Biography

Dagmar Regine Hager (known professionally as Dagmar Lassander) is a German actress. She was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia to a German father and French mother, and later moved to Italy where she launched her acting career. Lassander initially worked as a costume designer before transitioning to film in the late 1960s, gaining early recognition in European genre cinema.

Her breakout role came in Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970), directed by Mario Bava, a seminal figure in Italian horror. This performance established her presence in the giallo and horror film circuits, leading to a prolific period throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Lassander worked with a range of influential filmmakers including Lucio Fulci and Umberto Lenzi, appearing in thrillers, crime dramas, and erotic films that showcased her versatility and screen presence. In addition to genre work, she appeared in television series and comedies, demonstrating broad appeal across European markets.

Throughout her career, Lassander remained a recognizable figure in cult cinema and developed a lasting connection with fans of Italian horror and exploitation films. Her contributions have been acknowledged at retrospectives and festivals celebrating genre cinema, underscoring her place in European film history.

Dagmar Lassander's work has left a distinct mark on Italian genre cinema, and her performances continue to resonate with audiences and film scholars alike. Her legacy is defined by her enduring presence in iconic films of the period and her influence within the international cult film community.
- IMDb mini biography by: Angel

She took a hiatus from acting for almost twenty years (1998-2016) until she was lured back by Kim Rossi Stuart for a substantial supporting role in Tommaso (2016). (Lassander and Rossi Stuart's father Giacomo Rossi Stuart appeared together in a thriller called Reflections in Black (1975) and became close friends, so Kim Rossi Stuart knew Lassander from childhood on.).

When she arrived in Italy at age 25 in 1968, she didn't speak any Italian at all, only German and a little English. By 1972, she was fluent in four languages: German, English, French, and Italian. Until then, she was either dubbed or recorded her lines in English.

Stated that The Laughing Woman (1969) was her personal favorite among the films she had done.

She claimed that didn't get along with Laura Betti on the set of Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970). Apparently, Betti was very derogatory to her.

Very little is known about her private life. It is said that she'd been married several times and has a son. As of 2020, she still lives in Rome.