Raimund Harmstorf

Raimund Harmstorf (7 October 1939 – 3 May 1998) was a German actor. He became famous as the protagonist of a German TV mini series based on Jack London's the Sea-Wolf (which was sold into many countries) and starred later on successfully in another German TV series based on Jules Verne's Michael Strogoff.

Early life and education Harmstorf was the son of a doctor from Hamburg. He started a sports career and soon became a regional master of the decathlon. He then studied medicine, later music and performing arts.

Career From the beginning of the 1960s he started performing in smaller TV productions. His breakthrough was in 1971 with the TV series Der Seewolf, based on Jack London's novel The Sea-Wolf, where he played the evil-minded Captain Larsen. In one iconic scene, Harmstorf crushed a potato in his hand.

His suicide caused a scandal. German media were investigated; German police consequently stated that Harmstorf's suicide had been substantially promoted by certain articles. In particular Bild was blamed because Bild had already published Harmstorf's suicide on its main page the day before his actual death. Harmstorf's girlfriend confirmed that the actor had obviously been dismayed after he had read the Bild article.

Filmography The following is a selection of Harmstorf's roles in film:

1969: Donnerwetter! Donnerwetter! Bonifatius Kiesewetter - Stramm, Polizeileutnant 1971: - Siegfried 1971: (TV Mini-Series) - Wolf Larsen 1972: Semesterferien (TV Series) - Paul, ein Tramper 1972: Bloody Friday - Heinz Klett 1972: Cry of the Black Wolves - Jack Harper 1972: The Call of the Wild - Pete 1973: Der Seewolf - Wolf Larsen 1973: White Fang - Kurt Jansen 1974: Challenge to White Fang - Kurt Jansen 1975: Michel Strogoff (TV Mini-Series) - Michael Strogoff 1975: A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe - Sergeant Milton 1975: Derrick (Season 2, Episode 5: ) - Günter Hausmann 1976: - Widukind 1977: California - Rope Whittaker 1978: Mr. Mean - Rommell 1978: The Inglorious Bastards - German soldier Adolf Sachs 1978: They Called Him Bulldozer - Sergeant Kempfer 1979: Goetz von Berlichingen of the Iron Hand - Götz von Berlichingen 1979: The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid - Capt. Briggs 1979: Derrick (Season 6, Episode 6: "Tandem") - Rudolf Nolde 1980: - Jo Hansen 1980: - Schiffskapitän 1983: S.A.S. à San Salvador - Enrique Chacon 1983: (TV film) - Anton Kameter 1983: Thunder Warrior - Deputy Barry Henson 1984: Man Hunt - Robson 1985: - Raphaela's Father 1986: Geld oder Leber! - Kapitän der 'Klagenfurt' 1987: Thunder Warrior II - Deputy Rusty Weissner 1987–1988: The Black Forest Clinic (TV Series) - Cousin Florian 1990: - Mr. Whiteman 1992–1994: African Skies (TV series) - Raimund 1995: The Viking Sagas - Valgard 1996: The Wolves - King 1997: Blutrausch - Profi