Max Ernst.

Maximilian Maria Ernst

Max Ernst — Architect

Born 2 Apr 1891 Brühl, Germany

Died 1 Apr 1976 Paris, France

Citizenship Cuba

5 min read

Reading time

911

Words

Mar 24, 2026

Published

11

Film credits

12

Books

3

Awards

TL;DR

A founding member of Dada and Surrealism, Max Ernst made his acting debut in Luis Buñuel’s L’Âge d’Or 1930. He later appeared in Dreams That Money Can Buy 1947 and married heiress Peggy Guggenheim. Ernst died in Paris in 1976, one day short of his 85th birthday.

Identity & family.

KIN · 7

Names, aliases, and relatives of Max Ernst — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Maximilian Maria Ernst

Aliases M. Ernst, Max Harry Ernst

PARENTS: Philipp Ernst
SPOUSES: Dorothea Tanning Peggy Guggenheim Marie Berthe Aurenche Luise Straus
CHILDREN: Jimmy Ernst
SIBLINGS: Loni Pretzell

At a glance.

STATS

Max Ernst by the numbers — life, work, and family.

84 Years lived

11 Film credits

12 Books

3 Awards

4 Marriages

1 Child

Who was Max Ernst?

BIOGRAPHY

Max Ernst — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Born Maximilian Maria Ernst on 2 April 1891 in Brühl, Germany, Max Ernst was the son of Philipp Ernst and grew up with his sister Loni Pretzell. His native language was German. He pursued studies at the University of Bonn before embarking on his artistic career.

Career

Max Ernst first appeared on screen in Luis Buñuel’s L’Âge d’Or 1930, playing the Bandit Leader. In 1947, he starred in Dreams That Money Can Buy as Le President. In 1966, he worked on the experimental film Maximiliana oder die widerrechtliche Ausübung der Astronomie. He won the Venice Biennale, the Goslarer Kaiserring, and the Lichtwark Prize.

Personal life

Max Ernst married Luise Straus in 1918; they had one son, Jimmy Ernst. He married Marie Berthe Aurenche in 1927, Peggy Guggenheim in 1941, and Dorothea Tanning in 1946. Marie Berthe Aurenche later became the companion of painter Chaim Soutine. Through his marriage to Marie Berthe, Ernst became brother-in-law to screenwriter Jean Aurenche.

Legacy

Max Ernst received the Venice Biennale, Goslarer Kaiserring, and Lichtwark Prize for his contributions to art and film. His film L’Âge d’Or is a key work of surrealist cinema. He worked across painting, sculpture, and film, creating a multidisciplinary body of work.

Filmography.

FILMS · 11

Browse the complete filmography of Max Ernst — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

Movie

L'Âge D'or

1930
Movie

Coup De Torchon

1981
Movie

Dreams That Money Can Buy

1947
Movie

Europe After the Rain

1978
Movie

Max Ernst: My Vagabonds – My Restlessness

1991
Movie

Luis Buñuel: Un Cinéaste De Notre Temps

1964
Movie

Die Widerrechtliche Ausübung Der Astronomie

1967

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Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 3

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Max Ernst — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Venice Biennale
Goslarer Kaiserring
Lichtwark Prize

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 12

Max Ernst's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Max Ernst

by Max Ernst et al.
Amazon

Une Semaine De Bonté

by Max Ernst
Amazon

Ernst

by Max Ernst
Amazon

Max Ernst 1891-1976

by Ulrich Bischoff et al.
Amazon

Oeuvre-Katalog

by Max Ernst
Amazon

Memoir of an Art Gallery

by Julien Levy et al.
Amazon

A Little Girl Dreams of Taking the Veil

by Max Ernst

Could not load more books.

Did you know?

FACTS · 1

Little-known facts about Max Ernst — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Marie-Berthe Aurenche, Max Ernst’s wife from 1927 to 1942, was the younger sister of screenwriter Jean Aurenche, making Ernst his brother-in-law. After her marriage to Ernst, she became the last companion of painter Chaim Soutine.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 31

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Max Ernst.

When was Max Ernst born?

