Ralf Richter
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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.
Known for
Credits
Das Boot (1981)
as Frenssen
Cosimas Lexikon (1992)
as Klaus Borgmann
Fresh (2025)
Actor
Nachtwalzer (2014)
as Wirt
Half Brothers (2015)
as Barmann Zum Leuchtturm
The Crocodiles (2009)
as Chief Police Officer
Happy Weekend (1996)
as Engel
Sky Sharks (2020)
as Joseph Langner
Not My Day (2014)
as Langer
Our Darkness (2026)
Actor
Seven Minutes (1989)
as SA-Führer
Der schwarze Fluch (1995)
as Gangster
Männer aus zweiter Hand (1999)
as Dario
Verlierer (1987)
as Richy
Fatale Mutterliebe (1995)
as Hoffmann
Mondmann (2006)
as General
The Cat (1988)
as Britz
Streets of Rio (2008)
as Horst
Peanuts - Die Bank zahlt alles (1996)
as Mario
Bang, Boom, Bang (1999)
as Karl-Heinz 'Kalle' Grabowski
The Cry of the Butterfly (1999)
as Tom
Eine mörderische Liebe (1995)
as Jan Becker
Urmel aus dem Eis (2005)
as Dr. Zwengelmann
Alles im Griff (1990)
as Günter 'Bolle' Bolkowski
Im Winter, so schön (2016)
as Butcher
Bad Director (2024)
as Compagnon Sommerwind
Das Boot Revisited: An Underwater Success Story (2021)
as Self - Das Boot Actor
Enfant Terrible (2020)
as Blumenpeter
Football Rules Ok (2000)
as Mike
Decoder (1984)
as Jaeger's Assistant
Und weg bist Du (2012)
as Receptionist
If It Don't Fit, Use a Bigger Hammer (2002)
as Kalle
Out of Order (1984)
as Otto
The Last Cop (2019)
as Schore Siggi
Marmor, Stein & Eisen (2000)
Actor
Fahr zur Hölle (2011)
Actor
The Devil loves Rock N Roll (2013)
as Kalle Grabowski
Suck My Dick (2001)
as Hyde
The Polar Bear (1998)
as Zivilpolizist
Out of Bounds (2006)
as Harald "Bullet Harry" Grabowski
Ohne Gnade (2013)
as Tarzan
Das fehlende Grau (2015)
Actor
Manta - Der Film (1991)
as Polizist Wolle
Mädchen Nr. 1 (2003)
as Ilia
Kopf oder Zahl (2009)
as Ron
Wöhlunds Rache (1986)
Actor
Vater aus heiterem Himmel (2012)
as Jenninger
Stories of the Dead (2019)
Actor
Mafia, Pizza, Razzia (1997)
as Bulle #1
Eine fast perfekte Liebe (1996)
as Haucke
Es wäre gut, daß ein Mensch würde umbracht für das Volk (1991)
as Petrus
Village People - Auf der Jagd nach dem Nazigold (2009)
as Hehler
Baggerführer Bob (2014)
Actor
Die Katze von Kensington (1996)
as Reynolds
Dirty Sky (2003)
as Tankwart
If It Don't Fit, Use a Bigger Hammer (1997)
as Karl Heinz Kaminski
Zielscheiben (1985)
as Strotzki
Cowgirl (2004)
as Peter Blessing
Superstau (1991)
as Hermann Pacholke
Breakdown Forest (2019)
as Hans Joachim (HaJo) Jendriczek
1000 Mexicans (2016)
Actor
Der Trip - Die nackte Gitarre 0,5 (1996)
Actor
Radio Home (2016)
as Onkel Josef
Die Passion (2024)
as Barabbas
Liebe mich bis in den Tod (1998)
as Krause
Eine Hochzeit und (K)ein Todesfall (2001)
as Richie
Ein Bär für alle Fälle (1998)
as Axel
Finnischer Tango (2008)
as Sexshop-Besitzer
Ladies and Gentleman (2002)
Actor
Turbo & Tacho (2013)
as Charly Wischollek
Chaostage - We Are Punks! (2009)
as Herr Krupp
Zeche is nich - Sieben Blicke auf das Ruhrgebiet 2010 (2010)
as Eddi
Spiel mir das Lied und du bist tot! (2008)
as Grandpa St. John
Gomez: Heads or Tails (1998)
Actor
Lebendig skalpiert (2020)
Actor
The Crack Connection (1987)
as Sandrowski
Planet Alex (2001)
as Barkeeper