Josef Harringer, Swedish actor and filmmaker, passed away in late November 2013 in the wake of an aggressive form of cancer. Prior to the funeral Josef’s parents, actor Ewa Harringer and film producer Bo Harringer, asked people to donate money to The Freedom Theatre for the benefit of young Palestinian theatre students. Josef’s mother will visit The Freedom Theatre in Jenin Refugee Camp to attend the awarding of scholarships to graduating students of the Theatre School.
The Freedom Theatre, through its Friends Association in Sweden, has received 16 000 SEK from Josef Harringer’s relatives and friends.
– Prior to the funeral, we asked people to donate money to The Freedom Theatre instead of buying flowers, say Josef’s parents. We are delighted that this money can be put to use for scholarships for young acting students. Josef would have liked that very much.
Ewa Harringer will come to The Freedom Theatre in connection with the awarding of grants to graduating students on April 4. This day is also the anniversary of the assassination of Juliano Mer Khamis, co-founder of The Freedom Theatre.
– A main theme in Josef Harringer’s work was giving voice to the most vulnerable people in society, the ones that nobody listens to. The Freedom Theatre does the same. This is why it means so much to us that Josef’s parents chose to give a gift to The Freedom Theatre in Josef’s memory. It is not only an important financial support to our theatre students but also an act of solidarity. We are deeply honoured to be carrying on Josef’s legacy, says Jonatan Stanczak, Managing Director of The Freedom Theatre.
Josef Harringer was a talented actor with great stage presence and poise. He started with theatre already at twelve years old and during his all too short life he was part of several independent theatres as well as Unga Folkteatern in Gothenburg, where many recall his portrayal of Lennie in “Of Mice and Men ” by John Steinbeck. Josef also worked on film with his father and produced more than 30 films, mainly documentaries. Many of these focused on social and political issues and several have won awards and attracted attention both in Sweden and abroad. In parallel with the film work Josef continued to act at theatres as well as in a few feature films and television series.
In September 2013, Josef suddenly became ill. It turned out to be cancer that was impossible to treat. On November 27, Josef passed away, at the age of 40. He is mourned and missed by many.