Klaus J. Behrendt to leave ‘Tatort’ role after 30 years

German actor Klaus J. Behrendt will depart from his long-running role as Chief Inspector Max Ballauf in the Cologne-based crime series ‘Tatort’ in autumn 2026, marking the end of a 30-year tenure.

Behrendt, who began his television career in 1989, rose to prominence as the partner of Dietmar Bär’s character, Freddy Schenk. Beyond his work on ‘Tatort’, his career includes roles in productions such as ‘Das Wunder von Lengede’, ‘Der Untergang der Pamir’, and the ZDF series ‘Kanzleramt’.

Privately, Behrendt lives in Berlin with his wife, Karin Deininger. He maintains a patchwork family consisting of children from his first marriage and a child from his current relationship.