Jürgen Heinrich

Jürgen Heinrich (born August 20, 1945, in Groß Godems) is a German actor, voice actor, and director. After World War II, Jürgen Heinrich was raised by his mother, the politician Emma Heinrich, as his father was presumed missing in action. Following an apprenticeship as a steel shipbuilder, he began studying acting at the Theaterhochschule Leipzig in 1965. While still a student, he was cast in the DEFA production *Abschied* (Farewell) and subsequently appeared in numerous film and television productions throughout the GDR era. In 1982, Heinrich left the SED (Socialist Unity Party of Germany) in protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. As a result, he was blacklisted from his profession and supported himself for several years through odd jobs before being forced to emigrate to West Berlin in 1985. There, he was engaged by theaters such as the Schiller Theater and appeared in films including *Der Himmel über Berlin* (Wings of Desire) and *Ein Richter für Berlin* (A Judge for Berlin). He also took on guest roles in television series such as *Tatort*, *Der Alte*, and *Praxis Bülowbogen*. Heinrich achieved nationwide fame starting in 1992 through his starring role as Chief