Audience Favorite Harald Krassnitzer Turns 65
Harald Krassnitzer was born in 1960 in Gröding near Salzburg. Parallel to an apprenticeship as a freight forwarding agent, he completed acting training at the Elisabethbühne in Salzburg from 1984 to 1988. This was followed by engagements at the Graz Schauspielhaus, the Vienna Volkstheater, and the Saarbrücken State Theater. After returning to the Volkstheater, where he was engaged from 1992 to 1995, the Salzburger soon found his true habitat: television.
The Breakthrough
His breakthrough came in 1997 as the successor to Bavarian actor Gerhart Lippert as "Der Bergdoktor". Until 2005, the multiple Romy Award winner was seen in the role of Dr. Justus Hallstein, followed by "Der Winzerkönig". In 1999, "Tatort", the German-language television crime series produced since 1970, was expanded with Krassnitzer as Chief Inspector Moritz Eisner to include an Austrian investigative team. In around 60 cases, he has since solved crimes, with Adele Neuhauser as Bibi Fellner as a congenial partner by his side since 2011. This spring, however, the two announced that they would resign from their duties at their own request next year. Three films with the charming duo, whose successors are not yet known, will still be seen until the end of 2026.
But even outside the TV crime landscape, the actor was seen in film and cinema productions alongside individual theater appearances, including as a mother-in-law's favorite in "Der Ferienarzt auf Korfu" (2003), in "Der Bär ist los" (2008) alongside Erwin Steinhauer, or as "Engel mit beschränkter Haftung" (2024) alongside Maresi Riegner. Also last year, he played a leading role alongside his wife, German actress Ann-Kathrin Kramer, in the emotional drama "Aus dem Leben". The two are nominated in the "Duo" category for the German Acting Award 2025, with the decision to be made in the fall.
Doctor, Winemaker, Commissioner: ORF Honors "Tatort" Star Harald Krassnitzer on His Birthday
In addition to his film and television engagements, Krassnitzer is involved in various charitable causes. The star has long been a supporter of the aid organization AMREF Austria (African Medical and Research Foundation), acted for the victim protection organization Weißer Ring, and was involved in the "Voices of Refugees" at Heldenplatz in 2015. As an avowed social democrat, Krassnitzer has also repeatedly participated in SPÖ election campaigns. In 2022, he and his wife took over the patronage of the association Chance 8 in their adopted home of Wuppertal, Germany, which supports emotionally and socially burdened children.
The ORF honors the TV favorite in advance with reruns of some productions: On September 5, ORF III will feature a three-part film evening with the comedy "Der Wettbewerb", the psychological thriller "Tödliche Gier", and the family drama "Meine fremde Frau". The following day, the channel will show the "Land der Berge" two-parter "Vom Großglockner zum Meer mit Harald Krassnitzer", in which the native of Salzburg hikes along the Alpe-Adria-Trail. On September 7, ORF III will feature the black comedy "Feine Dame", while ORF 2 will show the Rosamunde Pilcher adaptation "Der lange Weg zum Glück".
(APA/Red.)
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