Götz George facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Götz George
George in 2009
Born	(1938-07-23)23 July 1938 Berlin, Germany
Died	19 June 2016(2016-06-19) (aged 77) Hamburg, Germany
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1950s–2016

Götz George (pronounced like Goots Ge-OR-ge; born July 23, 1938 – died June 19, 2016) was a famous German actor. He was the son of two well-known actors, Berta Drews and Heinrich George. Götz George is perhaps best known for playing the detective Horst Schimanski in the popular German TV crime series Tatort.

Early Life and Family

Götz George was born in Berlin-Wannsee, Germany. He came from a family of actors. His father, Heinrich George, was a very famous film and theater actor. His mother, Berta Drews, was also a talented actress. Götz was named after a historical German knight, Götz von Berlichingen, who was one of his father's favorite characters.

Götz grew up in Berlin with his older brother, Jan, and his mother. His father died when Götz was young, after World War II. Götz went to school in Berlin-Lichterfelde and later studied in Switzerland at the Lyzeum Alpinum in Zuoz.

Becoming an Actor

Starting on Stage

Götz George began his acting career on stage in 1950. His very first role was in a play called My Heart's in the Highlands. From 1955 to 1958, he studied acting in Berlin. He learned a lot about acting between 1958 and 1963.

Following his mother's advice, he sometimes performed at the Deutsches Theater in Göttingen. After the director, Heinz Hilpert, passed away, Götz George never joined a permanent theater group again. However, he often performed in plays that toured different cities and as a guest actor.

One of his most important stage roles, according to him, was playing the main character in Danton's Death at the Salzburg Festival in 1981. Later, in 1986 and 1987, he even helped direct a play called The Government Inspector. His last theater tour was for a play by Anton Chekhov called Platonov.

Success in Movies and TV

George as Horst Schimanski in 2009

In 1953, Götz George got a small part in a movie called When the White Lilacs Bloom Again, where he acted alongside the famous actress Romy Schneider. That same year, he also acted with his mother in a play called Richard III.

After several small movie roles in the 1950s, Götz George became widely known for his role in the 1959 film Jacqueline. He won important awards for this role, including the Bundesfilmpreis. In 1962, he received the Bambi Award as the most popular actor.

During the 1960s, Götz George showed that he could play many different kinds of characters. He acted in movies like Kirmes, where he played a soldier who had left the army. He also appeared in comedies and action movies, where his strong physical presence was a great advantage.

He became very popular when he started acting in the Karl May series of films. He began with Der Schatz im Silbersee in 1962. He was originally supposed to have the main role, but then Lex Barker was chosen to play Old Shatterhand. So, Götz George played the farmer's son, Fred Engel. He performed all his own stunts, even when he played the sheriff in Sie nannten ihn Gringo.

In the 1970s, he focused more on stage acting and television roles. He appeared in many episodes of popular TV shows like Der Kommissar, Tatort, Derrick, and The Old Fox. In 1977, he took on a significant role in the film Death Is My Trade, playing a character based on a real historical figure.

Götz George had his biggest success on TV in the 1980s. From 1981 to 1991, he played the working-class police officer Horst Schimanski in the Tatort series. This character became a cult figure in Germany. He won the Bambi Award again in 1984 and 1987 for being the most popular actor.

He also showed his comedic talent in the Schulz & Schulz movies, which started in 1989. In these films, he played two different characters, showing his range as an actor. He also played an industry consultant named Morlock in a TV series, which was very different from his tough detective role.

In the 1990s, some of his most memorable roles were in the TV movie The Sandman [de], the movie Deathmaker, and the TV movie The Bubi Scholz Story [de]. In the latter, he played an older, struggling boxer.

Personal Life

Götz George was married to actress Loni von Friedl from 1966 to 1976. They had a daughter named Tanja-Nicole, who was born in 1967. From 1997, he lived with Hamburg journalist Marika Ullrich, and they got married in 2014.

Götz George passed away in 2016 at the age of 77, after a short illness.

Awards and Recognition

Götz George received many awards for his acting throughout his career.

• 1995: Bavarian Film Award for Best Actor
• 1995: Volpi Cup for Best Actor

Filmography (Movies)

Filmography (TV Movies and Series)