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.
as Compagnon Sommerwind
as Barabbas
as Self - Das Boot Actor
as Joseph Langner
as Blumenpeter
as Self(1 ep)
as Schore Siggi
as Hans Joachim (HaJo) Jendriczek
as Boris Strahlkowski(1 ep)
as Onkel Josef
as Self(1 ep)
as Butcher
as Self(1 ep)
as Barmann Zum Leuchtturm
as Ralle Pulver(1 ep)
as Self(1 ep)
as Langer
as Wirt
as Kalle Grabowski
as Tarzan
as Self(1 ep)
as Charly Wischollek
as Sven Lattbeck(3 eps)
as Self(1 ep)
as Receptionist
as Jenninger
as Self(2 eps)
as Self(1 ep)
as Kai Meerbusch(1 ep)
as Ron
as Herr Krupp
as Chief Police Officer
as Self(1 ep)
as Sexshop-Besitzer
as Grandpa St. John
as Horst
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as Mike Pätzold(1 ep)
as Self(1 ep)
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as Harald "Bullet Harry" Grabowski
as Bergmann(1 ep)
as General
as Self(1 ep)
as Dr. Zwengelmann
as Ralf Richter(1 ep)
as Rennfahrer(11 eps)
as Peter Blessing
as Tankwart
as Falk Fechner(1 ep)
as Peter Bullerjahn(1 ep)
as Karl-Heinz 'Kalle' Langmann(20 eps)
as Ilia
as Rodde Rodinsky(1 ep)
as Self(1 ep)
as Marek(1 ep)
as Rainer Kanitz(1 ep)
as Hyde
as Tom
as Barkeeper
as Richie
as Mike
as Collins(1 ep)
as Self(4 eps)
as Karl-Heinz 'Kalle' Grabowski
as Dario
as Self(3 eps)
as Polizist(1 ep)
as Herbie Raiko(1 ep)
as Zivilpolizist
as Krause
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as Axel
as Karl Heinz Kaminski
as Bulle #1
as Haucke
as Herr Schlömer(1 ep)
as Self(1 ep)
as Mario
as Engel
as Frank(1 ep)
as Wolf Turowski(1 ep)
as Hannes Nowak(1 ep)
as Raucherkalle(1 ep)
as Reynolds
as Kalle(1 ep)
as Self(1 ep)
as Jan Becker
as Gangster
as Blacky Berg(1 ep)
as Self(1 ep)
as Winfried Dragowski(1 ep)
as Hoffmann
as Hubert Nielsen(1 ep)
as Kai Zorski(1 ep)
as Martin Gerlandt(1 ep)
as Rechtsanwalt Dr. Müller-Dohme(1 ep)
as Eddie Steinbach(1 ep)
as Fritz Koller(1 ep)
as Self(1 ep)
as Brockmann(1 ep)
as Michelle Laroche(1 ep)
as Polizist(1 ep)
as Theo(1 ep)
as Victor(13 eps)
as Herr Höhnisch(1 ep)
as Klaus Borgmann
as Eichborn(1 ep)
as Schmitzchen(18 eps)
as Polizist Wolle
as Hermann Pacholke
as Günter 'Bolle' Bolkowski
as Henning Hahn8(1 ep)
as Jin McEachen(1 ep)
as SA-Führer
as Harald Breitner(1 ep)
as Britz
as Isarhocker(1 ep)
as Sandrowski
as Richy
as Strotzki
as Frenssen(6 eps)
as Rick Bandora(4 eps)
as Rudi Sasse(1 ep)
as Horst Peters(1 ep)
as Schwab(1 ep)
as Otto
as Jaeger's Assistant
as Otto Schablowski(13 eps)
as Frenssen
as Dirk(1 ep)
as Dirk Teichert(1 ep)
as Daniel Klein(1 ep)
as Branco Bulatovic(1 ep)
as Peter Bach(1 ep)
as Hanno(1 ep)
as Jochen Brenner(1 ep)
as Rolf Greiner(1 ep)
as Wölfchen(6 eps)
as Hennes(1 ep)
as Stömmer(1 ep)
as Sigi Talm(1 ep)
as Bernd(1 ep)
as Self(1 ep)
as Wilfried Wilcke(1 ep)
as Lemmy(1 ep)
as Detlef(1 ep)
as Sandrowski(1 ep)
as Randy(1 ep)
as Ulli Krueger(1 ep)
as Leon Mickler(1 ep)
as junger Mann(1 ep)