Schlingensief passed away in Berlin, Germany on Saturday (21Aug10), two years after he was diagnosed with the deadly illness.
The star is best known for his provocative work in the theatre and movie business, shocking critics with films including 1989’s A Hundred Years of Adolf Hitler, which covered the last hours of the Nazi dictator’s life, and 1990’s The German Chainsaw-Massacre.
His theatre work included his famous production of Hamlet in 2001 in Berlin which involved the controversial casting of neo-Nazi amateur actors. Schlingensief also established himself as an artist in recent years. He had been due to showcase his latest production S.M.A.S.H. at Germany’s Ruhrtriennale festival but recently cancelled the show because of his ill health.
He is survived by his wife, costume designer Aino Laberenz.
