Manfred Steffen

Manfred Steffen (1916–2009) was a German actor and voice artist. After studying acting with Willy Maertens in Hamburg, he worked as a radio newsreader from 1945. In 1947, he joined the ensemble of Hamburg’s Thalia Theater, where he remained until his death. Over the course of his career, he performed more than 240 stage roles and also appeared in numerous film and television productions. Among his notable roles was the Captain of Köpenick in Carl Zuckmayer’s play of the same name. As a voice artist, he was heard, among other roles, as Abbot Abbo in an audio adaptation of Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose” and as Gandalf in “The Lord of the Rings”.