Götz George

Götz George (; 23 July 1938 – 19 June 2016) was a German actor, the son of actor couple Berta Drews and Heinrich George. His arguably best-known role is that of Duisburg detective Horst Schimanski in the TV crime series Tatort.

Early life George was born in Berlin-Wannsee into a well known acting family: his father, Heinrich George, was a famous film and theater actor, and his mother, Berta Drews, a character actress. George is named after his father's favorite, Imperial Knight Götz von Berlichingen. His father was imprisoned by the Soviets and died after an appendectomy in the Soviet NKVD special internment camp Nr. 7, with his death likely hastened by starvation. George grew up in Berlin with his elder brother Jan and his mother. He attended school in Berlin-Lichterfelde and later attended the Lyzeum Alpinum in Zuoz, Switzerland.

Career

Stage George made his stage debut in 1950, performing a role in William Saroyan's My Heart's in the Highlands. From 1955 to 1958 he also studied at the Berlin UFA-Nachwuchsstudio, though he received the crucial part of his acting education between 1958 and 1963. Following his mother's advice he occasionally played at the Deutsches Theater in Göttingen under the direction of Heinz Hilpert. After Hilpert's death, George would never join a fixed theater company again, although he did regularly perform on tours and as a guest performer.

Hansgünther Heyme signed him in 1972 to the Kölner Schauspielhaus, where George played Martin Luther in Dieter Forte's Martin Luther und Thomas Münzer. His most important stage achievement, in his own opinion, was the lead role in Büchner's Danton's Death during the Salzburg Festival in 1981. In 1986 and 1987, George, together with Eberhard Feik and Helmut Stauss, stage-managed Gogol's The Government Inspector. Performing in Anton Chekhov's Platonov, George went on his last theater tour.

Cinema and television

In 1953, he was able to get a small film role next to Romy Schneider in When the White Lilacs Bloom Again. In the same year he played, as he would often do from then on, next to his mother in Shakespeare's Richard III. After small movie parts during the 1950s, Götz George broke through with audiences and critics in the film Jacqueline (1959). George was awarded the Bundesfilmpreis and the Preis der Filmkritik for his role. In 1962 he received the Bambi Award as the most popular actor.

In the sixties, George got the chance to show that he is able to do more than playing sappy peasants, through roles in movies such as The Fair (1960), playing a desperate Wehrmacht deserter, and Destination Death (1964). More often, though, he performed in comedies and action-oriented movies which benefited from his physical presence. He became well known to a broad audience when, during his theater tour in Göttingen, Horst Wendlandt persuaded him to play in one of the Karl May series of films, which he started in 1962 with Treasure of Silver Lake. It was originally planned to give him the lead role, but this plan was abandoned when Lex Barker was hired to play the role of Old Shatterhand, so George played the farmer son Fred Engel. George performed all stunts himself, even in his lead role as sheriff in Man Called Gringo (1965).

In the 1970s, he turned primarily to stage roles and to television, including the many episodes of Der Kommissar, Tatort, Derrick, and The Old Fox for which he would become famous. It was not until 1977 that he was cast in a prominent role again, playing Franz Lang in Death Is My Trade, a character modeled after Auschwitz commander Rudolf Höß.

George probably had his greatest popular success in the eighties on TV: in Tatort episodes of the WDR, broadcast from 1981 to 1991, he portrayed working-class police officer Horst Schimanski, who eventually became a cult figure in Germany. In 1984 and 1987 he again won the Bambi Award as the most popular actor. The series of Schulz & Schulz movies, starting in 1989 and dealing with the issue of the German reunification, gave him the opportunity to show his talents as a comedian in a double role, as did the role of the industry consultant in the series of the same name, which is rather far removed from the roughneck charm of senior commissar Schimanski.

Among George's most impressive roles in the nineties were his appearances in the television movie ('The Sandman'), in which he portrayed the alleged serial killer and writer Henry Kupfer as a cold, calculating and manipulative intellectual, the movie Deathmaker (Der Totmacher), in which he portrayed Fritz Haarmann (The Butcher of Hanover), and in the television movie (based on Bubi Scholz), the trauma of an aged, broken boxer.

Personal life and death George was married to Loni von Friedl from 1966 to 1976; the couple's daughter, Tanja-Nicole, was born in 1967. From 1997, he lived together with Hamburg journalist Marika Ullrich; the couple married in 2014.

He died in 2016 at the age of 77 after a short illness.

