Franul von Weißenthurn, Johanna

ACTOR, AUTHOR (GERMANY)
BORN 16 Feb 1772, Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz - DIED 17 May 1847, Wien
BIRTH NAME Grünberg, Johanna
GRAVE LOCATION Wien: Hietzinger Friedhof, Maxingstraße 15, Hietzing (Gruppe 05, Nummer 31)

Daughter of actors. As a child she travelled around with her parents and after her father died the actor Johann Andreas Teichmann became her stepfather. In 1786 she was engaged at the Hoftheater in München, but in 1789 joined her brother at the the theatre in Baden (near Vienna). There J.F.H. Brockmann saw her and contracted her for the Burgtheater. There she worked from 1789 to 1842.

In 1791 she married Franul von Weißenthurn, who was cashier at Arnstein in Vienna and came from Italy. He came from a good family but he had no money and she continued her acting career. They had a son and a daughter. Her husband died in 1817.

From 1796 onwards she also wrote plays that were performed successfully at the Burgtheater and at other theatres. In 1809 Napoloen saw her at Schönbrunn in Schiller's "Phädra". The emperor was impressed and gave her 3,000 francs and his compliments. After her last performance in 1842 she retired to private life but continued writing plays.

Related persons
• was admired by Napoleon I Bonaparte

Images

The grave of Johanna Franul von Weißenthurn at the Hietzing Cemetery in Vienna.
Picture by androom (15 Aug 2006)

 

Sources
Johanna Franul von Weißenthurn – Wikipedia
Deutsche Biographie - Franul von Weißenthurn, Johanna


Franz Joseph von Habsburg, Emperor of Austria

Published: 11 Jun 2011
Last update: 25 Jan 2022