Richard Krüger

Richard Krüger (born August 3, 1930 in Gauernitz; died August 26, 1995 in Prenzlau) was a German actor who became famous for his memorable roles in DEFA fairy tale films of the 1950s. As a diminutive actor, he created impressive characters that remain unforgettable to this day. One of his most important works is the fairy tale film DAS SINGENDE, KLINGENDE BÄUMCHEN (The Singing, Ringing Tree, 1957, directed by Francesco Stefani), in which he played the role of the evil dwarf. The film was made at the DEFA studios in Babelsberg and is one of the best-known and stylistically outstanding fairy tale films of the GDR. Krüger had previously appeared in Zwerg Nase (1953) and Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot (1955), where he made a lasting impression with his distinctive appearance and intense acting. His life story remained shrouded in mystery for a long time. Research suggests that Richard Krüger was most likely identical to Hermann Emmrich, who lived in Prenzlau and died there in 1995. Despite his successful career in fairy tale films, he remained a mysterious actor whose biography has only been partially preserved. Richard Krüger's work remains one of the most influential performances in German fairy tale films to this day. His roles played a decisive role in ensuring that DEFA productions are remembered.