Jürgen Heinrich

Biography

Jürgen Heinrich (born August 20, 1945, in Groß Godems) is a German actor, voice actor, and director.

After World War II, Jürgen Heinrich was raised by his mother, the politician Emma Heinrich, as his father was presumed missing in action. Following an apprenticeship as a steel shipbuilder, he began studying acting at the Theaterhochschule Leipzig in 1965. While still a student, he was cast in the DEFA production Abschied (Farewell) and subsequently appeared in numerous film and television productions throughout the GDR era.

In 1982, Heinrich left the SED (Socialist Unity Party of Germany) in protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. As a result, he was blacklisted from his profession and supported himself for several years through odd jobs before being forced to emigrate to West Berlin in 1985. There, he was engaged by theaters such as the Schiller Theater and appeared in films including Der Himmel über Berlin (Wings of Desire) and Ein Richter für Berlin (A Judge for Berlin). He also took on guest roles in television series such as Tatort, Der Alte, and Praxis Bülowbogen.

Heinrich achieved nationwide fame starting in 1992 through his starring role as Chief Inspector Andreas Wolff in the series Wolffs Revier. For this series, he and the production team were awarded the Adolf Grimme Prize. Later, he also made his directorial debut on the show.

Alongside his acting career, Heinrich has worked as a voice actor for many years. He has lent his German voice to actors such as Fred Dryer in the series Hunter, as well as James Belushi, William Hurt, Samuel L. Jackson, and James Cromwell.

Jürgen Heinrich has been married since the 1970s and resides in Berlin. His children, Fabian Heinrich and Katja Heinrich, are also active as actors.