Wolfgang Völz — German character actor and voice artist

Career on stage and screen

Völz appeared regularly in theatre productions and in numerous television series and feature films. He gained particular recognition for roles in German crime films adapted from the works of Edgar Wallace, a popular genre in postwar West Germany. On television he worked across genres, from drama to comedy, building a reputation as a reliable supporting player who could bring subtlety and warmth to small and large roles alike.

Voice work and dubbing

Beyond visible acting, Völz was a prolific voice actor. He dubbed well-known American performers for German-language releases, providing German voices for stars such as Walter Matthau, Peter Falk and Mel Brooks. He also lent his voice to characters and creatures in animated films, including family features like Impy's Island. His vocal versatility made him a fixture in radio plays and recorded productions as well.

Style, approach and legacy

As an actor Völz was often described as a character specialist: he excelled at small but memorable parts that supported the narrative and added texture. His clear diction and timing made him valuable both on camera and behind the microphone. For many German viewers and listeners his voice became closely associated with the international actors he dubbed, creating a familiar auditory link between Hollywood faces and German audiences.

Selected media and significance

• Theatre: regular stage work across regional and city theatres.
• Film: numerous feature films, notably crime adaptations of Edgar Wallace.
• Television: frequent character roles in series and single-episode dramas.
• Radio and dubbing: extensive radio plays, dubbing for major American actors and voices in animated films.

Völz died at his home in Berlin on 2 May 2018 at the age of 87. His long and varied career is remembered for its breadth—spanning live performance, screen work and recorded sound—and for the way his voice helped shape the German reception of international cinema and televised entertainment. For more biographical context see sources linked to his birthplace Free City of Danzig and other reference entries.