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.
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 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 (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
, 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
, 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
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: , 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
References
External links
goetz-george.de
1938 births
2016 deaths
Male actors from Berlin
German male stage actors
German male film actors
German male television actors
20th-century German male actors
21st-century German male actors
Volpi Cup for Best Actor winners
German Film Award winners
Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Recipients of the Order of Merit of Berlin
People from Steglitz-Zehlendorf