RIP Horst Krause

Cult actor Horst Krause has died

His quirky village policeman made him famous

BILD

By Tanja May, Pith Pittelkau, Iris Rosendahl

9/8/2025

 

In the role of his life, he became his own brand. Now actor Horst Krause is dead. He died on Friday at the age of 83 in a retirement home in Teltow (Potsdam-Mittelmark), his family announced on Monday.

His actor colleague Roman Knižka wrote on Saturday evening at Instagram: "Hotte, you were a human being that can only exist once. (...). You make a heavy impression on our world, my friend. Your jokes were pretentious, your acting was not. I learned a lot from you. Thank you eternally. Listen, you will be missed, but stay."

Horst Krause suffered from various illnesses

BILD reaches Roman Knižka on the phone. He says: "Horst Krause has passed away, I am very sad about that. We had a close relationship, he was a mentor for me who accompanied me from the beginning of my career and supported me. We were very close and I will miss Horst."

Horst Krause had withdrawn from the public eye for a long time. According to BILD information, he suffered from various diseases. In the end, it was age. Krause is survived by a sister, three nephews and four nieces.

Horst Krause played Horst Krause

Horst Krause became cult in his role as village policeman Horst Krause, whom he embodied in no less than nine films from 2007 to 2022. The focus of the comedic stories was not on criminal cases, but on the private life of the police chief.

The motorcycle with sidecar became his trademark. Just like his grumpy manner, behind which he hid a big heart. Horst Krause plays Horst Krause.

The fact that the village policeman Horst Krause bears the same name as his actor goes back to an idea of director Bernd Böhlich (68). He said: “Why should the village policeman be called ‘Schulz’ if he looks like ‘Krause’? For me, it’s called Krause.”

The Krause films emerged as a side project from the crime series “Polizeiruf 110”, in which the actor was part of the Brandenburg team of investigators from 1996.

Krause starred in over 120 films

Horst Krause had his breakthrough in film in 1993 in the film "Wir kann auch anders ..." by director Detlev Buck (62) as Moritz "Most" Kipp in the leading role. For this he received the German Film Award. Since 1962, he has starred in over 120 film and television productions.

They were often eccentric characters who offended some people with their gruff manners, but under whose rough shell a soft core is hidden.

Krause described his idea of happiness as follows: "A good film shoot, for example, means happiness to me. Or a new friendly acquaintance. You have to be willing not to let the day overwhelm you, but to accept the day joyfully."

KRAUSE, Horst

Born: 12/18/1941, Bönhof, West Prussia, Germany

Died: 9/5/2025, Teltow, District of Potsdam-Mittelmark, Brandenburg, Germany

 

Horst Krause’s western – actor:

Karl May (TV) – 1992 (Meinhold)