# Wolfgang Petersen

> German film director (1941–2022)

**Wikidata**: [Q65321](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q65321)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Petersen)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/wolfgang-petersen

## Summary
Wolfgang Petersen was a German film director, producer, and screenwriter active from 1967 to 2016. He is best known for directing a wide array of prominent films, including the war drama *Das Boot*, the fantasy feature *The NeverEnding Story*, and the action thriller *Air Force One*. His career spanned nearly five decades, moving from German cinema to major Hollywood productions.

## Biography
- Born: 1941
- Nationality: Germany
- Education: Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums
- Known for: Directing major international films such as *Das Boot*, *The NeverEnding Story*, *Air Force One*, and *Troy*
- Employer(s): Deutsche Filmakademie
- Field(s): Film direction, film production

## Contributions
Wolfgang Petersen contributed significantly to the film industry through the direction and production of numerous feature films between 1974 and 2006. His early work includes *One or the Other of Us* (1974), *Die Konsequenz* (1977), and *Schwarz und weiß wie Tage und Nächte* (1978). He gained international recognition for *Das Boot* (1981) and continued with *The NeverEnding Story* (1984) and *Enemy Mine* (1985). In the 1990s, he directed *Shattered* (1991), *In the Line of Fire* (1993), and *Outbreak* (1995). His later contributions include high-profile films such as *Air Force One* (1997), *The Perfect Storm* (2000), *Troy* (2004), and *Poseidon* (2006).

## FAQs
**What films did Wolfgang Petersen direct?**
Wolfgang Petersen directed a diverse range of films including *Das Boot* (1981), *The NeverEnding Story* (1984), *Enemy Mine* (1985), *In the Line of Fire* (1993), *Air Force One* (1997), *The Perfect Storm* (2000), *Troy* (2004), and *Poseidon* (2006).

**Where did Wolfgang Petersen go to school?**
He attended Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums, a grammar school located in Hamburg, Germany, which was established in 1529.

**What awards did Wolfgang Petersen receive?**
He was a recipient of the Bavarian Order of Merit, which is the Order of Merit of the Free State of Bavaria.

**What was Wolfgang Petersen's role in the film industry?**
He served as a film director, film producer, and screenwriter, controlling the artistic and dramatic aspects of film production and supervising the making of motion pictures.

## Why They Matter
Wolfgang Petersen matters for his extensive influence on both German and American cinema, successfully navigating a transition from European art-house films to global blockbusters. His filmography includes some of the most recognizable titles of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, contributing to the genres of war, fantasy, thriller, and disaster films. His work helped define the visual and narrative style of large-scale action and adventure movies during his active years.

## Notable For
- Directing the 1981 film *Das Boot*
- Directing the 1984 fantasy film *The NeverEnding Story*
- Directing the 1997 action film *Air Force One*
- Directing the 2004 historical epic *Troy*
- Directing the 2006 film *Poseidon*
- Recipient of the Bavarian Order of Merit
- Affiliation with the Deutsche Filmakademie
- Attending Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums in Hamburg

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Wolfgang Petersen was born in 1941. He received his education at Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums, a historic grammar school in Hamburg, Germany, which was founded in 1529.

### Career Overview
Petersen worked as a film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His professional career began in 1967 and continued until 2016. As a director, he was responsible for controlling the artistic and dramatic aspects of his film productions, while as a producer, he supervised the making of the films. He was affiliated with the Deutsche Filmakademie, a German film organization founded in 2003 that awards the German Film Award.

### Filmography
Petersen's directorial works are extensive and span several decades. His early films in the 1970s include:
*   *One or the Other of Us* (1974)
*   *Die Konsequenz* (1977)
*   *Schwarz und weiß wie Tage und Nächte* (1978)

In the 1980s, he directed several notable films that achieved international recognition:
*   *Das Boot* (1981)
*   *The NeverEnding Story* (1984)
*   *Enemy Mine* (1985)

During the 1990s, Petersen directed a series of successful Hollywood productions:
*   *Shattered* (1991)
*   *In the Line of Fire* (1993)
*   *Outbreak* (1995)

His work continued into the 2000s with large-scale productions:
*   *Air Force One* (1997)
*   *The Perfect Storm* (2000)
*   *Troy* (2004)
*   *Poseidon* (2006)

### Recognition
Throughout his career, Petersen was acknowledged for his contributions to the arts and culture. He was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit, an honor established by the Free State of Bavaria in 1957.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [Source](https://consequence.net/2022/08/wolfgang-petersen-director-death/)
3. BnF authorities
4. Czech National Authority Database
5. www.acmi.net.au
6. [Find a Grave](https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/242711810/wolfgang-petersen)
7. International Standard Name Identifier
8. filmportal.de
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. CiNii Research
11. MusicBrainz
12. [Director Wolfgang Petersen Dies At 81; Hollywood Star Rose After ‘Das Boot’ To Include Hollywood Blockbusters ‘The Perfect Storm,’ ‘Air Force One’ & ‘In The Line Of Fire’](https://deadline.com/2022/08/wolfgang-petersen-dead-director-perfect-storm-das-boot-air-force-one-1235093543/)
13. SNAC
14. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
15. Munzinger Personen
16. [Director Wolfgang Petersen Dies At 81; Hollywood Star Rose After ‘Das Boot’ To Include Blockbusters ‘The Perfect Storm,’ ‘Air Force One’ & ‘In The Line Of Fire’. 2022](https://deadline.com/2022/08/wolfgang-petersen-dead-director-perfect-storm-das-boot-air-force-one-1235093543/)
17. [Wolfgang Petersen, ‘Air Force One,’ ‘Das Boot’ Director, Dies at 81. Variety. 2022](https://variety.com/2022/film/news/wolfgang-petersen-dead-air-force-one-1235342734/)
18. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
19. [Source](https://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/Search/Nominations?nomineeId=5488&view=1-Nominee-Alpha)
20. [Source](https://www.dga.org/Awards/History/1980s/1982.aspx?value=1982)
21. Autoritats UB
22. [Source](https://cinepassion34.fr/celebrity/wolfgang-petersen/)
23. Quora
24. The Movie Database
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26. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
27. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data