Known for
Biography
German director and actress Leni Riefenstahl was born on 22 August 1902 in Berlin. She passed away on 8 September 2003 at the age of 101. She was known for Verdensberømtheder i København (1939).
Career
Records list Ways to Strength and Beauty (1925) as her earliest screen credit. In the 1920s, she appeared in The Holy Mountain (1926) and The White Hell of Pitz Palu (1929). The 1930s brought The Blue Light (1932) and S.O.S. Eisberg (1933). Her 1950s credits include Tiefland (1954).
In all, 24 films appear in her credits from 1925 to 2014. Her screen work on record ends with Leni Riefenstahl: Her Dream of Africa in 2003. She is also credited as director on 12 titles, including Triumph of the Will, and writer on 9 titles, including Olympia. Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations and Olympia Part Two: Festival of Beauty are listed among her notable work.
Recognition
Leni Riefenstahl received the Mussolini Cup in 1938 for Triumph of the Will. Further recognition came with the German Olympic Decoration 2nd Class.
Personal life
Marriages on record are to Peter Jacob (1944 to 1946) and Horst Kettner (2003, widowed).
Filmography
24 credits| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | From Caligari to Hitler: German Cinema in the Age of the Masses | Film | |
| 2003 | Leni Riefenstahl: Her Dream of Africa | Film | |
| 2002 | Impressionen unter Wasser | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1993 | The Wonderful Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl | Film | |
| 1954 | Tiefland | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1939 | Verdensberømtheder i København | Film | |
| 1938 | Olympia | Writer, Director | Film |
| 1938 | Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1938 | Olympia Part Two: Festival of Beauty | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1936 | Olympia: The Film Of The Xi Olympic Games, Berlin, 1936 | Director | Film |
| 1936 | Olympia. Part Ii. Festival Of Beauty: The Diving Sequence | Director | Film |
| 1936 | The Olympia Marathon Sequence | Director | Film |
| 1935 | Tag der Freiheit: Unsere Wehrmacht | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1935 | Triumph of the Will | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1933 | Der Sieg des Glaubens | Director, Writer | Film |
Show all 24 credits
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | S.O.S. Eisberg | Film | |
| 1932 | The Blue Light | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1931 | The White Ecstasy | Film | |
| 1930 | Storm over Mont Blanc | Film | |
| 1929 | The White Hell of Pitz Palu | Film | |
| 1928 | The Fate of the House of Habsburg | Film | |
| 1927 | The Great Leap | Film | |
| 1926 | The Holy Mountain | Film | |
| 1925 | Ways to Strength and Beauty | Film |
Awards and nominations
2 won, 0 nominated| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Mussolini Cup | Triumph of the Will | Won |
| German Olympic Decoration 2nd Class | Won |
Leni Riefenstahl Photos
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Photo: Marlis Decker · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: PBS (Q215616) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Public domain · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: UnknownUnknown (Scherl/Süddeutsche Zeitung Photo) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, picture by Olympia-Film G.m.b.H., Berlin S.O. 36, Harzerstraße 39 (founded 9 Dec 1935, end of business per 31 Dec… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Allgeier family inhertiance · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Private archive of Matthias Fanck (grandson of Arnold Fanck), Germany · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Public domain · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Karl Schenker · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Inheritance of the Riefenstahl family · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Frequently asked questions
How old was Leni Riefenstahl at the time of death?
Leni Riefenstahl died on 8 September 2003 at the age of 101. She was born on 22 August 1902.
What is Leni Riefenstahl known for?
Leni Riefenstahl was known for Verdensberømtheder i København (1939).
What is Leni Riefenstahl’s nationality?
Leni Riefenstahl was German, born in Berlin.
Who was Leni Riefenstahl married to?
Leni Riefenstahl’s marriages on record are to Horst Kettner (2003) and Peter Jacob (1944 to 1946).
Has Leni Riefenstahl won any awards?
Yes. 2 awards are on record, including Mussolini Cup (1938) for Triumph of the Will.
Sources
- Wikidata (Q55415), accessed October 2026
- Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
Last checked by the Wiki of Celebs editorial team
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