Bernd Eichinger
The German producer who brought Resident Evil: Afterlife to the big screen.
Bernd Eichinger was a German film producer, screenwriter, and director. He produced many acclaimed films through Constantin Film, including Downfall. One of his last films was about the left-wing terrorist group Red Army Faction (RAF) and based on the book Der Baader Meinhof Komplex by Stefan Aust. The range of genres of films he produced was unusually varied, including a 3D zombie movie, Resident Evil: Afterlife. He was an incredibly prolific film maker, with almost 100 films to his credit.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 11 April 1949
- Birthplace
- Neuburg an der Donau, Bavaria, occupied Germany
- Died
- 24 January 2011
- Place of death
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Occupation
- Film producer
- screenwriter
- director
- Years active
- 1972–2010
- Partner
- Jane Seitz (1980s)
- Katja Flint (1990s)
- Corinna Harfouch (1999–2004)
- Spouse
- Katja Hofmann (2006)
Lore & Background
Bernd Eichinger's career spanned decades and genres, from the historical drama Downfall to the 3D zombie action of Resident Evil: Afterlife. He was known as tenacious, once spending 20 years convincing author Patrick Süskind to trust him with the film rights to Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, which was released in 2006 and grossed $135 million worldwide. In the 1980s, he obtained the film rights to the Fantastic Four and Silver Surfer, decades before Marvel movies became popular. He was chairman of the supervisory board of Constantin Film as of 2005 and still owned a substantial stake in the company. Eichinger died of a heart attack in Los Angeles on 24 January 2011 during dinner with family and friends. He was 61.
Reader's Guide
Bernd Eichinger was a German film producer, screenwriter, and director born in Neuburg an der Donau on 11 April 1949. He attended the University of Television and Film Munich in the 1970s. In 1979, he bought a stake in Neue Constantin Film and became its executive director, later serving as chairman of the supervisory board as of 2005. He co-founded Summit, the Los Angeles-based production and film sales company, in 1991. Eichinger produced Resident Evil: Afterlife, a 3D zombie movie, as part of his prolific output of almost 100 films. He died of a heart attack in Los Angeles on 24 January 2011 at age 61.
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