In the year 2023, fans of "Tatort" and "Polizeiruf 110" were in for a rollercoaster ride. A bevy of changes and farewells rocked the beloved investigative teams, breaking the monotony that these long-running German series are known for.
Bidding Adieu
The year kicked off with actress Heike Makatsch (52) leaving "Tatort: Aus dem Dunkel" after five films in around eight years. Ellen Berlinger's (Makatsch's character) farewell was announced in a brief press release in June 2023. Her first case, a one-time "Tatort" event in 2016, was a hit, with an impressive 7.45 million viewers tuning in for her swan song.
Verena Altenberger (36), who played Munich investigator Elisabeth "Bessie" Eyckhoff, hung up her hat in "Polizeiruf 110" at the beginning of June. With "Polizeiruf 110: Paranoia," the crime series recorded the best market share in a decade, winning over 7.25 million viewers.
Saying Their Pieces
More partings are on the horizon for several Sunday crime stars. As of now, eight actors and actresses have announced their departure from the series in 2023.
NDR announced that Inspector Charlotte Lindholm, played by Maria Furtwängler (57), is making her way back to the LKA in Hanover after six stints outside the city. Furtwängler has been investigating for "Tatort" since 2002, with her first case in 2019. Her return to Hanover means a bitter farewell to her colleagues in Göttingen, especially her co-investigator Anaïs Schmitz (Florence Kasumba, 47). The final case in Göttingen, "Tatort: Geisterfahrt," will be shown on February 11.
In a surprising turn of events, NDR's head of fiction revealed that Franziska Weisz (43) is leaving "Tatort" after 13 cases and seven years. Weisz will appear for the final time as detective Julia Grosz on New Year's Day 2024 in "Tatort: Was bleibt" alongside Wotan Wilke Möhring (56), alias Inspector Thorsten Falke. Möhring will be partnering with a new investigator after the two solo episodes.
Dagmar Manzel (65), who has played Detective Chief Inspector Paula Ringelhahn since 2015, is also parting ways with "Tatort" at her own request. The Franconian crime thriller "Trotzdem" is set to air in 2024, marking the end of Ringelhahn's tenure. Another departure comes from Karin Hanczewski (41), who is leaving "Tatort" following 18 episodes as Karin Gorniak. Hanczewski will be last seen in "Tatort: Herz der Dunkelheit" in the beginning of 2025.
Joining the Exodus
The end of an era was announced when Axel Milberg (67) said goodbye to his signature role of investigator Klaus Borowski after more than 20 years in "Tatort." Milberg's last episode is scheduled for 2025.
Rick Okon (34) also announced his departure from Dortmund's "Tatort." Okon's last film will run in the spring of 2024. Jörg Hartmann (54) and Stefanie Reinsperger (35) will continue to investigate as a duo in their roles of Peter Faber and Rosa Herzog.
Moving On
Not all news is gloomy in the world of German crime procedurals. Some new faces have emerged as the year draws to a close.
Most recently, the German-Polish team of "Polizeiruf 110" impressed with strong ratings in mid-November. The new constellation, fronted by chief inspector Vincent Ross (André Kaczmarczyk, 37), saw Commissioner Alexandra Luschke (Gisa Flake, 38) join the ranks. Karl Rogov, played by actor Frank Leo Schröder (born 1961), debuted in February in "Polizeiruf 110: Der Gott des Bankrotts."
Patrick Güldenberg (44) also marked his arrival as the new Bremerhaven detective Robert Petersen, who joined the Bremen "Tatort" team for the "Donuts" case. It is not yet known when he will next be seen.
As investigators past and present prepare to say their farewells, new talents bring a breath of fresh air to these long-running series. Keeping the spirit of these beloved shows alive, the newcomers are here to weave their own chapters in the ever-evolving story of crime and justice.
