The Biography

Götz George (July 23, 1938 - June 19, 2016) was a German film, television, and stage actor. Born in Berlin, he was the son of actors Heinrich George and Berta Drews. He began performing on stage as a child and made his film debut alongside Romy Schneider in When the White Lilacs Bloom Again (1953). George gained recognition through German adventure films during the 1960s, including The Treasure of the Silver Lake (1962). He became one of Germany’s most popular television actors through his portrayal of the unconventional police detective Horst Schimanski in the crime series Tatort (1981-1991). He later reprised the role in the spin-off series Schimanski (1997-2013). His notable film credits include Abwärts (1984), Die Katze (1988), Schtonk! (1992), Der Totmacher (1995), Rossini (1997), and Nichts als die Wahrheit (1999). His performance as serial killer Fritz Haarmann in Der Totmacher earned him the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 1995 Venice Film Festival. Throughout his career, George received numerous honors, including several German Film Awards, Grimme Awards, and the Federal Cross of Merit. In the television biographical drama George (2013), he portrayed his own father, Heinrich George. He died in Hamburg on June 19, 2016, at the age of 77.