| The Old Fox (Der Alte) | |
|---|---|
| Format | Crime / Drama |
| Starring | Siegfried Lowitz Rolf Schimpf Walter Kreye |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| No. of episodes | 340 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Helmut Ringelmann |
| Running time | 60 Minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ZDF |
| Original run | 5 April 1977 – current |
The Old Fox (original German title "Der Alte", lit. "The Old Man") is a German television series created in 1976, but first on the air in 1977, now running for over three decades.
It depicts the crime solving activities of three police detectives, Kommissar Erwin Köster, played by Siegfried Lowitz until 1985, from 1986 until 2006 Chief Inspector Leo Kress, played by Rolf Schimpf and from 2007 Chief Inspector Rolf Herzog played by Walter Kreye.
Humble and unassuming in appearance, chief detective Köster is the "Old Fox". By understanding the psychological make-up of his suspect, the "Old Fox" craftily leads the criminal into his own trap, to the great surprise of his often perplexed staff. The "Old Fox" has his own way of working. Wearied by the negative elements he has witnessed so often in society, the "Old Fox" provides a unique insight into human nature.
After over 250 episodes "The Old Fox" is a living legend in German television history. And enthusiasm for the inspector, who is a familiar figure on TV screens from Egypt to Venezuela, shows no sign of abating.
Armed with the wisdom of age and experience, Chief Inspector Kress hunts down criminals in Munich, assisted by his colleagues Werner Riedmann, played by Markus Böttcher, Gerd Heymann, played by Michael Ande, and Axel Richter, played by Pierre Sanoussi-Bliss.