Swiss actor Bruno Ganz dies at 77 in Zurich clinic

Swiss actor Bruno Ganz died overnight in a Zurich clinic at age 77. Best known for his roles in Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire and Oliver Hirschbiegel's Downfall, Ganz was a towering figure in German cinema and beloved internationally, especially in Italy. He began his career on stage in 1961, co-founding Berlin's influential Schaubühne theatre with Peter Stein before moving to film. His filmography includes works by directors such as Eric Rohmer, Werner Herzog, Francis Ford Coppola, and Lars von Trier. Ganz's final role was Virgil in Lars von Trier's The House That Jack Built, presented at Cannes and releasing in Italian theaters on February 28. He was also considered for Schindler's List but was deemed not famous enough at the time.