Tilo Prückner (26 October 1940 – 2 July 2020
T-Online, 6 July 2020.) was a German television and film actor. His career spanned five decades and more than 100 films. He became known, for his portrayal of often eccentric characters in high-profile public television productions such as

Tatort ("Crime Scene") is a German-language police procedural television series that has been running continuously since 1970 with 30 feature-length episodes per year, making it the longest-running German TV drama. Developed by the German public-se ...

Adelheid und ihre Mörder ''Adelheid und ihre Mörder'' (''Adelheid and Her Murderers'') was a German comedy-drama television series broadcast between 1993 and 2007 by Das Erste. 65, 50 minute episodes in six series were produced. Directors included Ulrich Stark (6 epis ...

, Kommissarin Lucas and Rentnercop

Early life

Tilo Prückner was born in

Augsburg Augsburg ( , ; ; ) is a city in the Bavaria, Bavarian part of Swabia, Germany, around west of the Bavarian capital Munich. It is a College town, university town and the regional seat of the Swabia (administrative region), Swabia with a well ...

, the son of the paediatrician Alfred Prückner and his wife Dorothea née Krause in Augsburg. The Prückner family has a long reaching family tradition in Hof. He first went to the St. Anna-Gymnasium in Augsburg and changed then to the school Melanchthon-Gymnasium in

Nürnberg Nuremberg (, ; ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the largest city in Franconia, the second-largest city in the German state of Bavaria, and its 544,414 (2023) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest city in Germany. ...

, where he passed his

Abitur ''Abitur'' (), often shortened colloquially to ''Abi'', is a qualification granted at the end of secondary education in Germany. It is conferred on students who pass their final exams at the end of ISCED 3, usually after twelve or thirteen year ...

in 1960. He dropped his study of the law to begin an actor's education in

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

with Hans Josef Becher and Ellen Mahlke.

Career

From 1962 until 1964 he was employed at the Schauburg in Munich, and afterwards worked at the Theater St. Gallen, from 1966 to 1968 at the

Theater Oberhausen Theater Oberhausen is a theatre in Oberhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. External links

* 1920 establishments in Germany Buildings and structures in Oberhausen Music venues completed in 1920 Theatres completed in 1920 Theatres i ...

and 1968/1969 at the

Schauspielhaus Zürich The Schauspielhaus Zürich () is one of the most prominent and important theatres in the history of German-speaking theater. It is also known as "Pfauenbühne" (Peacock Stage). The large theatre has 750 seats. The also operates three stages ...

. From 1970 to 1973, he played at

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

Schaubühne The (Theatre on Lehniner Square) is a famous theatre in the Wilmersdorf district of Berlin, located on the Kurfürstendamm boulevard. It is a conversion of the ''Universum'' cinema, built according to plans designed by Erich Mendelsohn in 192 ...

, where he was one of the founding members. Since 1973 he worked as a freelance actor at the Bayerisches Staatsschauspiel in Munich. After his participation in the TV-recordings of productions at the Schaubühne his work with directors of the

New German Cinema New German Cinema () is a period in Cinema of Germany, West German cinema which lasted from 1962 to 1982, in which a new generation of directors emerged who, working with low budgets, and influenced by the French New Wave and Italian Neorealism, ...

increased, including

Bernhard Sinkel Bernhard Sinkel (born 19 January 1940) is a German film director and screenwriter. He directed seven films between 1975 and 1993. He co-shared the Special Recognition award at the 28th Berlin International Film Festival for the film ''Germany in ...

Edgar Reitz Edgar Reitz (born 1 November 1932) is a German filmmaker and Professor of Film at the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung (State University of Design) in Karlsruhe. He is best-known for his internationally acclaimed Heimat (film series), ''Hei ...

and

Peter Fleischmann Peter Fleischmann (26 July 1937 – 11 August 2021) was a German film director, screenwriter and producer. He worked also as an actor, cutter, sound engineer, interviewer and speaker. Fleischmann belonged to the New German Cinema of the 1960s an ...

