FILE - In this June 24, 2008 file photo German actor Goetz George poses for a photo in Hamburg, Germany. As it was announced Sunday evening, June 26, 2016, George died a week ago at the age of 77. (AP Photo/Fabian Bimmer, file)
June 27, 2016 - 3:08 AM
BERLIN - German actor Goetz George, much beloved for his role as hard-nosed but good-hearted inspector in the country's iconic "Tatort" TV crime series, has died. He was 77.
The actor died June 19 after a short illness, but his agent didn't immediately release further information, the dpa news agency reported.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday called him "one of the greatest German actors ... We will miss him."
George was especially popular for his role as tough working-class inspector Horst Schimanski from the country's industrial Ruhr Valley region, which he played 48 times in a time period of 32 years.
He also starred in many movies, including his role as the Nazis' death camp doctor Joseph Mengele in "Nichts als die Wahrheit."
News from © The Associated Press, 2016