Skip to content
MovieCove
Ralf Richter

Ralf Richter

Actor · Died September 15, 2026, aged 69 · Essen, Germany

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.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 17, 1957
Died
September 15, 2026 (aged 69)
From
Essen, Germany
Works as
Actor
Titles
17 on MovieCove · 129 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 25% in 30 days

What are Ralf Richter's films like?

Across their 9 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
40%
Self
19%
Morality
19%
Power
8%
Survival
8%
Society
7%
Friendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 6 · Serious 2 · Dark 1

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 6 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 2 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Shadow
1 of 3
Trickster
1 of 3
Ally
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
5
Joyful
3
Warm
4
Thrilling
3
Tense
2
Other
2

How their films linger

Fun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet1
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ralf Richter's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 6 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ralf Richter's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

129 credits, 17 with a MovieCove page; 24 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Our Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Fresh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Bad Director (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Compagnon Sommerwind

  • Die Passion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Barabbas

  • Sky Sharks(2020)

    as Joseph Langner

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Enfant Terrible(2020)

    as Blumenpeter

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Lebendig skalpiert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • The Last Cop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Schore Siggi

  • Stories of the Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Tal der Skorpione(2019)

    as Hans Joachim (HaJo) Jendriczek

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • SOKO Potsdam(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Boris Strahlkowski

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Radio Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Onkel Josef

  • 1000 Mexicans(2016)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Im Winter, so schön (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Butcher

  • Nichtlustig - die Serie! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Das fehlende Grau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Half Brothers(2015)

    as Barmann Zum Leuchtturm

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Rentnercops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Ralle Pulver

  • Baggerführer Bob (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Not My Day(2014)

    as Langer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Nachtwalzer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Wirt

  • The Devil loves Rock N Roll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Kalle Grabowski

  • Ohne Gnade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Tarzan

  • Circus Halligalli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Turbo & Tacho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Charly Wischollek

  • Heldt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sven Lattbeck

  • Und weg bist Du (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Receptionist

  • Vater aus heiterem Himmel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Jenninger

  • Fahr zur Hölle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • Zeche is nich - Sieben Blicke auf das Ruhrgebiet 2010 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Eddi

  • Village People - Auf der Jagd nach dem Nazigold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Hehler

  • SOKO Stuttgart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Kai Meerbusch

  • Kopf oder Zahl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Ron

  • Chaostage - We Are Punks! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Herr Krupp

  • The Crocodiles(2009)

    as Chief Police Officer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Finnischer Tango (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Sexshop-Besitzer

  • Spiel mir das Lied und du bist tot! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Grandpa St. John

  • Streets of Rio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Horst

  • Lutter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Pätzold

  • Goldene Zeiten(2006)

    as Harald "Bullet Harry" Grabowski

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Die ProSieben Märchenstunde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Bergmann

  • Mondmann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as General

  • Urmel aus dem Eis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Dr. Zwengelmann

  • Pastewka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Ralf Richter

  • TV total Stock Car Crash Challenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 11 episodes · as Rennfahrer

  • Cowgirl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Peter Blessing

  • Dirty Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Tankwart

  • SOKO Köln (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Falk Fechner · as Peter Bullerjahn

  • Was nicht passt, wird passend gemacht (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 20 episodes · as Karl-Heinz 'Kalle' Langmann

  • Mädchen Nr. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Ilia

  • Alarm für Cobra 11 - Einsatz für Team 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Rodde Rodinsky

  • If It Don't Fit, Use a Bigger Hammer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Kalle

  • Die Rosenheim-Cops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Marek

  • Ladies and Gentleman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Hallo Robbie! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Rainer Kanitz

  • Suck My Dick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Hyde

  • Planet Alex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Barkeeper

  • Eine Hochzeit und (K)ein Todesfall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Richie

  • Marmor, Stein & Eisen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Fußball ist unser Leben(2000)

    as Mike

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Geisterjäger John Sinclair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Collins

  • Bang Boom Bang - Ein todsicheres Ding(1999)

    as Karl-Heinz 'Kalle' Grabowski

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Cry of the Butterfly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Tom

  • Männer aus zweiter Hand(1999)

    as Dario

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Hausmeister Krause – Ordnung muss sein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Polizist

  • SK Kölsch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Herbie Raiko

  • The Polar Bear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Zivilpolizist

