Trivia

German character actor, best known as successor to Siegfried Lowitz in the TV crime series Der Alte (as Kriminalhauptkommissar Leo Kress).

Began his career after the war as an employee of the food manufacturing firm Hengstenberg.

Lengthy theatrical career from the late 50s with engagements in Lucerne and Berne, Switzerland, and in Germany at the Württembergisches Staatstheater Stuttgart, in Lübeck and Hamburg at the Künstlertheater and at the Hamburger Kammerspiele.

Son of naval offer Hans Schimpf (1897-1935).

Served as an artillery officer during World War II.

Schimpf was 83 years old when he retired in 2007.

In 2023, at the age of 99, he had to give up his two-room apartment in a retirement residence for financial reasons. He moved to a cheaper facility.

Schimpf was married to actress Ilse Zielstorff from 1968 until Zielstorff's death in May 2015. In June 2010, the couple moved to the Augustinum old people's home in Neufriedenheim in Munich, where Schimpf stayed until November 2023. Schimpf's wife Zielstorff had to move to a care-taking home because of dementia. In late 2023, Schimpf, at that time suffering from dementia himself, had to move to a different old people's home because of financial difficulties.

Television viewers know Schimpf best for his portrayal of Leo Kress in the ZDF crime series The Old Fox (German: Der Alte) from February 1986 to December 2007, as the first successor to the show's first lead actor Siegfried Lowitz. In December 2006 Schimpf stepped out of the show after having playing the lead character for over 20 years. His 222nd and last episode was filmed in December 2006. Episodes starring him were shown until December 2007.[4] However, he still appeared in a guest role as retired chief inspector Leo Kress in the 340th episode Taximörder in May 2009.

Schimpf also worked in dubbing roles, among them the German-speaking voice of actor Bela Lugosi.