Peer Augustinski (1940–2014) — German actor and voice artist

Career and voice work

Augustinski worked in a variety of performance contexts: theatrical productions, television roles and extensive dubbing assignments. In Germany, professional dubbing is an established craft and Augustinski’s facility for rapid shifts in tone and emotion made him a sought-after performer. He voiced characters that required comic timing, dramatic depth and fast improvisational energy, qualities that aligned well with the screen persona of Robin Williams.

Association with Robin Williams

For German viewers, Augustinski’s voice became closely associated with Williams’ work. He dubbed nearly all of Williams’ major English-language performances, including both dramatic and comic roles. Notable examples in which German-language prints feature Augustinski’s dubbing include Awakenings, Toys, Good Will Hunting, Aladdin and Dead Poets Society. This consistent pairing helped German audiences connect to the emotional contours of those performances.

Style and legacy

Augustinski was praised for his adaptability and his ability to convey both manic energy and quiet introspection in German. As with many prominent dub artists, his work contributed to the way international films were perceived locally: a familiar dubbing voice can shape a star’s presence across a country’s film culture. Colleagues and fans have noted that his rhythms and inflections often preserved the intent of the original performance while making it accessible in German.

Selected credits

• Awakenings — German dub voice
• Toys — German dub voice
• Good Will Hunting — German dub voice
• Aladdin — German dub voice (animated)
• Dead Poets Society — German dub voice

Peer Augustinski died in Cologne on October 3, 2014, at the age of 74. His career is remembered for bridging international cinema and German-speaking audiences, and for exemplifying the important, often underappreciated craft of voice dubbing in film and television.