Jaecki Schwarz
Sputnik is 75 years old
The MDR celebrates the actor with "Legends – An Evening for Jaecki Schwarz" (28.2., 8:15 pm)
© MDR / Steffen Junghans
Jaecki Schwarz made a name for himself above all as "Police Call" commissioner Schmücke. Today, Friday, he celebrates his 75th birthday.
The Berlin actor Jaecki Schwarz celebrates his 75th birthday today, Friday (February 26th). As Chief Detective Herbert Schmücke, he and Wolfgang Winkler (1943-2019) played his way into the hearts of crime fans as Herbert Schneider from 1996 to 2013 in "Polizeiruf 110" (Das Erste) from Halle (Saale).
The 50th and final case of the investigative duo, "Polizeiruf 110: Catwalk to Death", was broadcast on March 3, 2013. "This farewell is like death. I can only mourn when the shock is over. It will be a very sad moment," Schwarz told the "Bild" newspaper at the time. In the same year the two actors received the Golden Hen for their life's work.
Another long-term crime role
And another long-standing crime series role is closely associated with Jaecki Schwarz. In "A strong team" (ZDF) he has played the former police officer Sputnik since the first episode in 1994, who surprises viewers with a new activity in every episode as a running gag.
The ex-colleague of Detective Inspector Otto Garber (played by Florian Martens, 62, since 1994) is part of the "strong team", which since the death of actress Maja Maranow (1961-2016) also includes Inspector Linett Wachow (played by Stefanie Stappenbeck since 2016 , 46), with schnapps, ironic remarks or with advice and action to the side. Jaecki Schwarz was seen, among other things, as a matchmaker, grave speaker, debt counselor, operator of an Ostalgie bar, currywurst stall, Kettcarbahn, mini golf course, a gourmet temple or as the leaseholder of the police canteen.
Social Commitment
Jaecki Schwarz has long been committed to the rights of homosexuals. In 2011 he was the patron of the 18th federal seminar of the employee network VelsPol Germany, the association of lesbian and gay police officers in Germany. Since August 2011 he has been an honorary member of the VelsPol von Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. Most recently he was part of the #actout initiative, with which 185 artists called for more diversity in roles in the "SZ-Magazin" in February 2021.
The MDR celebrates its star on Sunday (February 28th) from 8:15 pm with the portrait show "Legends – An Evening for Jaecki Schwarz".