Famous Austrians

MUSICIANS

Josef Haydn (1732 - 1809)

He is one of the most famous Austrian composers, part of the so-called Viennese school, had an important influence both on Mozart and Beethoven

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)

Was a prolific and influential composer of the classical era. He is usually considered as being one of the greatest classical composers

Johann Strauss I (senior) (1804-1849)

Born in Vienna, Johann Strauss senior was an Austrian romantic composer known particularly for his waltzes. His most famous piece is probably the Radetzky March.

Johann Strauss II (junior) (1825-1899)

Son of Johann Strauß senior and brother of composer Josef Strauß and Eduard Strauß, Johann Strauß II is the most famous of his family. He was knows in his lifetime as the "waltz king"

Joe Zavinul

Born on July the 7th 1932 in Vienna, Austria. , he is the most famous Austrian jazz musician, keyboardist and composer and one of the front runners in the development of jazz fusion

Falco (1957-1998)

Falco was born in Vienna as Hans Hoelzel. He was the most famous Austrian pop rock singer and musician. In particular the song Rock Me Amadeus was number one in a number of countries, including the US chart.

POLITICIANS

Maria Theresia (1717 - 1780)

She was reigning Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia.
Also her husband - Francis I.- received the imperial crown, she was the de facto ruler of the nation and implemented a large number of reforms, such as the introduction of the compulsory school education for all children. She had 16 children.

Franz Joseph I. (1830 - 1916)

Franz Joseph of the Habsburg Dynasty was emperor in Austria, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia from 1848 until 1916. His 68-year reign is one of the longest reigns in Europe

Elisabeth, Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary (1837-1898)

Wife of the emperor Franz Joseph I. She was called Sisi by family and friends and was particularly admired by the Austrians for her beauty.

ARTISTS

Otto Wagner (1841-1918)

Austrian architect, famous for his city planning and the design of several building in Vienna of the Vienna Art Nouveau, such as the post office in the first district of Vienna, the Karlsplatz underground station and the Steinhof church.

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918)

Austrian symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Art Nouveau. His painting "Adele Bloch Bauer I" also famous as the "Golden Adele" is the second-most expensive painting in the world.
His major works are exhibited at the museum of the Belvedere palace in Vienna

Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000)
Austrian artist (painter, sculptor) particularly famous for his colourful paintings and buildings, in particular the Hundertwasserhouse situated in the 3rd district of Vienna.

SCIENTISTS

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

Was a Jewish-Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist. Freud is best known for his theories of the unconscious mind and his therapeutic technique. He is commonly referred as "the father of psychoanalysis".

Simon Wiesenthal (1908-2005)

Was an Austrian-Jewish Architect, Publicist and Author born in today's Ukraine. Following four and a half years in the concentration camps, he spent most of his life to tracking down, hunting and gathering information on fugitive Nazis so that they could be brought to justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

SPORTS

Niki Lauda

Born on 22nd of February 1949 in Vienna. He is a famous Formula one racing driver and 3-time F1 world champion.
He is also the founder of the airlines Lauda Air and Fly Niki.

Thomas Muster

Born on the 2nd of October 1967 in Leibnitz, Austria. He is a former world no 1 tennis player from Austria. At his peak in the mid-1990s, he was known as the "King of the Clay".

Hermann Maier

Born on the 7th of December 1972 in Altenmarkt. He is an Austrian skier who has won 4 overall world cup titles (1998, 2000, 2001, 2004), 2 Olympic gold medals (1998), 3 world championship titles (1999, 2005) and 53 races in the world cup.

ACTORS/ACTRESSES

Romy Schneider (1938-1982)

She was born Rosemarie Magdalena Albach-Retty in Vienna into a family of actors. Schneider's breakthrough came with her portrayal of Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria in the romantic biopic Sissi (1955)

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Born on July 30th 1947 in Graz, Austria is an Austrian bodybuilder, actor (Terminator, True Lies, Total recall, etc...) and more recently American politician, currently serving as the 38th Governor of California.
Nicknamed as "Arnie".

Klaus Maria Brandauer

Was born on June 22nd, 1944 as Klaus Georg Steng in Bad Aussee, Austria. In 1981 he made his film debut with in Istvàn Szabós Mephisto, followed with parts in Never Say Never Again (1983) and Out of Africa (1985), for which he was nominated for an Oscar.