German Sánchez Hernández-Cobos was a renowned Spanish actor who made a lasting impact in European cinema. Born on July 7, 1927, he was the son of stage actor Fernando Cobos and spent part of his childhood in San Sebastian. German's early life was marked by a fascination with acting, which led him to join the Teatro Español Universitario (TEU) in 1949.
After moving to Madrid, he enrolled in the School of Dramatic Art and the Official School of Cinematography, and made his screen debut in 1951 in Juan de Orduña's film La leona de Castilla. He then went on to join the comedy company of Hungarian actress Lilí Murati, where he gained popularity for his roles in comedies like Tovarich and Una noche en su casa, señora, as well as dramatic pieces like La muerte de Dantón.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, German's true projection was in the cinema, where he played tough leading man roles in over a hundred films. His extensive filmography includes notable works such as El beso de Judas, La patrulla, La otra vida del Capitán Contreras, and Cuerda de presos, directed by Rafael Gil and Pedro Lazaga.
German's career also took him to Italy, where he appeared in films like Esclavas de Cartago and Susana pura nata. Back in Spain, he starred alongside Sara Montiel in Carmen la de Ronda, directed by Tulio Demichelli, and later appeared in the melodrama Ama Rosa, alongside Imperio Argentina.
In the 1960s, German starred in the comedy Guapo, libre y español and, from the 1980s onwards, appeared in stage productions like Del rey Ordás y sus infamias, La amante de su señoría, and La marquesa Rosalinda.
German's filmography also includes notable collaborations with renowned directors such as J. A. Bardem, Alfonso Balcázar, and Pedro Almodóvar. He spent some seasons retired, running a hospitality business in La Granja de San Ildefonso (Segovia),and later participated in the television series Villarriba y Villabajo in 1995.
German Sánchez Hernández-Cobos passed away on January 12, 2015, leaving behind a legacy as a prolific Spanish actor who made a significant impact in European cinema.