Awards

1995: Bavarian Film Award, Best Actor 1995: Volpi Cup, Best Actor

Filmography (movies)

When the White Lilacs Bloom Again, 1953 ... Klaus The Great Test, 1954 ... Peter Behrend Old Barge, Young Love (Alter Kahn und junge Liebe Sonne über den Seen), 1957 ... Kalle Borchert As Long as the Heart Still Beats, 1958 ... Eberhard Römer Jacqueline, 1959 ... Gustav Bäumler The Fair (Kirmes), 1960 ... Robert Mertens Carnival Confession, 1960 ... Clemens , 1961 ... Peter Joost Murder Party, 1961 ... Hein Kersten Our House in Cameroon, 1961 ... Georg Ambrock Her Most Beautiful Day, 1962 ... Adam Kowalski Das Mädchen und der Staatsanwalt, 1962 ... Jochen Rehbert Treasure of Silver Lake (Der Schatz im Silbersee), 1962 ... Fred Engel , 1962 ... Chris Kronberger Love Has to Be Learned, 1963 ... Hansgeorg Lehmbruck Man and Beast (Mensch und Bestie), 1963 ... Franz Destination Death (Herrenpartie), 1964 ... Herbert Hackländer Mark of the Tortoise (Wartezimmer zum Jenseits), 1964 ... Don Micklem Among Vultures (Unter Geiern), 1964 ... Martin Baumann Jr. A Holiday with Piroschka, 1965 ... Thomas Laurends Man Called Gringo (Sie nannten ihn Gringo), 1965 ... Mace Carson Winnetou and the Crossbreed, 1966 ... Jeff Brown The Long Day of Inspector Blomfield, 1968 ... Eddie Blomfield The Blood of Fu Manchu, 1968 ... Carl Jansen Commandos, 1968 ... Oberleutnant Rudi Wind from the East, 1970 ... Soldier Death is My Trade, 1977 ... Franz Lang (based on Rudolf Höss) Abwärts, 1984 ... Jörg , 1985 ... Horst Schimanski , 1987 ... Horst Schimanski The Cat, 1988 ... Probek , 1989 ... Walter Graf Blue Eyed, 1989 ... Johann Neudorf Schtonk!, 1992 ... Hermann Willié , 1993 ... Bruno , 1995 ... Robot Max Deathmaker (Der Totmacher) 1995 ... Fritz Haarmann , 1997 ... Uhu Zigeuner , 1998 ... Zobel , 1998 ... Bernie Kominka After the Truth (Nichts als die Wahrheit), 1999 ... Dr. Mengele Viktor Vogel – Commercial Man, 2001 ... Eddie Kaminsky Gott ist tot, 2003 ... Heinrich Lutter , 2006 ... Jost , 2009 ... Schlomo Herzl , 2012 ... Chancellor Olli Ebert

Filmography (made-for-TV movies and series)

