Horst Janson

File:Horstjanson.jpg

Janson on the 2013 documentary Als die Sesamstrasse nach Deutschland kam.

Horst Janson (b. 1935) is a popular German actor who played Horst on Sesamstrasse from 1979 until 1983. By the time he appeared on the German version of Sesame Street, Janson had already established himself as a star in his homeland and abroad.

From 1959 onward, Janson was active in German film and television, culminating in a principal role on the circus drama Salto mortale (as Sascha Dorian). A spate of English-language projects followed, mostly war or escape movies like You Can't Win 'Em All, The McKenzie Break, and Murphy's War (with Peter O'Toole). He also guest starred on Upstairs, Downstairs as the dashing Baron Klaus von Rimmer.

Continuing to migrate between Germany and England, he starred as the title characters on the German TV drama Der Bastian and in the Hammer horror film Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter. Still other international credits include Shout at the Devil (with Roger Moore and Ian Holm) and the TV movies To Catch a King (as the German villain) and The Last Days of Patton. He remains an active presence on German television.

On December 12, 2012, Janson attended the opening of the Berlin-based exhibition 40 Jahre Sesamstrasse and appeared in a Q&A onstage with Samson (now played by another puppeteer from when he knew the bear). In 2013 he appeared in the documentary Als die Sesamstrasse nach Deutschland kam ("When Sesame Street Came to Germany"), talking about his experience working on the show.

Horst Janson (back right) with fellow actors Uwe Friedrichsen, Ilse Biberti and Lilo Pulver (1981)

Horst Janson (back right) with Ute Willing replacing Ilse Biberti (1982)

And (once more on the right) during his final year on the show (1983)

External links

• IMDb