Famous People Born In Augsburg

German playwright, poet, and theater director, Bertolt Brecht, is best known for co-writing the play, The Threepenny Opera, with Kurt Weill. Growing up in war-torn Germany in the early 20th century, he had a difficult life. A hardcore Marxist, he lived in exile during the Nazi period. He returned to Germany after the war and established a theater company.

Hans Holbein the Younger was a German printmaker and painter. Regarded as one of the 16th century's greatest portraitists, Holbein was also renowned for producing Reformation propaganda, satire, and religious art. Many of his portraits are now considered cultural icons. Holbein is also credited with contributing immensely to the evolution of book design.

Sheryl Lee is a German-born American actress best known for her work in film, stage, and television. Lee is well-known for playing Madeline Ferguson and Laura Palmer in the cult TV series Twin Peaks. Sheryl Lee is also renowned for her philanthropic efforts and activism. She has participated in campaigns to raise awareness and money for breast cancer.

Jakob Fugger was a German merchant, banker, and mining entrepreneur. Born into the famous Fugger merchant family, Jakob Fugger helped expand the family business and stretched it across Europe. Thanks to his banking transactions with the House of Austria, Fugger also had a strong influence on European politics. He is counted among the wealthiest individuals of all time.    

German violinist and composer Leopold Mozart is best remembered as the father and music teacher of legendary composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. However, Leopold was often blamed for exploiting his son’s musical talent by pushing him to perform as a child. He also had a troubled relationship with his adult son.

CNN journalist and news anchor Wolf Blitzer is best known for his reporting of the Persian Gulf War. Audiences know him for his show The Situation Room. He was part of the Peabody Award-winning team that covered Hurricane Katrina. He has also penned books such as Between Washington and Jerusalem.

Philipp Kohlschreiber is a German tennis player. He has won seven doubles and eight singles titles on the ATP World Tour so far in his career. His best performance at Grand Slam Singles so far has been at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships where he reached the quarterfinals. An all-court and strong baseline player, Philipp Kohlschreiber also possesses great forehand play.

In 1929, German-born Swedish biochemist Hans von Euler-Chelpin was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, together with Arthur Harden, for their studies on the fermentation of sugar and fermentative enzymes. An alumnus of the Berlin University, he worked as a general and organic chemistry professor at Stockholm University and was later also appointed the director of its new biochemical institute.

A talented racing driver from Germany, Alexander Grau has been part of championships such as the German Formula 3 and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft series. The Augsburg-born ace driver has also participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. He has also competed for teams such as Zakspeed.

Beginning his career as an influential counselor at the court of Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg and Maximilian I, Matthäus Lang von Wellenburg was later appointed a cardinal by Pope Julius II. Eventually, he rose to the position of Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg; but soon he became unpopular with Salzburg diocese for his arrogance, and had to fight hard to retain his post.