Max Ernst was born on 2 April 1891 in Brühl, Germany.
Where was Max Ernst born?

Max Ernst was born in Brühl, Germany, a town near Cologne.
When did Max Ernst die?

Max Ernst died on 1 April 1976 in Paris, France, one day before his 85th birthday.
Where did Max Ernst die?

Max Ernst died in Paris, France, where he spent much of his later career.
How old was Max Ernst when he died?

Max Ernst was 84 years old when he died, born on 2 April 1891 and died on 1 April 1976.
What is Max Ernst's real name?

Max Ernst’s birth name is Maximilian Maria Ernst. He was known professionally as Max Ernst.
What were Max Ernst's occupations?

Max Ernst was an actor, writer, and art department professional, as well as a painter and sculptor in the Dada and Surrealist movements.
What nationality is Max Ernst?

Max Ernst held Cuban citizenship, though born in Germany and later lived in France and the United States.
What language did Max Ernst speak?

Max Ernst’s native language was German. He also spoke French and English.
Who were Max Ernst's parents?

Max Ernst’s father was Philipp Ernst. His mother is not named in available records.
Did Max Ernst have any siblings?

Yes, Max Ernst had one sister, Loni Pretzell.
Who were Max Ernst's spouses?

Max Ernst was married four times: to Luise Straus 1918-1927, Marie Berthe Aurenche 1927-1942, Peggy Guggenheim 1941-1946, and Dorothea Tanning 1946-1976.
Did Max Ernst have children?

Yes, Max Ernst had one son, Jimmy Ernst, with his first wife Luise Straus.
Where did Max Ernst go to school?

Max Ernst attended the University of Bonn before his artistic career.
What awards did Max Ernst win?

Max Ernst received the Venice Biennale, Goslarer Kaiserring, and Lichtwark Prize.
What is Max Ernst best known for?

Max Ernst is best known for his contributions to Dada and Surrealism and his film appearances in L’Âge d’Or 1930 and Dreams That Money Can Buy 1947.
How tall was Max Ernst?

Max Ernst was 5 feet 9 inches 1.75 m tall.
What aliases did Max Ernst use?

Max Ernst used the aliases M. Ernst and Max Harry Ernst on some works.
What film did Max Ernst appear in 1930?

Max Ernst appeared in L’Âge d’Or 1930, directed by Luis Buñuel, playing the Bandit Leader.
What film did Max Ernst appear in 1947?

Max Ernst appeared in Dreams That Money Can Buy 1947, directed by Hans Richter, playing Le President.
Who directed L'Âge d'Or?

Luis Buñuel directed L’Âge d’Or, co-written with Salvador Dalí. Max Ernst appeared as an actor.
What was Max Ernst's relationship to Jean Aurenche?

Max Ernst was the brother-in-law of screenwriter Jean Aurenche, as Aurenche was the brother of Ernst’s wife Marie Berthe Aurenche.
Who was the last companion of Marie Berthe Aurenche?

After her marriage to Max Ernst, Marie Berthe Aurenche became the last companion of painter Chaim Soutine.
How many times was Max Ernst married?

Max Ernst was married four times: to Luise Straus, Marie Berthe Aurenche, Peggy Guggenheim, and Dorothea Tanning.
What was Max Ernst's height in meters?

Max Ernst’s height was 1.75 meters 5 feet 9 inches.
What was the name of Max Ernst's son?

Max Ernst’s son was Jimmy Ernst, born to Ernst and Luise Straus.
What was Max Ernst's sister's name?

Max Ernst’s sister was Loni Pretzell.
What was Max Ernst's first wife's name?

Max Ernst’s first wife was Luise Straus; they were married from 1918 to 1927.
When did Max Ernst marry Peggy Guggenheim?

Max Ernst married Peggy Guggenheim in 1941; their marriage lasted until 1946.
What award did Max Ernst win at the Venice Biennale?

Max Ernst won the Venice Biennale award.
What was Max Ernst's role in L'Âge d'Or?

In L’Âge d’Or, Max Ernst played the Bandit Leader. The film is a classic of surrealist cinema.

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Audited & updated by

Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on March 24, 2026

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