Siegfried Rauch obit

Siegfried Rauch, Steve McQueen’s Racing Rival in ‘Le Mans,’ Dies at 85

The German actor also appeared in the war films 'Patton,' 'The Eagle Has Landed' and 'The Big Red One.' 

He was not on the list.

Siegfried Rauch, the German actor who portrayed Steve McQueen’s ruthless racing rival Erich Stahler in the 1971 classic film Le Mans, has died. He was 85.

Rauch died Sunday night as a result of a fall in his hometown of Untersochering, Bavaria, his agency announced.

Rauch also appeared in the war films Patton (1970), directed by Franklin J. Schaffner; John Sturges‘ The Eagle Has Landed (1976); George P. Cosmatos‘ Escape to Athena (1979); and Sam Fuller’s The Big Red One (1980).

Le Mans, directed by Lee H. Katzin, tells the story of the Porsche and Ferrari rivalry through the eyes of two drivers — Michael Delaney (McQueen) and Stahler. It was filmed on location at the Le Mans circuit in France and incorporated incredible footage from the actual 24-hour endurance event in 1970.

Off-camera, McQueen and Rauch became lifelong friends, with the American actor becoming the godfather to Rauch’s son Benedikt.

Rauch first came to the attention of McQueen with his small role as Captain Oskar Steiger in the best picture Oscar winner Patton. Their friendship was documented in the recent book Our Le Mans – The Film, The Friendship, The Facts by Hans Hamer.

“He grew up in America in the same way I’d grown up in Bavaria. Working with farmers for a glass of milk … he found that sort of thing fascinating,” Rauch recalled. “He came to visit me at my home. We were all sitting together, my mother was still alive, and I still remember what he said to me: ‘You know, I never had this.’ He meant a sense of home. He always had to fight, but he was good at it.”

Rauch was taught to drive his Ferrari by former British racing star Michael Parkes. The top speed they reached was 330 kmh (205 mph). “The smallest accidents would cause these cars to burst into flames,” he said. “And, of course, you had to get out fast, and there was no time to fumble with your safety belt. I learned that you have 15 seconds to get clear.”

In Fuller’s epic The Big Red One, Rauch portrayed Schroeder, the crafty and savage German who served as the counterpart to Lee Marvin’s unnamed sergeant. The film is noted for being heavily cut upon its original release, with a reconstructed version premiering decades later at the Cannes Film Festival.

In his homeland, Rauch was a prolific film and television actor, appearing as the captain of the cruise ship on the long-running program Das Traumschiff (think The Love Boat) and on the series It Can’t Always Be Caviar.

Survivors include his wife Karin and his sons Jakob and Benedikt.

 

Selected filmography

 

The Vulture Wally (1956) .... Leander

The Hunter of Fall (1956) .... Toni, Wilderer

Kommissar X – Drei gelbe Katzen (1966) .... Nitro

Le Saint prend l'affût (1966) .... Johnny K.W. Mest (uncredited)

Spy Today, Die Tomorrow (1967) .... Tazzio

The Monk with the Whip (1967) .... Frank Keeney

Kommissar X – Drei blaue Panther (1968) .... Anthony

The Zombie Walks (1968) .... Dr. Brand

Peter und Sabine (1968) .... Dr. Petter, Klassenlehrer

Ein dreifach Hoch dem Sanitätsgefreiten Neumann (1968) .... Sanitätsgefreiter Neumann

Patton (1970) .... Capt. Oskar Steiger

Seventeen and Anxious [de] (1970) .... Chauffeur

Nous n'irons plus au bois (1970) .... Werner

Engel, die ihre Flügel verbrennen [de] (1970) .... 1. Kommissar

Le Mans (1971) .... Erich Stahler

Pas folle la guêpe (1972)

Little Mother (1973) .... Colonel Pinares

The Hunter of Fall (1974) .... Huisen-Toni

Zwei himmlische Dickschädel (1974) .... Lenz

Stolen Heaven (1974) .... Jungpfarrer Franz Gruber

The Eagle Has Landed (1976) .... Sgt. Brandt

It Can't Always Be Caviar (TV miniseries, 1977) .... Thomas Lieven

The Standard (1977) .... Graf Bottenlauben

Waldrausch (1977) .... Krispin

The Uranium Conspiracy (1978) .... The Baron

Escape to Athena (1979) .... Lt. Braun

Flashpoint Africa (1980) .... Joe

The Big Red One (1980) .... Sgt. Schroeder

Mein Freund Winnetou (1980, TV miniseries) .... Old Shatterhand

Contamination (1980) .... Hamilton

No One Cries Forever [de] (1984) .... Hans van Wielligh

Popcorn und Paprika (1984) .... Sigi

Das Traumschiff (1986, 1997, 1999–2014, TV series) ... Kapitän Paulsen

Death Stone (1987) .... Hemingway

Fire, Ice and Dynamite (1990) .... Larry

Wildbach (1993–1997, TV series) ... Martin Kramer

Sons of Trinity (1995) .... Parker

Geregelte Verhältnisse (2001) .... Anton Fenzl

The Vulture Wally [de] (2005) .... Franz Flender

Kreuzfahrt ins Glück (2007–2013, TV series) ... Kapitän Paulsen

Der Bergdoktor (2008–2018, TV series) .... Dr. Roman Melchinger (final appearance)