Crime icon Heinz Baumann dies at the age of 95

The actor Heinz Baumann, who became popular with series such as "Adelheid and her Mörder" and "Soko 5113", has died. He was one of the most famous TV faces of the last decades. Baumann fell asleep peacefully in Munich on Saturday, the artist agency Hahlweg announced on behalf of the family. Baumann is best known as a crime actor.

From 1987 he determined in the ZDF series "Soko 5113" first as chief inspector, later as private detective Jürgen Sudmann. In 1993 he also took up the trail of crooks and villains on ARD. In "Adelheid and her Mörder" Baumann played the somewhat goofy chief inspector Ewald Strobel alongside Evelyn Hamann, who was only able to solve his cases with the help of his resourceful secretary Adelheid. Both series became huge successes.

Baumann was born in 1928 in a small village near Oldenburg. His father was a ship's carpenter, his mother earned her living as a housekeeper. He himself dreamed of flying – he wanted to be a test pilot. But after the Second World War these hopes were dashed. Instead, Baumann embarked on another adventure: he became an actor.

The film soon drew attention to the handsome young man. In 1960, Baumann celebrated a highly acclaimed debut alongside Liselotte Pulver in the feature film Das Spukschloss im Spessart. Other roles followed, especially on television.

In 1979 he starred as Hugo Weinschenk in the eleven-part film Die Buddenbrooks. In 1993 Heinrich Breloer hired him as SPD politician Herbert Wehner ("Wehner - The Untold Story").

Baumann was later able to play out his comedic side in particular in "Adelheid und ihr Mörder". For this he was awarded the Bavarian Television Prize in 2002.