Lugubriously-featured German character actor, the son of a master tailor, popular on stage (first in 1943, latterly with the Vienna Burgtheater), in radio (with the Norddeutscher Rundfunk) and on screen. He began in crime potboilers, 'Pauker' comedies and 'Heimatfilms' in the 1950's, but rose to greater heights during the next two decades on the small screen in made-for-TV movies and as star of the series "Landarzt". He was also the German dubbing voice for actors Marlon Brando, James Coburn and Sid James.