Acting
Ralf Richter
Ralf Richter (August 17, 1957 - September 15, 2026) was a German film, television, and stage actor. Born in Essen, he grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Bochum. After completing an apprenticeship as a carpenter, he studied acting at the Westphalian Drama School in Bochum and began his career on stage. He gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Chief Petty Officer Frenssen in Wolfgang Petersen’s acclaimed war film Das Boot (1981). The role established him as one of Germany’s most recognizable character actors, particularly known for portraying tough, outspoken, and often eccentric figures. His notable film credits include Die Katze (1988), Manta - Der Film (1991), Superstau (1991), and Fußball ist unser Leben (2000). He achieved cult status with his portrayal of the hot-tempered criminal Kalle Grabowski in Peter Thorwarth’s crime comedy Bang Boom Bang (1999). Richter continued his collaboration with Thorwarth in Was nicht passt, wird passend gemacht (2002) and Goldene Zeiten (2006). Together, these three films became known as the Unna Trilogy. His later film appearances included Vorstadtkrokodile (2009), Nicht mein Tag (2014), Radio Heimat (2016), Enfant Terrible (2020), and Bad Director (2023). In addition to his film career, he appeared in numerous German television series, including Tatort, Der Fahnder, Alarm für Cobra 11, Ein Fall für zwei, and Heldt. Richter was particularly associated with the Ruhr region and became known for his distinctive voice, direct manner, and memorable portrayals of working-class characters and small-time criminals. He died in Cologne in September 2026 at the age of 69.
Filmography
Our Darkness
Film · 2026
Fresh
Film · 2025
Bad Director
Film · 2024
Die Passion
Film · 2024
Das Boot Revisited: An Underwater Success Story
Film · 2021
Sky Sharks
Film · 2020
Enfant Terrible
Film · 2020
Lebendig skalpiert
Film · 2020
Breakdown Forest
Film · 2019
Stories of the Dead
Film · 2019
The Last Cop
Film · 2019
SOKO Potsdam
Series · 2018
Im Winter, so schön
Film · 2016
Radio Home
Film · 2016
1000 Mexicans
Film · 2016
Sträters Männerhaushalt
Series · 2016
Half Brothers
Film · 2015
Das fehlende Grau
Film · 2015
Rentnercops
Series · 2015
Die Geschichte eines Abends
Series · 2015
Nichtlustig - die Serie!
Series · 2015
Not My Day
Film · 2014
Baggerführer Bob
Film · 2014
Ohne Gnade
Film · 2013
Turbo & Tacho
Film · 2013
Heldt
Series · 2013
Circus Halligalli
Series · 2013
Vater aus heiterem Himmel
Film · 2012
Und weg bist Du
Film · 2012
Fahr zur Hölle
Film · 2011
Chaostage - We Are Punks!
Film · 2009
Village People - Auf der Jagd nach dem Nazigold
Film · 2009
Kopf oder Zahl
Film · 2009
The Crocodiles
Film · 2009
SOKO Stuttgart
Series · 2009
Streets of Rio
Film · 2008
Spiel mir das Lied und du bist tot!
Film · 2008
Finnischer Tango
Film · 2008
Lutter
Series · 2007
Inas Nacht
Series · 2007
Out of Bounds
Film · 2006
Mondmann
Film · 2006
Die ProSieben Märchenstunde
Series · 2006
Das perfekte Promi-Dinner
Series · 2006
Urmel aus dem Eis
Film · 2005
Pastewka
Series · 2005
TV total Stock Car Crash Challenge
Series · 2005
Cowgirl
Film · 2004
Dirty Sky
Film · 2003
Mädchen Nr. 1
Film · 2003
Was nicht passt, wird passend gemacht
Series · 2003
Alarm für Cobra 11 - Einsatz für Team 2
Series · 2003
SOKO Köln
Series · 2003
SOKO Köln
Series · 2003
If It Don't Fit, Use a Bigger Hammer
Film · 2002
Die Rosenheim-Cops
Series · 2002
Suck My Dick
Film · 2001
Eine Hochzeit und (K)ein Todesfall
Film · 2001
Hallo Robbie!
Series · 2001
Football Rules Ok
Film · 2000
Marmor, Stein & Eisen
Film · 2000
Geisterjäger John Sinclair
Series · 2000
Bang, Boom, Bang
Film · 1999
Männer aus zweiter Hand
Film · 1999
SK Kölsch
Series · 1999
Hausmeister Krause – Ordnung muss sein
Series · 1999
Volle Kanne
Series · 1999
TV total
Series · 1999
The Polar Bear
Film · 1998
Ein Bär für alle Fälle
Film · 1998
If It Don't Fit, Use a Bigger Hammer
Film · 1997
Mafia, Pizza, Razzia
Film · 1997
Küstenwache
Series · 1997
Peanuts - Die Bank zahlt alles
Film · 1996
Happy Weekend
Film · 1996
Der Trip - Die nackte Gitarre 0,5
Film · 1996
Die Katze von Kensington
Film · 1996
Eine fast perfekte Liebe
Film · 1996
Alarm for Cobra 11: The Motorway Police
Series · 1996
Mit einem Bein im Grab
Series · 1996
Alarm for Cobra 11: The Motorway Police
Series · 1996
Alarm for Cobra 11: The Motorway Police
Series · 1996
Zimmer frei!
Series · 1996
Alarm for Cobra 11: The Motorway Police
Series · 1996
Der schwarze Fluch
Film · 1995
Eine mörderische Liebe
Film · 1995
Unser Charly
Series · 1995
Die Harald Schmidt Show
Series · 1995
Balko
Series · 1995
Für alle Fälle Stefanie
Series · 1995
Inspector Rex
Series · 1994
Die Kommissarin
Series · 1994
Zwei Brüder
Series · 1994
Alles außer Mord
Series · 1994
Die Kommissarin
Series · 1994
Bella Block
Series · 1993
Wildbach
Series · 1993
Cosimas Lexikon
Film · 1992
Freunde fürs Leben
Series · 1992
Manta - Der Film
Film · 1991
Superstau
Film · 1991
Alles im Griff
Film · 1990
Café Meineid
Series · 1990
Seven Minutes
Film · 1989
Dobrodružství kriminalistiky
Series · 1989
The Cat
Film · 1988
Eurocops
Series · 1988
Verlierer
Film · 1987
The Crack Connection
Film · 1987
Die Hausmeisterin
Series · 1987
Zielscheiben
Film · 1985
Das Boot
Series · 1985
Out of Order
Film · 1984
Decoder
Film · 1984
Der Fahnder
Series · 1984
Der Fahnder
Series · 1984
Der Fahnder
Series · 1984
Der Fahnder
Series · 1984
Pogo 1104
Series · 1984
Rote Erde
Series · 1983
Das Boot
Film · 1981
A Case For Two
Series · 1981
A Case For Two
Series · 1981
A Case For Two
Series · 1981
A Case For Two
Series · 1981
A Case For Two
Series · 1981
A Case For Two
Series · 1981
A Case For Two
Series · 1981
A Case For Two
Series · 1981
A Case For Two
Series · 1981
Tour de Ruhr
Series · 1981
Auf Achse
Series · 1980
SOKO München
Series · 1978
SOKO München
Series · 1978
The Old Fox
Series · 1977
Polizeiruf 110
Series · 1971
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970