# 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.

## Life

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. 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. Later he played in several spaghetti westerns along with Bud Spencer, Franco Nero and Charlton Heston.

## Death

Toward the end of his career he was affected by Parkinson's disease and weakened by a regimen of heavy medication. His illness and vulnerability was greatly exploited by the tabloids. He committed suicide by hanging himself on 3 May 1998. His death caused a scandal.
German tabloids 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 before his actual death. Harmstorf's girlfriend confirmed that the actor had obviously already been dismayed after he had read this article, even before the news had been partly quoted on Germany's popular TV channel RTL Television.

## Filmography

The following is a selection of Harmstorf's roles in film:
* 1969: Donnerwetter! Donnerwetter! Bonifatius Kiesewetter - Stramm, Polizeileutnant
* 1971: The Long Swift Sword of Siegfried [de] - Siegfried
* 1971: Der Seewolf [de] (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: "Zeichen der Gewalt" [de]) - Günter Hausmann
* 1977: California - Rope Whittaker
* 1978: Mr. Mean - Rommell
* 1978: The Inglorious Bastards - German soldier Adolf Sachs
* 1978: Lo chiamavano 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: L'empreinte des géants - Jo Hansen
* 1980: Why the UFOs Steal Our Lettuce [de] - Schiffskapitän
* 1983: S.A.S. à San Salvador - Enrique Chacon
* 1983: Deep Water [de] (TV film) - Anton Kameter
* 1983: Thunder Warrior - Deputy Barry Henson
* 1984: Man Hunt - Robson
* 1985: Das Wunder [de] - 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: Café Europa [de] - Mr. Whiteman
* 1992–1994: African Skies (TV series) - Raimund
* 1995: The Viking Sagas - Valgard
* 1996: The Wolves - King
* 1997: Blutrausch - Profi