Erika Pluhar: A life full of pain and triumphs - biography for her 85th birthday!

Erika Pluhar: A life full of pain and triumphs - biography for her 85th birthday!

Erika Pluhar, one of the most famous personalities on the Austrian cultural scene, is celebrating her 85th birthday this year. This actress, singer and author, who was born in Vienna on February 28, 1939, worked at the renowned Burgtheater in Vienna for over four decades. There she played numerous unforgettable roles with her impressive stage presence and thrilled the audience. Even though Pluhar rejected offers for Hollywood films and a candidacy for the office of Federal President, her influence remains undisputed. NDR reports that the artist is known not only for her acting but also for her musical contributions. Her chanson career, which she began in the 1970s, includes numerous successful albums and collaborations with greats such as André Heller and Klaus Trabitsch.

However, Pluhar's life path was not always easy. In addition to her artistic successes, she also had to endure personal suffering, including the tragic loss of her daughter Anna and two partners. These experiences have deeply influenced her and are also reflected in her life motto “Nevertheless,” which adorns the title of her biography. The photo biography, which is published on the occasion of her birthday, offers exciting insights into her life with unpublished photos and texts. The presentation of the biography took place on Sunday, July 20, 2025 and was accompanied with a lot of attention and respect.

A life full of highlights

Erika Pluhar began her remarkable career after graduating from the Max Reinhardt Seminar in 1959. In the theater she appeared in major plays, including “Antigone” and “Othello,” and was named a chamber actress in 1986. In the eyes of many, she is not only a mainstay of the Burgtheater, but also an important voice in Austrian artistic and cultural life. Her official farewell to the Burgtheater in 1999 was an emotional moment, but she returned to the stage in 2004 to enchant her audience once again. History Wiki Vienna highlights that Pluhar also has cinematic successes, including script work on several films, which underline her versatility as an artist.

She found her private happiness with her adopted son Ignaz, whom she took to her heart after the loss of her daughter. This family constellation shows that, despite the severe blows of fate, Pluhar was able to experience love and security anew. Politically, she has always been close to the SPÖ and is actively involved in combating right-wing extremism, which further strengthens her social influence. She has also published several autobiographical works that not only provide insights into her life, but also into her thoughts. Recent publications such as “Gitti” (2023) show that Pluhar continues to actively work on her writing. Wikipedia informs about her numerous awards that honor her contribution to culture, including the Billy Wilder Award and the Vienna Gold Medal of Honor.