. He often played sick or handicapped people. In 1976 Prückner received the for his role as the violinist Hännschen Wurlitzer in '. Among his more recognized roles with international audiences are the bat-riding "Night Hob" in the 1984 fantasy film ''

The NeverEnding Story ''The Neverending Story'' () is a fantasy novel by German writer Michael Ende, published in 1979. The first English translation, by Ralph Manheim, was published in 1983. It was later adapted into a film series and a television series. Plot T ...

'' and the scientist Dr. Richter in the 2012 science fiction comedy ''

Iron Sky ''Iron Sky'' is a 2012 comic-science-fiction action film directed by Timo Vuorensola and written by Johanna Sinisalo and Michael Kalesniko.

''. In later years Prückner proved his art of interpreting diverse characters in a great number of movie and TV productions, often portraying cranky or eccentric characters. He appeared as the hypochondriac detective Gernot Schubert in the TV-series ''

'' for six years, co-starring with

Evelyn Hamann Eveline Braun, (née Hamann; 6 August 1942 – 28 October 2007) commonly known as Evelyn Hamann, was a German actress best known for her work with popular German comedian Loriot as well as for her appearances in television series such as ''The B ...

and Heinz Baumann. Since 2003, he had a regular supporting role in the TV-series '' Kommissarin Lucas'' as the landlord of the main character played by Ulrike Kriener. From 2015 until his death, he played a lead role in the ARD crime series ''Rentnercops'' about retired cops who are hired back into their jobs. In 2013, he published his first novel, ''Willi Merkatz wird verlassen''.

Death

On 2 July 2020 Prückner died of a sudden heart failure in

at the age of 79.

Selected filmography

* ' (1967, dir.

Franz-Josef Spieker Franz-Josef Spieker (24 November 1933, Paderborn – 18 March 1978, near Bali) was a German filmmaker. Spieker studied theater and literary sciences at the DIFF (German Institute for Film and Television) in Munich. He worked as a photojournalist ...

) as Stiglitz * ''

Apokal ''Apokal'' is a 1971 West German drama film directed by Paul Anczykowski. It was entered into the 1971 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Christof Nel as Carmann * Rotraut de Nève as Catinka * Heinrich Clasing as Painter * Dorit Amann as Gala * ...

'' (1971, dir. Paul Anczykowski) as Miles * ' (1974, dir.

Reinhard Hauff Reinhard Hauff (born 23 May 1939) is a German film director. His works, which were mostly carried out in the late 1960s to early 1990s, are known for their social and political commentary. '' Stammheim'', which is based on the activities of the R ...

) as Zick Zack * ''

One or the Other of Us ''One or the Other of Us'' () is a 1974 West German film directed by Wolfgang Petersen. It was Petersen's first theatrical feature film, and was based on the novel of the same name by Horst Bosetzky, published anonymously under his pseudonym -ky. ...

'' (1974, dir.

Wolfgang Petersen Wolfgang Petersen (14 March 1941 – 12 August 2022) was a German film and television director, screenwriter, and producer. His international breakthrough was the 1981 war film (1981), which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Directo ...

) as Drögnitz * ''Schoolmaster Hofer'' (1975, dir.

Peter Lilienthal Peter Lilienthal (27 November 1927 – 28 April 2023) was a German film director, writer, actor and producer. He is most associated with being a liberal director of New German Cinema in the 1970s. Early life As a child, in 1939, Lilienthal emig ...

) as Custodian * ' (1975, dir. Volker Vogeler) as Crazy Butch * ''

John Glückstadt ''John Glückstadt'' is a 1975 West German drama film directed by Ulf Miehe. It was entered into the 25th Berlin International Film Festival. Cast * Dieter Laser as John Hansen "Glückstadt" * Marie-Christine Barrault as Hanna Hansen * Joha ...

'' (1975, dir.

Ulf Miehe Ulf Miehe (11 May 1940 – 13 July 1989) was a German screenwriter and film director. His 1975 film ''John Glückstadt'' was entered into the 25th Berlin International Film Festival. Selected filmography * ''Jaider, der einsame Jäger'' (19 ...

) as Michel * ''A Happy Family Life'' (1975, dir. , ) as Manfred * ' (1975, dir.