  • Liebe mich bis in den Tod (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Krause

  • Gomez: Heads or Tails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Ein Bär für alle Fälle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Axel

  • If It Don't Fit, Use a Bigger Hammer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Karl Heinz Kaminski

  • Küstenwache (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mafia, Pizza, Razzia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Bulle #1

  • Eine fast perfekte Liebe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Haucke

  • Mit einem Bein im Grab (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Herr Schlömer

  • Peanuts - Die Bank zahlt alles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Mario

  • Happy Weekend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Engel

  • Alarm for Cobra 11: The Motorway Police (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank · as Hannes Nowak · as Raucherkalle · as Wolf Turowski

  • Die Katze von Kensington (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Reynolds

  • Der Trip - Die nackte Gitarre 0,5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Unser Charly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Kalle

  • Eine mörderische Liebe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Jan Becker

  • Der schwarze Fluch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Gangster

  • Für alle Fälle Stefanie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Blacky Berg

  • Balko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Winfried Dragowski

  • Fatale Mutterliebe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Hoffmann

  • Zwei Brüder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Inspector Rex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Hubert Nielsen

  • Die Kommissarin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Kai Zorski · as Martin Gerlandt

  • Im Namen des Gesetzes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Eddie Steinbach · as Rechtsanwalt Dr. Müller-Dohme

  • Alles außer Mord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Fritz Koller

  • Die Wache (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Brockmann · as Michelle Laroche

  • Bella Block (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Polizist

  • Wildbach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Theo

  • Bistro, Bistro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 13 episodes · as Victor

  • Freunde fürs Leben (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Herr Höhnisch

  • Cosimas Lexikon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Klaus Borgmann

  • Glückliche Reise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Eichborn

  • Es wäre gut, daß ein Mensch würde umbracht für das Volk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Petrus

  • Novak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 18 episodes · as Schmitzchen

  • Manta - Der Film(1991)

    as Polizist Wolle

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Superstau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Hermann Pacholke

  • Alles im Griff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Günter 'Bolle' Bolkowski

  • Café Meineid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Henning Hahn8

  • Dobrodružství kriminalistiky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Jin McEachen

  • Georg Elser - Einer aus Deutschland(1989)

    as SA-Führer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Eurocops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Harald Breitner

  • Ausgeklinkt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Pfleger Detlef

  • The Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Britz

  • Die Hausmeisterin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Isarhocker

  • The Crack Connection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Sandrowski

  • Verlierer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Richy

  • Rosowski (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Wöhlunds Rache (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Zielscheiben (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Strotzki

  • Das Boot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 6 episodes · as Frenssen

  • Pogo 1104 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 4 episodes · as Rick Bandora

  • Der Fahnder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Horst Peters · as Rudi Sasse · as Schwab

  • Out of Order (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Otto

  • Decoder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Jaeger's Assistant

  • Rote Erde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 13 episodes · as Otto Schablowski

  • Das Boot(1981)

    as Frenssen

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • A Case For Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Branco Bulatovic · as Daniel Klein · as Dirk · as Dirk Teichert · as Hanno · as Jochen Brenner · as Peter Bach · as Rolf Greiner

  • Tour de Ruhr (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 6 episodes · as Wölfchen

  • Auf Achse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Hennes

  • SOKO München (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Sigi Talm · as Stömmer

  • The Old Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Bernd

  • Police Call 110(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Tatort(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Detlef · as junger Mann · as Lemmy · as Leon Mickler · as Randy · as Sandrowski · as Ulli Krueger · as Wilfried Wilcke

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 129 titles from 1970 to 2026; peak year 1999.

Biggest box office

Not My Day (2014)

$7.2M worldwide

Highest rated

Bang Boom Bang - Ein todsicheres Ding (1999)

Midcredits 93rd

Film career

19702026

Peak 1999 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1981Screen debut· Das Boot
  • 1999Career best· Bang, Boom, Bang

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting129 of 129: 129 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score39th

By decade

1970s4 · acting1980s21 · acting1990s43 · acting2000s31 · acting2010s23 · acting2020s7 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 16 roles
819611

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Ralf Richter's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 41st percentile, the median of all 14; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 17 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 17 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Sky Sharks (2020)

78th percentile spread · 63% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Das Boot (1981)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Ralf Richter work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ralf Richter's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Christian Becker shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles