After his stage debut in Klagenfurt (1953), he also performed in Vienna, Munich, Hamburg and Zurich.
Became a member of the famous Vienna Boy's Choir at the age of 9 and later studied at the Academy for Music and Performing arts from 1949 to 1951, but finally graduated at the Max-Reinhardt-Seminar in 1953.
Got to know his wife Ingrid, a former model, in the cafeteria of the Vienna Burgtheater in 1966. They have two children, Barbara and Philipp Daniel.
Impressario of the Theater an der Wien in Vienna from 1983 to 1992. During this period, the theater was the location for some important premieres such as the German version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats" (1983), "Freudiana" (1990) and "Elisabeth" (1992).
Received the "Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst", Austria's highest decoration for scientists and artists in 1993.