Instantly recognisable, heavy-set German character actor. On stage from 1949. Ensemble member of the Deutschen Theater in East Berlin until 1952, subsequently dividing his time between theatres in Berlin and Hamburg. Noted for performances in classic plays by Goethe, Brecht and Hauptmann. Reliable supporting actor in films and television, popular in crime series like "Stahlnetz", "Derrick", "Tatort" and "Der Alte". German synchronising voice for Robert Emhardt, Hal Holbrook, Sebastian Cabot and Jackie Coogan (as Uncle Fester in "The Addams Family").