- Was a German bass baritone opera singer and actor.
- His time as intendant at the Städtischen Oper Berlin had to come to an end due to an accusation by his pupil, the tenor Hans Beirer, during the denazification process. His rehabilitation during the following years was slow, even though Beirer's accusation was quickly revealed as false. Bohnen thus died in complete poverty, with only a small wage from the city of Berlin. He died in Berlin.
- On stage from 1910. A leading interpreter of Wagner, long with the Berlin Hofoper and at the Deutschen Oper Berlin (1935-45). Regular appearances at the Bayreuther Festspiele. Performed with the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1922, and in Buenos Aires from 1933 to 1934.
- Romantically linked to the exotic dancer La Jana.
- Set up his own film production company in the 1920's, the Bohnen Film GmbH.
- After a five-year lasting singing education he made his debut as Kaspar in the play "Der Freischütz" in Düsseldorf in 1910. This was the prelude to a marvelous career which led him via Wiesbaden to Berlin. There he recorded his first disc in 1912.
- When he refused to play in propaganda movies he was confronted with a fateful consequence. His son Wolfgang, who was a priest, was called up as a front priest to put Michael Bohnen under pressure. Wolfgang Bohnen was killed in the Caucasus two years later; a bad blow for Michael Bohnen.
- They paid tribute to Michael Bohnen's activity with the Goethe award in 1952 and with the award of the "Grosses Verdienstkreuz des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland" in 1957. But these appreciations deceive over the real situation of Michael Bohnen. Ignored by the official departments he spent the last years of his life in poverty.
- The actor Michael Bohnen became famous as an opera singer above all, beside it he was endowed with a great acting talent.
- He was not only convincing on the opera stage as a colossal singer but also with his acting abilities which the film business soon made good use of.
- He became a leading baritone and bass singer in the following years and shone especially as a singer of Wagner. When he appeared at the Metropolitan in New York in the 20's he was mentioned in one breath with Benjamino Gigli and Feodor Schaljapin.
- He made his film debut in the great production "Die Herrin der Welt" in 1919 where he dominated the screen with his 280 pounds and a height of 1.90 meters.
- His time as intendant at the Städtischen Oper Berlin had to come to an end due to an accusation by his pupil, the tenor Hans Beirer, during the denazification process. His rehabilitation during the following years was slow, even though Beirer's accusation was quickly revealed as false. Bohnen thus died in complete poverty, with only a small wage from the city of Berlin.
- He trained in opera singing at the Hochschule für Musik Köln with composer and conductor Fritz Steinbach and Rudolf Schulz-Dornburg and with a private tutor, making his debut in 1910 at the Stadttheater Düsseldorf.
- After the war they accused him for being a sympathizer of the former rulers and was imposed with a working prohibition for four years. Later he was rehabilitated slowly although there were inconsistent statements.
- After the first world war, Bohnen joined the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1922, and spent 1933 to 1934 in Buenos Aires.
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