Biography
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.
Acted in 112
2020s
- 2026
Our Darkness
Movie
- 2025
Fresh
Movie
- 2024
Bad Director
Compagnon Sommerwind
Die Passion
Barabbas
- 2020
Lebendig skalpiert
Movie
2010s
- 2019
The Last Cop
Schore Siggi
Stories of the Dead
Movie
Breakdown Forest
Hans Joachim (HaJo) Jendriczek
- 2018
- 2016
Radio Home
Onkel Josef
1000 Mexicans
Movie
Im Winter, so schön
Butcher
- 2015
Nichtlustig - die Serie!
TV
Das fehlende Grau
Movie
Half Brothers
Barmann Zum Leuchtturm
- 2014
Baggerführer Bob
Movie
Not My Day
Langer
- 2013
Ohne Gnade
Tarzan
Turbo & Tacho
Charly Wischollek
- 2012
Und weg bist Du
Receptionist
Vater aus heiterem Himmel
Jenninger
- 2011
Fahr zur Hölle
Movie
2000s
- 2009
Village People - Auf der Jagd nach dem Nazigold
Hehler
Kopf oder Zahl
Ron
Chaostage - We Are Punks!
Herr Krupp
- 2008
Finnischer Tango
Sexshop-Besitzer
Spiel mir das Lied und du bist tot!
Grandpa St. John
Streets of Rio
Horst
- 2007
Lutter
Mike Pätzold · 1 episode
- 2006
Out of Bounds
Harald "Bullet Harry" Grabowski
Die ProSieben Märchenstunde
Bergmann · 1 episode
Mondmann
General
- 2005
Urmel aus dem Eis
Dr. Zwengelmann
TV total Stock Car Crash Challenge
Rennfahrer · 11 episodes
- 2004
Cowgirl
Peter Blessing
- 2003
Dirty Sky
Tankwart
Was nicht passt, wird passend gemacht
Karl-Heinz 'Kalle' Langmann · 20 episodes
Mädchen Nr. 1
Ilia
Alarm für Cobra 11 - Einsatz für Team 2
Rodde Rodinsky · 1 episode
- 2002
- 2001
Suck My Dick
Hyde
The Cry of the Butterfly
Tom
Eine Hochzeit und (K)ein Todesfall
Richie
- 2000
Marmor, Stein & Eisen
Movie
Football Rules Ok
Mike
Geisterjäger John Sinclair
Collins · 1 episode
1990s
- 1999
Männer aus zweiter Hand
Dario
- 1998
The Polar Bear
Zivilpolizist
Ein Bär für alle Fälle
Axel
- 1997
If It Don't Fit, Use a Bigger Hammer
Karl Heinz Kaminski
Mafia, Pizza, Razzia
Bulle #1
- 1996
Eine fast perfekte Liebe
Haucke
Mit einem Bein im Grab
Herr Schlömer · 1 episode
Peanuts - Die Bank zahlt alles
Mario
Die Katze von Kensington
Reynolds
Der Trip - Die nackte Gitarre 0,5
Movie
- 1995
Eine mörderische Liebe
Jan Becker
- 1994
Zwei Brüder
TV
Alles außer Mord
Fritz Koller · 1 episode
- 1993
Wildbach
Theo · 1 episode
- 1992
Cosimas Lexikon
Klaus Borgmann
- 1991
Superstau
Hermann Pacholke
- 1990
Alles im Griff
Günter 'Bolle' Bolkowski
1980s
- 1989
Seven Minutes
SA-Führer
- 1988
Eurocops
Harald Breitner · 1 episode
The Cat
Britz
- 1987
Die Hausmeisterin
Isarhocker · 1 episode
The Crack Connection
Sandrowski
Verlierer
Richy
- 1985
Zielscheiben
Strotzki
- 1984
Pogo 1104
Rick Bandora · 4 episodes
Out of Order
Otto
Decoder
Jaeger's Assistant
- 1983
Rote Erde
Otto Schablowski · 13 episodes
- 1981
Tour de Ruhr
Wölfchen · 6 episodes
- 1980
Appearances9
2020s
- 2021
Das Boot Revisited: An Underwater Success Story
Self - Das Boot Actor
2010s
- 2016
Sträters Männerhaushalt
Self · 1 episode
- 2015
Die Geschichte eines Abends
Self · 1 episode
1990s
- 1999
TV total
Self · 3 episodes
- 1996
- 1995