, Alf Brustellin) as Laski * ''

The Sternstein Manor ''The Sternstein Manor'' () is a 1976 West German drama film directed by Hans W. Geißendörfer. It was entered into the 10th Moscow International Film Festival. Cast * as Leni Zinshofer * Tilo Prückner as Nepomuk Kleebinder aka Muckerl * Gu ...

'' (1976, dir.

Hans W. Geißendörfer Hans W. Geißendörfer (born 6 April 1941 in Augsburg) is a German film director and producer. Director of ''The Glass Cell (film), The Glass Cell'' (1978, starring Brigitte Fossey), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Lang ...

) as Nepomuk Kleebinder aka Muckerl * ' (1976, dir.

) as Charly * ' (1976, TV Movie, dir.

) as Albert Bäumler * ' (1976, dir. Nikos Perakis) as Hänschen "Paganini" Wurlitzer * '' Grete Minde'' (1977, dir.

Heidi Genée Heidi Genée (22 October 1938 – 26 September 2005) was a German film editor, director and screenwriter. She worked on more than 40 films between 1958 and 1984. Her 1977 film '' Grete Minde'' was entered into the 27th Berlin International F ...

) as Gerd Minde * ''

SOKO 5113 Soko ( sh-Cyrl, Соко) was a Yugoslav aircraft manufacturer based in Mostar, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina. The company was responsible for the production of many military aircraft for the Yugoslav Air Force. SOKO was created in 1950 by the rel ...

'' (1978–2014, TV Series, 11 episodes) as Kriminalhauptmeister Neubert / Hermann Heindl * '' Paul kommt zurück'' (1978, TV Movie, dir. ) as Kalle * ''Der harte Handel'' (1978, TV Movie, dir.

Uli Edel Ulrich "Uli" Edel (; born 11 April 1947) is a German film and television director, best known for his work on films such as ''Last Exit to Brooklyn'', '' Body of Evidence'' and '' The Baader Meinhof Complex.'' His '' Rasputin: Dark Servant of ...

) as Sepp Lederer * '' The Man in the Rushes'' (1978, dir. Manfred Purzer) as Tramp * '' The Tailor from Ulm'' (1978, dir.

) as Albrecht Berblinger * ' (1979, dir. ) as Albert Rais * ''

The Hamburg Syndrome ''The Hamburg Syndrome'' () is a 1979 West German-French science fiction film directed by Peter Fleischmann and starring Helmut Griem, Fernando Arrabal and Carline Seiser. The film is about an outbreak of an epidemic and quarantine. The film rec ...

'' (1979, dir.

) as Fritz * '' The Willi Busch Report'' (1979, dir. Niklaus Schilling) as Willi Busch * ''Die Kinder aus Nr. 67'' (1980) as Herr Brackmann * ' (1981, TV Movie, dir. ) as

Heinrich Schliemann Johann Ludwig Heinrich Julius Schliemann (; 6 January 1822 – 26 December 1890) was a German businessman and an influential amateur archaeologist. He was an advocate of the historicity of places mentioned in the works of Homer and an archaeolo ...

* ''

The Magic Mountain ''The Magic Mountain'' (, ) is a novel by Thomas Mann. It was first published in Germany in November 1924. Since then, it has gone through numerous editions and been translated into many languages. It is widely considered a seminal work of 20t ...

'' (1982, dir.

) as Lehrer Popow * ' (1983, dir. Ottokar Runze) as Fred * ' (1983, dir. Rolf Silber) as Herr Bauermann * ' (1984, TV Movie, dir. Peter Adam) as Fred * ' (1984, dir.

Reinhard Schwabenitzky Reinhard Schwabenitzky (23 April 1947 – 9 February 2022) was an Austrian film director, producer and screenwriter. Life and career Reinhard Schwabenitzky was born in his maternal grandmother's pub in the remote hamlet of Bucheben, a long wal ...

) as Bazille * ''

'' (1984, dir.

) as Schwienhund. * ' (1984, dir. ) as Theo Schuster * ' (1984) * ' (1987) as Von Knörringen * ''

Freckled Max and the Spooks ''Freckled Max and the Spooks'' () is a 1987 Czechoslovak/West German recut of the series '' Frankenstein’s Aunt'' into a 96-minute film. Story The film is based on the Allan Rune Pettersson Allan Rune Pettersson (9 March 1936 – 15 Augu ...

