Actor // Pianist // Voice Actor

Danny Exnar is a Swiss-Czech actor and pianist. After studying Jazz piano in Prague and philosophy in Berne, he graduated from the acting academy Otto Falckenberg-Schule in Munich, Germany. At The Juilliard School in New York City, he trained with Wendy Waterman in acting in English for his portrayal of Canadian pianist Glenn Gould for a stage production. Danny Exnar is native in German, Czech and Swiss-German and is fluent in English and French. He appears in international productions on screen and on stage.

Film & TV

• 2023 The Palace, Cinema, Eliseo Entertainment, Rai Cinema, dir: Roman Polanski
• 2022 99 Moons, Cinema, Zodiac Pictures, dir: Jan Gassmann
• 2020 Stürm: Bis wir tot sind oder frei, Cinema, Contrast Film, dir: Oliver Rihs
• 2018 SOKO Leipzig, ZDF, dir: Patrick Winczewski
• 2018 Der Zürich Krimi, ARD, dir: Roland Suso Richter
• 2016 München Mord, ZDF, dir: Anno Saul

Theater

• 2024            Ernst Deutsch Theater, Hamburg: «Tuesdays with Morrie», with Charles Brauer, dir: A. Müther
• 2020-2023  Theater Rigiblick, Zürich: «Comedian Harmonists», dir: Daniel Rohr (actor / pianist)
• 2018-2019  Theater Biel-Solothurn: «Le Bal», dir: Deborah Epstein (actor / bandleader)
• 2015-2016  Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus: «Die Comedian Harmonists», dir: Mathias Schönsee 
• 2015-2016  Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus: «Mephisto», dir: Thomas Schulte-Michels (music)
• Since 2015  Cooperation with puppeteer Anna Maria Paniccia
• 2015–2016  Ackermannshof Basel: Artistic research project about A. Skrjabin (T.Clalüna/T.Giger)
• 2014-2015  Theater Stadelhofen, Zürich: «stecken bleiben», dir: Mélanie Huber
• 2013-2014  Theater Biel-Solothurn: «Viel Lärm um Nichts», dir: Katharina Rupp (actor / music)
• 2013            Roxy Birsfelden / Treibstoff Theatertage Basel: «Rum Diary», dir: Tumasch Clalüna
• 2010-2011  Schauspielhaus Zürich: «Stiller», dir: Heike Götze (actor / music)
• 2011            Gasteig München: «Glenn Gould vs. Glenn Gould» dir: Gert Pfafferodt (with Countertenor Christopher Robson)

    Glenn Gould vs. Glenn Gould

• 2007-2009  Landestheater Tübingen: Member of company. Worked with directors Cilli Drexel, Simone Sterr, Reto Finger, Christian Schlüter, Mario Portmann and Ralf Siebelt.

Teaching

• 2017-2022 teaching at the acting department and member of scientific staff at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
• Development of the workshops «Jazz in Acting» and „Storytelling through Puppetry and Sounds“ (with Anna Paniccia)

Music

• music

Voice Acting

• voiceover

Education

• 2009-2010 Juilliard School New York – Acting in English with Wendy Waterman
• 2003-2007 Acting at Otto-Falckenberg-Schule München, Germany
• 2002-2003 German studies & philosophy, University of Berne, Switzerland
• 2002-2007 Jazzpiano at Swiss Jazz School in Berne and at Neue Jazzschool München e.V.
• 2001-2002 Jazz and classical piano at Conservatory „Jaroslav Jezek“ in Prague, Czech Republic

Languages

• German, Swiss German, Czech (native)
• (American) English (fluent)
• French (good)

Awards

• O.E. Hasse-Preis der Berliner Akademie der Künste
• Förderpreis der Armin Ziegler-Stiftung, Zürich