Joseph Egger

Joseph Egger Biography

Joseph Egger, also known as Josef Egger, (22 February 1889 – 29 August 1966) was an Austrian character actor who appeared in 76 films between 1935 and 1965. The 18-year-old Egger started his stage career at the Leoben theatre. During the following decades, he also appeared at the Raimund Theater in Vienna and at the Deutsches Theater in Munich. Besides acting Egger was a well-known music hall comedian, and he was famous for doing "tricks" with his beard.

He received his first film offers during the 1930s and specialized on portraying eccentric old men in supporting roles. During the 1950s, he appeared in comedic roles in numerous Austrian Heimatfilms of that era. Internationally, Egger appeared as a character actor in the first two films of the Sergio Leone western "Dollars Trilogy": As the coffin-builder in A Fistful of Dollars (1964) and as the Prophet in his final film appearance For a Few Dollars More (1965).

Source: Article "Joseph Egger" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Joseph Egger Movies

For a Few Dollars More

Ein Ferienbett mit 100 PS

Where to Watch

Das alte Försterhaus

Where to Watch

Liebesgrüße aus Tirol

Joseph Egger Quotes

Reflections on Change and Loss

Old Prophet: I don't know him, I don't know him, I don't know him!

Manco: Come on now, you know everybody.

Old Prophet: [Lifts his head from under the covers; Mocks a train's wheels moving; Spits; Grins and chuckles; laughs crazily as a train shoots by] Don't know anybody anymore! I'm dead! Understand? Well, there was a time when I knew everybody. That was a long time ago, when all this was prairie. But lately everybody's in a hurry, with your damned good-for-nothing trains! Two two two three! Disgusting! One day someone from the railroad comes here to see me and he says, Prophet, the railway's gonna go right past your house. Ah, is that so? I said. Mm-hm, yup that's right he says, All those trains gonna go right past here, and the best thing for you, Prophet, is to sell your land to the company or else we'll buy Baker's. He lives next to your place, and I'll put the tracks there, and that'll make you go crazy. What do you say, will you sell out to our company, Prophet? "Oh, is that so? says I. He was very anxious for me to sell out. You know what I told him about the railroad? You know what I told him he could do with his railroad? You know what my decision about selling was?

Manco: Well, you said no.

Old Prophet: You're right about that! No to him and his damn trains! I wouldn't, no!

Manco: Look, listen to me, you old man! You're supposed to be a prophet, and I didn't come here to listen to you rattle on about trains! I want to find out about this man, it's obvious you don't know anything.

Old Prophet: [Angry] No need to be insulting! If that's all you came here to do, you can clear out of my house fast, before I lose my temper, understand?

Old Prophet: Hey! Where you going, hm?

Manco: [Turns around and smirks] I guess I better leave before you go and lose your temper!