German actor, born on September 8, 1930, in Zurich, Switzerland. He was raised in Maine, Germany. His father was an Italian surgeon, and his mother was a German nurse. He is considered one of the greatest veteran actors of European cinema. He wrote several bestsellers such as The Mice Killer (1992) and The Thief of Trastevere (1995). His singing career began with his solo program Al Dente (1994). He studied acting at the Otto-Falckenberg-Schule in Munich from 1953 to 1955. Since 1954, he has played leading and supporting roles in more than 200 film and television productions. He received Germany's Great Cross of Merit in 2001. His works include: The Tin Drum (1979), Rossini (1997), and Momo (1986).