Wilhelm von Homburg
Wilhelm von Homburg | |
---|---|
Born |
Norbert Grupe 25 August 1940 Berlin, Germany |
Died |
10 March 2004 63) Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | (aged
Occupation | Wrestler, boxer, actor |
Norbert Grupe (August 25, 1940 – March 10, 2004), better known outside Germany by his stage name Wilhelm von Homburg, was a German wrestler, boxer, and actor, best known for his portrayal of Vigo the Carpathian in the film Ghostbusters II.[1]
History
Wilhelm Von Homburg (A.K.A. Norbert Grupe) was born in Berlin, Germany. He started out his career as a wrestler during the fifties in Germany where he earned his fame. He also toured the States. Homburg's stage name was Prinz Wilhelm Von Homburg. In the early sixties, he shifted from wrestling to boxing. Between 1962 and 1970, he was in the light heavyweight and the heavyweight class.
In Hollywood, he made his debut on the popular television show Gunsmoke, as "Otto". The director Andrew V. McLaglen, had writer John Meston write the episode inspired by Wilhelm's life as a boxer. The production flew Wilhelm in from Germany to the U.S. for a special appearance of the Gunsmoke episode "The Promoter". Later, Wilhelm had a recurring role on Television show The Wild Wild West.
Wilhelm is best known for playing "Vigo the Carpathian" in the big hit movie Ghostbusters II. His other movies includes, to name a few, Die Hard, Diggstown, The Package, Eye of The Storm, In The Mouth of Madness, The Devil's Brigade, The Wrecking Crew, and Stroszek.
Wilhelm made headlines after his controversial appearance on German TV at the Z.D.F. Sport Studio, after the reporter Rainer Günzler had made some rude, snide remarks about his boxing career and his private life.
In 2000, German film-maker Gerd Kroske produced a prize-winning documentary on Wilhelm's life called Der Boxprinz (2002).[2]
Death
In his later years, Wilhelm lived in the beautiful Malibu/Santa Monica Mountains, together with his dog 'Kiss'. Wilhelm Von Homburg died of cancer in March, 2004 on the Villa Estate of his close friend in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.[2]
Professional boxing record
30 Wins (24 knockouts, 6 decisions), 11 Losses (2 knockouts, 8 decisions, 1 DQ), 6 Draws | |||||||
Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
Loss | 30-11-6 | PTS | 10 | 11/12/1970 | |||
Loss | 30-10-6 | PTS | 10 | 12/12/1969 | |||
Loss | 30-9-6 | PTS | 10 | 14/11/1969 | |||
Loss | 30-8-6 | TKO | 3 | 20/06/1969 | |||
Win | 30-7-6 | TKO | 7 | 02/04/1969 | |||
Loss | 29-7-6 | PTS | 10 | 14/02/1969 | |||
Win | 29-6-6 | TKO | 5 | 03/01/1969 | |||
Win | 28-6-6 | PTS | 10 | 08/11/1968 | Germany BDB Heavyweight Title Eliminator. | ||
Win | 27-6-6 | KO | 3 | 18/09/1968 | |||
Win | 26-6-6 | TKO | 8 | 30/08/1968 | |||
Loss | 25-6-6 | PTS | 10 | 11/04/1968 | |||
Win | 25-5-6 | KO | 5 | 15/12/1967 | |||
Draw | 24-5-6 | PTS | 10 | 03/05/1967 | |||
Win | 24-5-5 | KO | 9 | 09/12/1966 | |||
Loss | 23-5-5 | DQ | 11 | 19/11/1966 | EBU Light Heavyweight Title. | ||
Draw | 23-4-5 | PTS | 10 | 14/05/1966 | |||
Draw | 23-4-4 | PTS | 10 | 28/05/1965 | |||
Win | 23-4-3 | KO | 4 | 29/04/1965 | |||
Win | 22-4-3 | TKO | 8 | 02/04/1965 | |||
Win | 21-4-3 | TKO | 6 | 20/02/1965 | |||
Loss | 20-4-3 | PTS | 10 | 16/01/1965 | |||
Win | 20-3-3 | TKO | 10 | 05/12/1964 | |||
Win | 19-3-3 | KO | 3 | 27/11/1964 | |||
Win | 18-3-3 | TKO | 9 | 06/11/1964 | |||
Win | 17-3-3 | KO | 6 | 29/05/1964 | |||
Draw | 16-3-3 | PTS | 10 | 08/05/1964 | |||
Win | 16-3-2 | KO | 5 | 07/04/1964 | |||
Win | 15-3-2 | TKO | 9 | 06/01/1964 | |||
Win | 14-3-2 | SD | 10 | 18/11/1963 | 7-3, 8-1, 3-6. | ||
Loss | 13-3-2 | PTS | 10 | 19/09/1963 | 4-7. | ||
Loss | 13-2-2 | PTS | 10 | 23/07/1963 | |||
Win | 13-1-2 | TKO | 9 | 24/06/1963 | Referee stopped the bout at 1:09 of the ninth round. | ||
Draw | 12-1-2 | PTS | 6 | 01/06/1963 | |||
Win | 12-1-1 | TKO | 9 | 20/05/1963 | Referee stopped the bout at 2:29 of the ninth round. | ||
Win | 11-1-1 | KO | 3 | 25/03/1963 | |||
Win | 10-1-1 | KO | 6 | 25/02/1963 | |||
Win | 9-1-1 | TKO | 1 | 19/02/1963 | Referee stopped the bout at 2:35 of the first round. | ||
Win | 8-1-1 | KO | 6 | 15/02/1963 | |||
Win | 7-1-1 | UD | 8 | 22/01/1963 | 5-2, 5-2, 6-2. | ||
Win | 6-1-1 | PTS | 8 | 15/01/1963 | 6-3. | ||
Win | 5-1-1 | PTS | 6 | 18/12/1962 | |||
Win | 4-1-1 | PTS | 6 | 14/12/1962 | |||
Loss | 3-1-1 | KO | 3 | 25/10/1962 | |||
Win | 3-0-1 | KO | 3 | 21/09/1962 | |||
Win | 2-0-1 | KO | 3 | 24/08/1962 | |||
Win | 1-0-1 | KO | 2 | 16/08/1962 | |||
Draw | 0-0-1 | PTS | 4 | 20/07/1962 |
Selected filmography
- 1965: Morituri - Crew Member (uncredited)
- 1966: The Last of the Secret Agents? - GGI Man
- 1966: Torn Curtain - Blonde Twin in Bus (uncredited)
- 1967: Hotel Clausewitz - American
- 1968: The Devil's Brigade - Fritz
- 1968: The Hell with Heroes - Hans
- 1968: The Wrecking Crew - Gregor
- 1970: Gentlemen in White Vests - Boxer Max Graf
- 1976: The Swiss Conspiracy - Hit Man in Santa Claus Costume (uncredited)
- 1977: Stroszek - Souteneur
- 1988: Die Hard - James
- 1989: Ghostbusters II - Vigo
- 1989: The Package - West Berlin Police Lieutenant
- 1990: Midnight Cabaret - Juan Carlos
- 1991: Night of the Warrior - Bike
- 1991: Eye of the Storm - Killer
- 1992: Diggstown - Charles Macum Diggs
- 1994: The Silence of the Hams - Maitre D'
- 1994: In the Mouth of Madness - Simon