Remembering Alfred Struwe

Alfred Struwe was born on April 22, 1927 in Marienburg, East Prussia. Alfred was the son of a postman and one of six siblings. Early on, he became interested in film and acting. In the children's holiday camps of the Hitler Youth, was first time he trod upon the boards in plays. His career aspiration was clear, in 1944 when all the theaters were closed; he was on his way to Gdansk to speak to the general manager. Alfred Struwe said later in life, "But instead he went to the theater of the Reich Labor Service, then into the military.” After attending military school in Hanover, he worked with other young comrades who were sent to fight during the last days of the war. In 1945, he returned to his family in Leipzig. Alfred still wanted to become an actor, but his father was against it. He instead was enrolled in a police school, controlled by the Communists in 1948 he was released from his commitment. From then on he was free to pursue his true passion. In addition to his police training Struve had already played in amateur theater and took private acting lessons. In 1949 he went to the theater Greiz. This was followed by engagements in Brandenburg, Zittau, Cottbus, Karl-Marx-Stadt, and Dresden. His first film appearance was in the DEFA co-production “Leuchtfeuer” (1954). In the 1960s he became familiar to film audiences and was best remembered as the navigator in the 1976 film “Im Staub der Sterne”. In the 1970s he turned to East German television and was seen regularly in various roles. He is best remembered for his role as Dr. Wittkugel, the grumpy dentist in the “Praktiken des Dr. Wittkugel” (1985). He continued to appear on stage and in television after his retirement. He died on February 2, 1998 in Potsdame. Struwe’s wife Brigitte was a dancer, and their daughter Catharina Struwe is also a theater actress. Stuwe appeared in two Euro-westerns “Ulzana” (1974) and “The Long Ride to School” (1981). Today we remember Alfred Struwe on what would have been his 85^th birthday.