'' (1987) as Sepp * ''Herz mit Löffel'' (1987) * ''Wallers letzter Gang'' (1989) as Paul Schönfaerber * ''Hab' ich nur deine Liebe'' (1989) as Michael Seebisch * ''Verfolgte Wege'' (1989) as Heindl * ' (1992, dir. Niklaus Schilling) as Willi Busch * ' (1993) as Teacher * ''

'' (1993–2000, TV Series, 26 episodes) as Kriminalhauptmeister Gernot Schubert * El Chicko' – der Verdacht'' (1996) as Paul's father * ''Alle für die Mafia'' (1998) as Sepp * ' (2001) as Punk * ''

Goebbels und Geduldig ''Goebbels und Geduldig'' is a 2002 German war comedy television film about Joseph Goebbels and Nazi Germany, directed by Kai Wessel, written by , and starring Ulrich Mühe in the two titular roles. Plot Harry Geduldig is a Jewish lookalike ...

'' (2001) as Heinrich Hoffmann * ''

'' (2001–2008, TV Series, 15 episodes) as Kriminaloberkommissar Eduard Holicek * '' Kommissarin Lucas'' (2003–2019, TV Series, 29 episodes) as Max Kirchhoff * ''

Die Stunde der Offiziere ''Die Stunde der Offiziere'' () is a German semi-documentary movie of 2003 telling in chronological order about the German resistance attempts to kill Adolf Hitler and seize power in Germany in the 20 July plot of 1944. Produced by German TV ZDF ...

'' (2004) as

Friedrich Olbricht Friedrich Olbricht (4 October 1888 – 21 July 1944) was a German general during World War II. He is known for being one of the plotters involved in the 20 July Plot, an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944. Olbricht was a senior staff o ...

* ' (2005) as Fritz * ''5 vor 12'' (2006) as Geldeintreiber #1 * ''Doppelspiel'' (2006) as Louis Seyfer * '' The Counterfeiters'' (2007) as Hahn * ''SEK Calw'' (2007) * ''Mein Freund aus Faro'' (2008) as Willi Wandel * ''Totgesagte leben länger'' (2008) as Psychiater * ' (2008) as Schreiner Christof * ' (2009) as Wirt Landgasthof * ''Village People 2 – Auf der Jagd nach dem Nazigold'' (2009) as Adolf Hitler * ''Village People – Voll Porno'' (2011) as Pornoproduzent * ' (2011) as Onkel * ' (2011, TV Movie) as Holger Thiessen * ''

Iron Sky ''Iron Sky'' is a 2012 comic-science-fiction action film directed by Timo Vuorensola and written by Johanna Sinisalo and Michael Kalesniko.

'' (2012) as Doktor Richter * ' (2012) as Schlepper * '' Little Thirteen'' (2012) as Holger Schreiber * ''Tatort Calw – Hexensabbat'' (2013) as Dr. Franz Bäuerle * ''

Windstorm A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm) ...

'' (2013) as Herr Kaan * ''Tatort Calw – So ein Theater!'' (2014) as Attentäter * ''Nebenwege'' (2014) as Ferdl * '' Coming In'' (2014) as Erich * ''Herzlos'' (2014) as Obdachloser * '' Head Full of Honey'' (2014) as Dr. Ehlers * ' (2015) as Herr Kaan * ' (2015) as Jakob's Father * ' (2015–2020, TV Series, 56 episodes) as Kriminaloberkommissar Edwin Bremer * ' (2017) as Herr Kaan * ''Village People – Tod aus dem All'' (2018) as Dr. Bretschneider * ' (2019) as Herr Kaan * ''Mordkommission Calw – Schattenkrieger'' (2019) as Dr. Neufeld

Awards

* 1976 – German Actors Award (Deutscher Darstellerpreis) * 1980 – Reader Jury Award

Books

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pruckner, Tilo 1940 births 2020 deaths Actors from Augsburg Male actors from Bavaria German male film actors German male television actors 20th-century German male actors 21st-century German male actors