Biographie
Däniken attended a Jesuit boarding school, where his interest in religion also led him to deal with philosophical problems. The high school student was passionate about archaeology and futurology, space travel and molecular biology. After attending school, Däniken trained as a cook and waiter. As such, he initially began working in the hotel industry and in the catering industry in major Swiss cities. His job also took him on ocean liners, on which he crossed the Atlantic as a steward. In 1963, Däniken worked in a large hotel in Nuremberg. From 1964 onward he worked his way to the top of the Davos sports hotel "Rosenhügel" until he finally managed the hotel.
During these years, Däniken continued his scientific and futurological studies, which eventually led him to thesis that there was a prehistoric civilization on Earth that was brought to the planet by the landing of alien astronauts. Däniken tried to prove his assumptions on extensive trips around the world, which, however, mainly caused him financial problems. Apparently through no fault of his own, he came into conflict with the Swiss tax authorities at the end of the 1960s. At the same time, the futurologist triggered the first wave of popularization of his fascinating world of ideas with the publication of his hypotheses as "Memories of the Future" (1968). The bestseller was made into a film in 1969.
In the 1970s, millions of readers around the world devoured the numerous books in which Däniken sought to prove the extraterrestrial origins of human culture and civilization. The "Ancient Astronaut Society" in Chicago, founded in 1973 by the American lawyer Gene M. Phillips, also helped his theses to spread. In the following years, numerous other scientists took part in the scientific discussion of Däniken's theses. Although the tireless publicist continued to publish numerous publications in the 1980s, public attention has now waned. However, with his first books for young people, Däniken regained a recognized place in futurological and science fiction literature at the beginning of the 1990s.
In 1993 he appeared in a 25-part series "In the Footsteps of the All-Mighty" for the private television station SAT.1. The CD-ROM "Contact with the Universe", with which Däniken once again published a summary of his theses in 1995, also represented a concession to the mass appeal of the new media. In 1996 he fascinated the television audience of the private RTL broadcaster with the documentary "Extraterrestrials - Are They Returning?". However, Däniken realized the largest project to spread and popularize his worldview with the 60,000 square meter, EUR80 million expensive "Mysteries of the World" adventure park, which opened in Interlaken, Switzerland, in May 2003. Mystery Park closed on November 19, 2006 due to bankruptcy.
The member of the Swiss Writers' Association and the Swiss PEN Center was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Boliviana in 1975 for his commitment to science journalism. He received further awards from several South American bodies.
Erich von Däniken has been married to Elisabeth Skaja since 1960 and is the father of a daughter.
