Rolf Lyssy Biography: Siblings, Height, Age, Movies, Net Worth, Parents

Rolf Lyssy is a Swiss film director, screenwriter, and cinematographer whose work spans from the 1960s to the 2020s.

He co-directed and co-wrote Die Schweizermacher (1978), the highest-grossing Swiss film, which satirizes immigration bureaucracy and drew over a million viewers.

Lyssy has directed, written, shot, and edited more than a dozen features and documentaries.

Profile

• Full Name: Rolf Lyssy
• Stage Name: Rolf Lyssy
• Born: 25, February 1936
• Age: 89 years old
• Birthplace: Zürich, Switzerland
• Nationality: Swiss
• Occupation: Film Director, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, And Editor
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Lyssy
• Siblings: Michael Lyssy
• Spouse: Unknown
• Children: None
• Relationship: Unknown
• Net Worth: $3 million

Early Life and Education

Rolf Lyssy was born on February 25, 1936, in Zürich, Switzerland. Raised in a modest Jewish family, he and his brother Michael, later featured in one of his films, experienced a childhood shaped by cultural richness and resilience amid the challenges faced by Jewish families in Europe.

He left formal schooling early to complete a photographer apprenticeship, which sparked his passion for visual storytelling.

He then gained practical experience in film through roles in camera work and editing within Swiss productions. Though of Jewish heritage, Lyssy keeps his religious practice private while occasionally reflecting on his background in memoirs.

Career

Rolf Lyssy cut his teeth in the Swiss film industry during the 1960s, starting behind the camera as a cinematographer and editor on shorts and commercials before stepping into directing with Konfrontation – Das Attentat von Davos in 1974, a gripping dramatization of the 1936 assassination of Nazi propagandist Wilhelm Gustloff that premiered at Berlin and established his knack for historical tension.

This paved the way for his breakout with Die Schweizermacher in 1978, co-directed with Fredi M. Murer and co-written by Lyssy, which lampooned naturalization processes with biting wit and became a cultural phenomenon, holding box-office records for decades and sparking national debates on identity.

The 1980s and 1990s saw Lyssy diversify into character-driven comedies and dramas, from the romantic Kassettenliebe in 1981—exploring love via audio tapes—to Teddy Bär in 1983 and the quirky Leo Sonnyboy in 1989, often handling multiple roles like scripting and shooting to maintain creative control.

He ventured into documentaries with Ein Trommler in der Wüste in 1992, then returned to features like Die Vitusmacher in 2006, while his later output embraced personal themes in Hard(ys) Life (2009) and the poignant Ursula – Leben in Anderswo (2011).

Rolf Lyssy wrapped his directorial run with reflective gems like Die letzte Pointe in 2017—a funeral home comedy that echoed his satirical roots—and Eden für jeden in 2020, a utopian vision amid pandemic isolation.

Honors poured in, including the Swiss Film Academy’s Lifetime Achievement in 2012, Zürich’s Stadttaler in 2016, and the Zurich Film Festival Career Award in 2020.

His memoir Swiss Paradise laid bare struggles with depression alongside career highs, and jury presidencies like the 2020 SRF Treatment Award underscored his mentorship, leaving a legacy of films that humanize Swiss quirks with empathy and edge.

Social Media

• Rolf Lyssy does not have a verified social media handle.

Personal Life

Rolf Lyssy guards his private world closely, with no confirmed details on spouses, partners, or children surfacing in interviews or biographies.

His familial ties shine brightest through his documentary on brother Michael, revealing a bond forged in shared heritage and personal trials. Based in Zürich throughout his life, Lyssy has channeled experiences with depression—candidly explored in his autobiographical book Swiss Paradise—into creative output, maintaining a modest routine focused on writing, occasional public talks, and cultural advocacy without the trappings of celebrity.

Filmography

• Konfrontation – Das Attentat von Davos (1974)
• Die Schweizermacher (1978)
• Kassettenliebe (1981)
• Teddy Bär (1983)
• Leo Sonnyboy (1989)
• Ein Trommler in der Wüste (1992)
• Die Vitusmacher (2006)
• Hard(ys) Life (2009)
• Ursula – Leben in Anderswo (2011)
• Die letzte Pointe (2017)
• Eden für jeden (2020)

Net Worth

Rolf Lyssy holds an estimated net worth of $3 million, built primarily from the enduring success of Die Schweizermacher through theatrical runs, television broadcasts, and international distribution royalties that continue generating income decades later.

Supplementary earnings stem from his multifaceted roles in scripting, directing, and editing across features and documentaries, bolstered by Swiss cultural grants, festival prizes, and book sales from Swiss Paradise, reflecting a career sustained by artistic integrity in a niche national industry.