Reinhard Michalke

Reinhard Michalke (born June 12, 1934 in Gleiwitz, died December 17, 2001 in Berlin) was a German actor who left behind a diverse body of work, primarily in DEFA films and on GDR television. After completing his training in Berlin, he began his career in theater before regularly working in film and television from the late 1950s onwards. He achieved his greatest fame through the role of Hans in the fairy tale film DAS ZAUBERMÄNNCHEN (1960, directed by Erich Engel). This DEFA production, based on a Grimm fairy tale, became a classic and made Michalke known to young and older viewers alike. He also appeared in numerous other films, including Das Lied der Matrosen (The Sailors' Song, 1958, directed by Kurt Maetzig and Günter Reisch), Das Leben beginnt (Life Begins, 1960, directed by Heiner Carow), and Auf der Sonnenseite (On the Sunny Side, 1962, directed by Ralf Kirsten). Later, he played in Verflixte Bande (1964, directed by Hans Heinrich) and Karlemanns Brücke (1975, directed by Wolfgang Luderer), among others. Michalke also had a strong presence on television. He took on roles in Der Staatsanwalt hat das Wort (The Prosecutor Has the Floor), appearing in several episodes such as Der Fall Valentin Erbsand (The Valentin Erbsand Case, 1971) and Verurteilt auf Bewährung (Sentenced on Probation, 1973). He also appeared in the crime series Polizeiruf 110, for example in Ein Fall ohne Zeugen (1975, directed by Helmut Krätzig) and Bitte zahlen (1976, directed by Hans-Joachim Hildebrandt). He was also popular in the series Rentner haben niemals Zeit (Pensioners Never Have Time, 1978–1979). His last works included the series Der Sohn des Schützen (The Shooter's Son, 1985, directed by Hans Knötzsch) and the voice role in Die Spur führt zum Silbersee (The Trail Leads to Silver Lake, 1990).