Munich – He was a true Bavarian original. A charming grumbler, one of the greatest folk actors: Walter Sedlmayr. On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, he would have celebrated his 100th birthday. Although he was brutally murdered almost 36 years ago, his presence is still felt everywhere in Munich.
The Cunning Bavarian: Sedlmayr’s Signature Role
Sedlmayr, the son of a tobacco merchant and a housewife, initially performed in theaters and Heimatfilms after the war. His breakthrough came with his role as Theodor Hierneis, King Ludwig II’s personal chef, in the film ‘Theodor Hierneis or: How to Become a Former Court Chef’.
He was a man of the people, without airs and graces.
Television series such as ‘Der Millionenbauer’ and ‘Polizeiinspektion 1’ have long achieved cult status. The cunning Bavarian – that was his signature role. As Inspector Franz Josef Schöninger, he ensured law and order in the old town. ‘Polizeiinspektion 1’ was filmed at Balanstraße/corner Bazeillesstraße in Haidhausen. In reality, there is no police station in that apartment building. Instead, the Old Town Watch, which served as the model for the series, is located on Hochbrückenstraße.
A Friendship Forged on Set
One person who fondly remembers the filming of ‘Polizeiinspektion 1’ is Sean-Claudius Bauer. ‘He took me there when I was twelve years old,’ says the now 57-year-old. As a boy, he was a fan of Walter Sedlmayr. So, at the age of eleven, he looked up the address and phone number in the phone book, found them, and called.
Walter Sedlmayr actually picked up. Bauer wanted to hang up immediately. ‘I’m sorry, I’m so excited, I have to hang up,’ he stammered. ‘Stay on the line,’ Sedlmayr replied.
Later, Bauer visited him at his then home on Josef-Frankl-Straße in Feldmoching to get an autograph. A friendship developed between the teenager and the actor, lasting many years. ‘He was a man of the people, without star airs,’ says Sean-Claudius Bauer. Sedlmayr was a perfectionist, someone who could be irascible but calmed down just as quickly. ‘He was a social person,’ says Bauer. ‘Always courteous and never malicious.’
A Legacy Honored: Statue and Memorial
Currently, the 57-year-old is looking for a location to erect a Sedlmayr statue. He also plans, together with the State Chancellery, a memorial plaque for his friend. On his 100th birthday, he will place a poster and lay a wreath at Walter-Sedlmayr-Platz in Feldmoching. A bouquet will also be laid at the cemetery in Bogenhausen, where Sedlmayr found his final resting place.
A wrought-iron cross adorns the family grave. The actor died in July 1990, brutally murdered. His private secretary found the blood-soaked body in Sedlmayr’s apartment at Elisabethstraße 5. Initially, the police suspected the perpetrator might have come from the homosexual milieu. Sedlmayr had led a double life, always keeping his homosexuality a secret. [mdr.de](https://www.mdr.de/kultur/podcast/queer-crimes/queer-crimes-staffel-zwei-podcast-sedlmayr-100.html)
However, it eventually turned out that Sedlmayr’s foster son and his half-brother were the murderers. The foster son and Sedlmayr had jointly operated the ‘Beim Sedlmayr’ guesthouse. The actor suspected his business partner was cheating him and intended to disinherit him. This decision sealed his fate. [abendzeitung-muenchen.de](https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/promis/diese-muenchner-sind-2025-gestorben-art-1051145)
‘Beim Sedlmayr’: A Culinary Tribute
The traditional restaurant ‘Beim Sedlmayr’ near Viktualienmarkt still exists today. In 2024, the Kuffler Group took it over, and it reopened last summer after renovations. ‘Many guests ask where the name comes from,’ says operations manager Sebastian Caputo. ‘Tour guides always tell the story.’
The guesthouse is bright and friendly, offering modern Bavarian cuisine, but also traditional dishes like Milzwurst. ‘Walter Sedlmayr always sat at the spot at the entrance to the kitchen,’ says Caputo. ‘We are considering creating a special dish for his birthday that he would have enjoyed.’ The lettering at the entrance, the wrought-iron lamps, and the round regulars’ table are still as they were. Above them hang photos and autograph cards of Munich actors. Sedlmayr is also featured in many pictures – his memory is preserved.
The Unforgettable Fasting Preacher of Nockherberg
Sedlmayr’s performances at Nockherberg are also unforgettable. From 1982 to 1990, he lectured politicians there as a fasting preacher, sometimes greeting political dignitaries with the words, ‘Most esteemed gentlemen criminals and slanderers.’ A great Munich grumbler indeed.
His unique blend of wit, charm, and sharp tongue made him a beloved figure, and his absence is still felt deeply in Munich’s cultural landscape. His legacy endures not only in his cinematic and television works but also in the personal stories of those whose lives he touched, and in the ongoing efforts to honor his memory in the city he called home. [br.de](https://www.br.de/br-fernsehen/sendungen/dahoam-is-dahoam/heinrich-stadler-did-verstorben-100.html)
