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 starved in the Soviet concentration camp NKVD special camp Nr. 7. 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.

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 Kirmes, playing a desperate Wehrmacht deserter, and Herrenpartie. 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 Der Schatz im Silbersee. 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 Sie nannten ihn Gringo.

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 , 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 The Bubi Scholz Story (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 a.k.a. Sonne über den Seen), 1957 ... Kalle Borchert
 * Solange das Herz schlägt, 1958 ... Eberhard Römer
 * Jacqueline, 1959 ... Gustav Bäumler
 * The Fair (Kirmes), 1960 ... Robert Mertens
 * Carnival Confession, 1960 ... Clemens
 * , 1961 ... Peter Joost
 * , 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 the 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
 * Waiting Room to the Beyond (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
 * , 1989 ... Johann Neudorf
 * Schtonk!, 1992 ... Hermann Willié
 * Me and Christine, 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
 * Dawn of Evil: Rise of the Reich, 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: Blechschaden (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: Spielverderber (1987 Tatort), 1987 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Tatort: Gebrochene Blüten (Tatort), 1988 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Tatort: Einzelhaft (Tatort), 1988 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Tatort: Moltke (Tatort), 1988 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Tatort: Der Pott (Tatort), 1989 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Tatort: Blutspur (Tatort), 1989 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Spielen willst du ja alles. Götz George – rastlos im Einsatz, 1989
 * Tatort: Katjas Schweigen, 1989 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Schulz & Schulz, 1989 ... Walter Schulz and Wolfgang Schulz
 * Tatort: Medizinmänner (Tatort), 1990 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Tatort: Schimanskis Waffe, 1990 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Tatort / Polizeiruf 110: Unter Brüdern (1990 film), 1990 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Schulz & Schulz 2: Aller Anfang ist schwer, 1991 ... Walter Schulz and Wolfgang Schulz
 * Tatort: Bis zum Hals im Dreck (Tatort), 1991 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Tatort: Kinderlieb (Tatort), 1991 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Tatort: Der Fall Schimanski, 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
 * Morlock (TV series): Kinderkram, 1993 ... Carl Morlock
 * : Die Verflechtung, 1993 ... Carl Morlock
 * Morlock (TV series): König Midas, 1993 ... Carl Morlock
 * Schulz & Schulz 5: Fünf vor zwölf, 1993 ... Walter Schulz and Wolfgang Schulz
 * : Der Tunnel, 1994 ... Carl Morlock
 * Das Schwein – Eine deutsche Karriere, 1995 (TV miniseries) ... Stefan Stolze
 * Der König von Dulsberg, 1995 ... Bruno Bülle
 * The Sandman (1995 film), 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: Die Schwadron (Schimanski), 1997 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Schimanski: Blutsbrüder (Schimanski), 1997 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Schimanski: Hart am Limit (Schimanski), 1997 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Schimanski: Muttertag (Schimanski), 1998 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Schimanski: Rattennest (Schimanski), 1998 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Schimanski: Geschwister (Schimanski), 1998 ... Horst Schimanski
 * The Bubi Scholz Story, 1998/99 ... Bubi Scholz
 * Die Entführung, 1999 ... Carl Heidfeld
 * Racheengel – Stimme aus dem Dunkeln, 1999 ... Dr. Meinfeld
 * Schimanski: Sehnsucht (Schimanski), 1999 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Die Spur meiner Tochter (a.k.a. Element des Todes), 1999 ... Paul Flemming
 * Schimanski: Tödliche Liebe, 2000 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Schimanski: Schimanski muss leiden, 2000 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Bargeld lacht, 2001 ... Harry Freundner
 * Schimanski: Kinder der Hölle (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: Asyl (Schimanski), 2002 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Verliebte Diebe, 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: Das Geheimnis des Golem (Schimanski), 2004 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Leaf and Blossom – The Inheritance, 2004 ... Vincent Gottwald
 * Alpenglühen zwei – Liebe versetzt Berge, 2005 ... Hannes Seeger
 * Under the Dark Sun of Africa, 2005 ... Larry
 * Einmal so wie ich will, 2005 ... John Schlesinger
 * Intrigue and Love (2005 film), 2005 ... President von Walter
 * Schimanski: Sünde (Schimanski), 2005 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Storm Tide (2006 film), 2006 ... Jens Urban
 * Commissario Laurenti: Die Toten vom Karst, 2006 ... Antonio Gubian
 * Als der Fremde kam, 2006 ... Dr. Robert Stubenrauch
 * Schimanski: Tod in der Siedlung (Schimanski), 2007 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Der Novembermann, 2007 ... Henry Lichtfeld
 * Die Katze, 2007 ... Siegmar
 * Meine fremde Tochter, 2008 ... Johann Bergkamp
 * Schimanski: Schicht im Schacht (Schimanski), 2008 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Schokolade für den Chef, 2008 ... Ernst Schmitt
 * Civil Courage (film), 2010 ... Peter Jordan
 * Keep Lying, Darling, 2010 ... Hape Wegener
 * Schimanski: Schuld und Sühne (Schimanski), 2011 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Papa allein zu Haus, 2011 ... Theo Winter
 * Nachtschicht (TV series): Reise in den Tod (Nachtschicht), 2011 ... Bruno Markowitz
 * Night Without Morning, 2011 ... Jasper Dänert
 * Death of a Cop, 2012 ... Bruno Theweleit
 * Deckname Luna, 2012 ... Prof. Arthur Noswitz
 * George (2013 film), 2013 ... Heinrich George
 * Schimanski: Loverboy (Schimanski), 2013 ... Horst Schimanski
 * Besondere Schwere der Schuld, 2014 ... Joseph Komalschek
 * Böse Wetter – Das Geheimnis der Vergangenheit, 2016 ... Friedrich Türnitz