Actor. He was the quintessential screen stereotype of the WWII German officer in films of the 1950s through the 1970s. A teacher's son, he initially began working as an English and French translator. He made a career change and began studying acting at the Max Reinhardt Academy in Berlin. While attending the academy, he was "discovered" by director Alfred Weidenmann. He knew that Hansen's charismatic, masculine, and commanding presence was perfect for his biopic of the WW2 German Air Force Ace, Hans Joachim Marseille, in "The Star of Africa" (1957). So, he handed Hansen the leading /title role. This was Joachim's first credited film role. Afterward, he was rarely seen on screen out of a uniform. Hence, he became best known for roles (all through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s), wherein he almost always portrayed a WWII German military officer or Nazi official. Of his 80 plus film credits, he is best remembered for such iconic military roles as the frustrated Captain of demolition in "The Bridge at Remagen" (1969), General Alfred Jodl in the epic TV miniseries "The Winds of War" (1983) and the sequel "War and Remembrance" (1989), the unforgiving SS-General in "The Eagle Has Landed" (1976), and as Claus von Stauffenberg in the TV Movie "Operation Valkyrie" (1971). He immigrated to Canada in 1986, but he still occasionally returned to Germany for theatrical appearances. On one such visit to Berlin, he died after suffering a stroke.
Actor. He was the quintessential screen stereotype of the WWII German officer in films of the 1950s through the 1970s. A teacher's son, he initially began working as an English and French translator. He made a career change and began studying acting at the Max Reinhardt Academy in Berlin. While attending the academy, he was "discovered" by director Alfred Weidenmann. He knew that Hansen's charismatic, masculine, and commanding presence was perfect for his biopic of the WW2 German Air Force Ace, Hans Joachim Marseille, in "The Star of Africa" (1957). So, he handed Hansen the leading /title role. This was Joachim's first credited film role. Afterward, he was rarely seen on screen out of a uniform. Hence, he became best known for roles (all through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s), wherein he almost always portrayed a WWII German military officer or Nazi official. Of his 80 plus film credits, he is best remembered for such iconic military roles as the frustrated Captain of demolition in "The Bridge at Remagen" (1969), General Alfred Jodl in the epic TV miniseries "The Winds of War" (1983) and the sequel "War and Remembrance" (1989), the unforgiving SS-General in "The Eagle Has Landed" (1976), and as Claus von Stauffenberg in the TV Movie "Operation Valkyrie" (1971). He immigrated to Canada in 1986, but he still occasionally returned to Germany for theatrical appearances. On one such visit to Berlin, he died after suffering a stroke.
Bio by: Jay Lance
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