German Hollywood actor Jürgen Prochnow's career

... is what the crew of the German submarine U-96 calls its captain, as he doesn't have a name. In Wolfgang Petersen's global film hit "Das Boot," Prochnow landed the role of his life: a gruff man of integrity, tough as nails but with a heart. In the charismatic role, the actor played his way into the audience's hearts — and made the leap to Hollywood.

Following studies in Essen, the young actor performed on German stages for many years before finally stepping in front of the camera. After appearing in TV roles, he was hired by prominent directors of the New German Cinema movement. In 1974, Reinhard Hauff gave Prochnow the role of a prisoner in the incarceration drama "Die Verrohung des Franz Blum" (The Brutalization of Franz Blum).

A year later, Jürgen Prochnow was part of the cast of one of New German Cinema's greatest successes: Volker Schlöndorff's film "The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum." In the political, press-critical film based on the story by Heinrich Böll, Prochnow plays the character of Ludwig Götten, who is publicly humiliated by a tabloid newspaper. At his side: Angela Winkler.

In the 1970s, before Prochnow was hired by Wolfgang Petersen for "Das Boot," the Berlin-born actor had a busy schedule in German movies and television. In the TV film "Frauensiedlung" (Women's Settlement) of 1976, he worked alongside Monika Bleibtreu. Here, too, he radiated his trademark blend of strength and sensitivity.

In 1977, "Die Konsequenz" (The Consequence) caused a scandal. Bringing the subject of homosexuality to the screen, director Wolfgang Petersen riled West Germany's moral guardians. The film was shown on TV only in an abridged version, and the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation declined to broadcast it at all. It was a further step in the career of Prochnow (left, next to Ernst Hannawald).

The worldwide success of Wolfgang Petersen's war film "Das Boot" drew Hollywood's attention to the charismatic German actor. Well-known directors offered him roles. In 1984, Prochnow (left) played alongside Patrick Stewart, Kyle MacLachlan and Max von Sydow in David Lynch's science fiction spectacle "Dune."

Hollywood wasn't the fulfillment of every dream though. Prochnow also joined several less successful, routine productions. That was probably why the actor repeatedly returned to German films, such as in 1990, when he joined Elizabeth Hurley in the maritime drama "Kill Cruise" (in German: "Der Skipper"). As always, Prochnow made a good impression on the waves, reminding audiences of "Das Boot."

But Jürgen Prochnow doggedly went on — also leaving his mark on 1990s cinema in the US. His sinewy appearance predestined the actor for roles requiring physical action, often in historical films. In director John Irvin's 1991 "Robin Hood" film, he convincingly embodied Sir Miles Folcanet.

In past years, Jürgen Prochnow has repeatedly turned up in major international productions, joined by European stars. In 2003, the German played a passenger on the ill-fated ferry "Estonia." The film "Baltic Storm" put Prochnow right back in his trusted elements: water, wind and storm.

Jürgen Prochnow, who turns 80 on June 10, has remained in demand. German moviegoers saw him in the 2015 film adaptation of Martin Suter's thriller novel "Die dunkle Seite des Mondes" (The Dark Side of the Moon). In it, Prochnow plays the former client of a business lawyer (Moritz Bleibtreu).

In 2017, Jürgen Prochnow returned to the big screen in the title role of the drama "Leanders Letzte Reise" (The Final Journey). It's about a 92-year-old's journey to Ukraine — and his own past. The multi-award-winning film is set during the Crimea crisis in 2014.

In 2018, the former theater star Prochnow was back on stage: At the Nibelung Festival in Worms, Prochnow played Etzel (Attila the Hun) in the play "Siegfrieds Erben" (Siegfried's Heirs) by the German-Turkish author Feridun Zaimoglu. Here, the Hun ruler can be seen after the massacre at his court.