voiceover [L]
2011Lust auf die LustDocumentary, 3sat, ORF [at]Main Voiceover [L]
2011Empire of the Rainbow - A Colorful AdventureDocumentary, 3sat, ORF [at]Main Voiceover [L]
2006Pok Ta Pok - Das FeuerspielDocumentary, ZDF [de]Sprecher [SR]

Other projects

YearProject typeTitleActivityCompany
2019operaTHE MAGIC FLUTEProduction/DirectorFestival Oper im Steinbruch
2018operettaTHE BATProduction, DirectorTeatro alla Scala, Milano

Basic data

Height174 cm
Weight89 kg - 196 lb.
Body typeaverage
Clothing size26/large/52
Ethnic appearanceeast european, scandinavian, white central european
Hair colourauburn
Hair lengthshort
Eye colourblue-grey
NationalityAustrian
LanguagesEnglishGerman
DialectsAmerican (Standard), Bavarian, Berliners, British (Standard), Northern German, Styrian, Tyrolese, Viennese (Native dialect)
Voice typebaritone
SingingA cappellaChansonMusical
Skills (dance)Standard
Skills (sports)soccertennis
LicencesB (car) [eu]
Immediate working areaVienna
1st residence (federal state or country)Austria - Vienna
Accommodation possibilitiesBerlin, Munich, Osnabrück
Associations