Kolportage, 1957 ... Erik Stjernenhö Alle meine Söhne, 1961 ... Christian Keller Alle meine Söhne, 1965 ... Chris Keller Der Werbeoffizier, 1967 ... Captain Plume Schlehmihls wundersame Geschichte, 1967 ... Peter Schlemihl Match, 1968 ... André Der Eismann kommt, 1968 ... Rocky Pioggi Spion unter der Haube, 1969 ... Cazmio Ein Jahr ohne Sonntag, 1969 (TV series, 13 episodes) ... Robert Sonntag 11 Uhr 20, 1970 (TV miniseries) ... Mûller Der Kommissar: Tod einer Zeugin, 1970 ... Wolfgang Karrass Tatort: , 1971 ... Joachim Seidel Diamantendetektiv Dick Donald, 1971 (TV series, 13 episodes) ... Dick Donald Der Kommissar: Der Amoklauf, 1972 ... Paul Neumann Der Illegale, 1972 ... Nikolai Grunwaldt / Kurt Blohm Tatort: , 1972 ... Jerry Kesselflickers Hochzeit, 1972 ... Michael Byrne Die Gräfin von Rathenow, 1973 ... Leopold Der Kommissar: Sommerpension, 1973 ... Gottfried Schuster Zwischen den Flügen, 1973 (TV series, 1 episode) Mandragola, 1974 ... Siro Tatort: , 1976 ... Martin Hungária kávéház (Café Hungaria), 1977 (TV series, 1 episode) ... Hadnagy Polizeiinspektion 1: Verfolgungswahn, 1977 ... Alfred Neumeier Les Diamants du président (The Pawn), 1977 (TV miniseries) ... Pierre Vidal Vermutungen über Franz Bieberkopf, 1977 Derrick - Season 5, Episode 10: "Der Spitzel" (1978) ... Georg Lukas The Old Fox: Der schöne Alex, 1978 ... Alex Bergemann The Old Fox: Der Auftraggeber, 1979 ... Martens , 1980 (TV series) ... Victor Überfall in Glasgow, 1981 ... Craig Kennan Tatort: , 1981 ... Horst Schimanski , 1981 ... Frederick William I of Prussia Dantons Tod, 1981 ... Danton Tatort: , 1981 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1982 ... Horst Schimanski Der Regenmacher, 1982 ... Bill Starbuck Tatort: , 1982 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1982 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1983 ... Horst Schimanski , 1984 ... Craig Murray Tatort: , 1984 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1984 ... Horst Schimanski Overheard, 1984 ... Bozidar Popkov-Prokop Tatort: , 1984 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1985 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1985 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1985 (theatrically released) ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1986 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1986 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1986 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1987 (theatrically released) ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1987 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1988 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1988 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1988 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1989 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1989 ... Horst Schimanski Spielen willst du ja alles. Götz George – rastlos im Einsatz, 1989 Tatort: , 1989 ... Horst Schimanski Schulz & Schulz, 1989 ... Walter Schulz and Wolfgang Schulz Tatort: , 1990 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1990 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort / Polizeiruf 110: , 1990 ... Horst Schimanski Schulz & Schulz 2: Aller Anfang ist schwer, 1991 ... Walter Schulz and Wolfgang Schulz Tatort: , 1991 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1991 ... Horst Schimanski Tatort: , 1991 ... Horst Schimanski Schulz & Schulz 3: Wechselspiele, 1992 ... Walter Schulz and Wolfgang Schulz Schulz & Schulz 4: Neue Welten, alte Lasten, 1992 ... Walter Schulz and Wolfgang Schulz Kinderkram, 1993 ... Carl Morlock Die Verflechtung, 1993 ... Carl Morlock König Midas, 1993 ... Carl Morlock Schulz & Schulz 5: Fünf vor zwölf, 1993 ... Walter Schulz and Wolfgang Schulz Der Tunnel, 1994 ... Carl Morlock , 1995 (TV miniseries) ... Stefan Stolze Der König von Dulsberg, 1995 ... Bruno Bülle , 1995 ... Henry Kupfer Der Mann auf der Bettkante, 1995 ... Jack Förnbeisser Tote sterben niemals aus, 1996 ... Benno / Theobald Gates of Fire, 1996 ... Harry Kowa Schimanski: , 1997 ... Horst Schimanski Schimanski: , 1997 ... Horst Schimanski Schimanski: , 1997 ... Horst Schimanski Schimanski: , 1998 ... Horst Schimanski Schimanski: , 1998 ... Horst Schimanski Schimanski: , 1998 ... Horst Schimanski , 1998/99 ... Bubi Scholz Die Entführung, 1999 ... Carl Heidfeld Racheengel – Stimme aus dem Dunkeln, 1999 ... Dr. Meinfeld Schimanski: , 1999 ... Horst Schimanski Die Spur meiner Tochter ( Element des Todes), 1999 ... Paul Flemming Schimanski: Tödliche Liebe, 2000 ... Horst Schimanski Schimanski: , 2000 ... Horst Schimanski Bargeld lacht, 2001 ... Harry Freundner Schimanski: , 2001 ... Horst Schimanski Liebe. Macht. Blind., 2001 ... Alexander Stahlberg Mein Vater, 2002 ... Richard Esser Liebe ist die halbe Miete, 2002 ... Dr. Gottfried Naumann Schimanski: , 2002 ... Horst Schimanski , 2002 ... Vinzenz Kröger Der Anwalt und sein Gast, 2002 ... Frank Karmann Geheimnisvolle Freundinnen, 2003 ... Sandmann Familienkreise, 2003 ... Raimund Parz Alpenglühen, 2003 ... Hannes Seeger René Deltgen – Der sanfte Rebell, 2004 Schimanski: , 2004 ... Horst Schimanski Leaf and Blossom – The Inheritance, 2004 ... Vincent Gottwald Alpenglühen zwei – Liebe versetzt Berge, 2005 ... Hannes Seeger , 2005 ... Larry , 2005 ... John Schlesinger , 2005 ... President von Walter Schimanski: , 2005 ... Horst Schimanski , 2006 ... Jens Urban Commissario Laurenti: Die Toten vom Karst, 2006 ... Antonio Gubian Als der Fremde kam, 2006 ... Dr. Robert Stubenrauch Schimanski: , 2007 ... Horst Schimanski , 2007 ... Henry Lichtfeld Die Katze, 2007 ... Siegmar Meine fremde Tochter, 2008 ... Johann Bergkamp Schimanski: , 2008 ... Horst Schimanski , 2008 ... Ernst Schmitt , 2010 ... Peter Jordan , 2010 ... Hape Wegener Schimanski: , 2011 ... Horst Schimanski Papa allein zu Haus, 2011 ... Theo Winter , 2011 ... Bruno Markowitz , 2011 ... Jasper Dänert , 2012 ... Bruno Theweleit , 2012 ... Prof. Arthur Noswitz , 2013 ... Heinrich George Schimanski: , 2013 ... Horst Schimanski , 2014 ... Joseph Komalschek , 2016 ... Friedrich Türnitz