- At the peak of the Boer War
Of course, it's unfair to reduce Jan Josef Liefers (60) to his role as Prof. Dr. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Boerne in the Münster "Tatort". Born in Dresden on August 8, 1964, the artist is a true multitalent.
As an actor, he is considered one of the most versatile comedians in German film and television. Despite his preference for ironically broken characters, he has proven his ability to handle serious roles in the Grimme Prize-winning TV two-parter "Das Wunder von Lengede" (2003) and the film adaptation of Uwe Tellkamp's (55) bestseller "Der Turm" from 2012.
Like his wife Anna Loos (53), he is also a serious musician. While Loos replaced the late singer Tamara Danz (1952-1996) in the band Silly for many years, Liefers has been touring regularly with his band Radio Doria (formerly Jan Josef Liefers & Oblivion) since 2006. He also uses his distinctive voice extensively as a voice actor in American animated films and as a narrator in over 30 audio plays and audiobooks.
Furthermore, Jan Josef Liefers is politically engaged and involved in many projects, often initiated by himself, to promote social justice, fight poverty, or encourage sporting activities among young people. For his exceptional commitment, he was even awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 2011.
Prof. Dr. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Boerne - The Role of a Lifetime
Whether Jan Josef Liefers likes it or not, Prof. Dr. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Boerne, whom he has been portraying alongside Axel Prahl (64) for over 20 years, is likely the role of his life. The role of the snobbish forensic pathologist has made him a beloved figure among audiences. Over time, he has perfected this quirky character.
Ironically, he was not originally intended for the role. As the scriptwriting duo Stefan Cantz (68) and Jan Hinter (72), who developed the character constellation of the Münster "Tatort" and a large part of the scripts, reported in an interview with the "Tagesspiegel", the actor Ulrich Noethen (64) was initially approached for the role. "But after he saw the first concepts, he turned it down," Cantz recalled with amusement. "So the idea with Jan Josef Liefers came up very quickly. The decision was only made shortly before production began."
The Real-Life Model of the Professor
Jan Hinter added in the conversation that the idea for a Münster "Tatort" at the time was a "political decision". "The region of Münster was to be strengthened medially in NRW," the author explained. "And because there is a highly renowned forensic pathologist working in Münster, the idea for the figure of Professor Boerne came about, who was to be placed equally alongside the classic commissioner."
Based on a Real PersonThe real-life model for this character was Prof. Bernd Brinkmann (85), who served as the director of the Münster forensic medicine department from 1987 to 2007. His fame grew significantly due to his role as an expert witness in the sensational trial against weather presenter Jörg Kachelmann (66) from 2010 to 2011. In several interviews, Brinkmann insisted that he rarely watched the "Münster" crime series despite the references to his person. To the "Westfälischen Nachrichten", he said about the figure of Prof. Dr. Dr. Boerne: "He is not like me at all."
Legendary Boerne Outfit as DisguiseFrom the beginning, Jan Josef Liefers made sure that his comedic character had as little resemblance to his real self as possible. The now-legendary outer appearance of the self-absorbed forensic doctor, consisting of impeccable suits, a conservative 1950s-style glasses, and a distinctive Henriquatre beard, was developed by him. According to "Tag24", he said in the TV talk show "Riverboat": "I also like to play other roles, and I thought, 'You have to be careful that you're not completely mixed up with the character'." After all, even the least popular "Tatort" is still watched millions of times. "I came up with the beard, glasses, suit, and tie because I'm almost never seen like that in private," said the actor.
He revealed to the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" that he even got married with his Boerne beard in 2004, as the wedding with Anna Loos took place during the filming of the Münster "Tatort". Initially, his plan to not be recognized by "Tatort" fans in public without the Boerne costume worked. However, this effect has since disappeared, as he is now frequently seen in public with his private look. "Today, people recognize me even in the swimming pool or on the beach with wet hair and in swimwear," said Liefers. "People are no longer fooled by the absence of the beard. It has even happened to me that I was photographed speeding and received the evidence photo in quintuple form - with a request for an autograph. However, I still had to pay the fine."
Boerne is Not LiefersIn an interview with "Focus", he emphasized that he is very happy to be able to play "many different roles besides Boerne, with which I am also successful." Because: "The fear of actors being pigeonholed into a single character is not entirely unfounded." Prof. Dr. Dr. Boerne is a real pain, loved by the audience, but "in real life, you wouldn't want to have such a person as your boss. You'd go crazy."
To the magazine "Berliner Leben", he described his most famous role as follows: "He is a real anachronism, wealthy, a snob, a connoisseur, an arrogant guy, well-mannered, usually smart, but often also quite stupid. He is quick-witted, but a moment later he has an endless delay, verbally a sharpshooter, but emotionally a third-grader, a Wagnerian, politically incorrect, and professionally brilliant." A figure that polarizes like this would probably be rewritten in scripts until no one could take offense anymore. "I find it beautiful that he exists," said Jan Josef Liefers. "It's a joy to play him, but he has little to do with me privately."
Despite his iconic role as Prof. Dr. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Boerne in the Münster "Tatort", Jan Josef Liefers' talents extend beyond the screen. His versatility was evident in his Grimme Prize-winning performance in "Das Wunder von Lengede" (2003).
The character of Prof. Boerne, although initially intended for Ulrich Noethen, was remarkably molded by Liefers, adopting a distinct look and demeanor that set him apart from his real-life persona.
