Johannes Gaan

About me
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Johannes Gaan

About me
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Since my near-death experience at age 19, my life has been defined by the search for deeper meaning.

Acting became my most direct way of coming to terms with being human—exploring the emotions within me and bringing them to life. During my training in Vienna, everything seemed to fall into place perfectly. I quickly found an agent and landed my first roles on TV and stage, working alongside my idols. Some called me a "rising star." I was living what I believed was my dream.

But beneath the surface, something wasn't right. The deeper I ventured into the industry, the more disillusioned I became. I saw behind the curtain and started questioning everything. Why am I doing this? What does this all mean? What is this for? The passion that had burned so brightly began to flicker—and this bewildered me.

By 30, I realized I couldn't continue. Without a plan, I walked away from the city, the industry, and the identity I'd built. I didn't know what lay ahead, only that I needed something different. I needed to discover myself.

Since then, I've grown immensely. I've also gazed deeply into the darkness. I lost my best friends to cancer. I battled severe depression. I immersed myself in healing—deep, raw, uncomfortable healing. My life transformed so profoundly that I trained as a somatic trauma therapist and began guiding others to uncover their authentic selves beneath the roles they play.

That work cracked me open and brought me back to myself.

Now I'm returning as a different person. I've lived, faced my shadows, and emerged freer, more alive, yet more humble. Acting is no longer about being seen—it's about playing, exploring, expressing, and telling stories that matter.

I'm very curious to discover how these past years have shaped me as an artist - and I would love a "comeback".
Johannes Gaan
Vita as Open in Filmmakers
Actor•29-45 years•Austrian •
Place of residence Zürich (CH), Berlin (DE)
Gendermale
Year of birth1984 (40 years)
Place of birthWels, Austria
Working permitsEuropean Union (EU-27)
Housing optionsVienna (AT), Munich (DE), Hamburg (DE), Paris (FR), Rome (IT), Madrid (ES), Lisbon (PT)
AssociationsVerband österreichischer Filmschauspieler
Driver's licensesB - Car
Other licensesSport boat driving licence within
Eye colorblue
Hair colorsalt & pepper
Height (cm)175
Weight (in kg)71
LanguagesEnglish(native)German(native)FrenchSpanishChineseItalian
DialectsAmerican-StandardAustrianBühnendeutschEnglish-Standard(native dialect)HamburgianOberösterreichischStandard German(native dialect)Swiss-GermanVienneseZürich German
AccentsAfricanArabicAustrianChineseEnglishFrench
SportAlpine skiingHikingMountain hikingCanoeCross-country skiingGolfKart racingMarathonRugbySailingSwimmingTennisWakeboardingWeight trainingWeightliftingYogaBoxingFencing (stage)KickboxingKiteboardingKrav MagaRowingShooting (handgun)Shooting (rifle)SoccerStage combatStuntsSurfingThai boxing
DanceSwingTechnoBreak dancingChoreographySchuhplattlerTwist
PitchBaritone
SingingWienerliedOperaPop
Special skillsAudio bookBarmanLifesavingStorytellerDisc jockeyTravestyBurlesqueStunt
Training
Primary professional training
2009 – 2012
Schauspielschule Krauss
Other professional training
Theresa Harder
Frank Betzelt
2008
Acting Corps
Film
2013
Morgengrauen (Short film)
Er (MR)
Aaron Ahrens Eigenproduktion für HFF München Aaron Ahrens
2013
The Quest (Short film)
Ansgars Guard (GR)
Bertram van Munster Quest Television, LLC ABC
2013
Clara Immerwahr (Feature film)
Burschenschafter (Ot)
Harald Sicheritz MR Film
2012
Chinamüll (Short film)
Main role
Jannis Lenz Filmakademie Wien
2012
The Coat (Short film)
Hans (MR)
Peter Magat New Europe Cinema
2012
War's gut? (Short film)
Marco (MR)
Niko Selikovsky Selikovsky Film
2012
Karl der Grosse (Documentary movie)
Bruder Johannes (SR)
Gabriele Wenger Pre TV
2011
Wendy wird erwachsen (Short film)
Main role
Clara Stern Filmakademie Wien
2011
Der wunde Punkt (Short film)
Andi (MR)
Jannis Lenz Filmakademie Wien
Television
2013
Soko Kitzbühel
Josef Neumann (SR)
Martin Kinkel Beofilm ORF / ZDF Nicole Schmied
2012
Copstories (TV series)
Laurenz Kanter (SR)
Paul Harrather
2012
Soko Donau (TV series)
Niklas (MR)
Manuel Hendry
Theater
Anna Karenina (Drama)
Graf Wronski (MR)
Nicolaus Büchl The Off Theatre
2014
Don Gil von den grünen Hosen (Drama)
Don Gil (MR)
Thomas Birkmeir Theater der Jugend, Wien
2013
Die Nibelungen (Drama)
Siegfried (MR)
Gerald Maria Bauer Theater der Jugend, Wien
2012
Faust 1&2 (Drama)
Arbeiter
Nicolas Stemann Salzburger Festspiele
2012
Red Ribbon Gala
Supporting role
Alexander Wiegold Burgtheater
2012
Die heilige Johanna der Schlachthöfe
Other
Michael Thalheimer Burgtheater
Audio
2011
Egon Schiele (Narrator)
Main role
Egon Schiele Geburtshaus
2010
Beluga Tournament (Narrator)
Main role
Julian Loher Julian Loher IMAX München
Other
2011
Austrian-Chinese Culture Festival (Other)
Moderator German / Chinese (MR)
Uniart Media