Hardy Kruger death: A Bridge Too Far star dies ‘suddenly and unexpectedly’ aged 93

Actor was also known for films including ‘The One That Got Away’ and ‘The Wild Geese’

German actor Hardy Kruger, photographed in 2013 (Getty Images)

German film star Hardy Kruger has died suddenly at the age of 93.

The actor was known for his role in adventure movies including A Bridge Too Far and The Wild Geese.

Kruger’s death was confirmed by the actor’s Hamburg-based literary agent, Peter Kaefferlein, who announced today that Kruger died “suddenly and unexpectedly” on Wednesday (19 January) at his home in California.

Considered one of the biggest German actors of post-war cinema, Kruger featured in a number of noteworthy English-language projects, including the 1957 movie The One That Got Away. The film saw Kruger portray a German fighter pilot who attempts to escape Allied captivity.

He also starred alongside John Wayne in the Howard Hawks comedy Hatari! , and opposite James Stewart, Peter Finch and Ernest Borgnine in 1965’s The Flight of the Phoenix.

Also among the revered filmmakers to have collaborated with Kruger was Stanley Kubrick, who cast the actor as Captain Potzdorf in 1975’s Barry Lyndon.

Kruger married his third wife, Anita Park, in 1978. After retiring from acting in the late 1980s, he went on to direct documentaries and publish a series of books.

Kruger’s agency said in a statement: “His warmth of heart, joie de vivre, and his unshakable sense of justice will make him unforgettable.”