Jan Fedder in Folge 1395
Jan Fedder with Jivana in Folge 1983
Jan Fedder (1955-2019) was a German actor who guest starred on Sesamstrasse, first in Folge 1395 (1991) as a businessman who claims he wants to tear down the neighborhood for new development. In 1992, a year after his Sesamstrasse visit, he joined the cast of the police series Grossstadtrevier as Dirk Matthies, and played the character in a 1997 crossover Sesamstrasse episode. He appeared again in 2000, playing a hotel guest in Folge 1983 who insults Finchen but later needs her assistance.
While Fedder acted occasionally as a teenager, his first notable role came in the film Das Boot as sub crewmate Pilgrim. Follow-up films included the English language Deadly Twins (1985, as the villain) and the comedy Der Experte, as well as voicing Herbert in two German adult animated features based on the Werner comic books. However, he was more prominent on TV, from a small role in a German-set episode of the BBC series Smiley's People to larger guest turns on Tatort, Ein Fall für zwei, and Schwarz Rot Gold (with Uwe Friedrichsen). Beginning in 1997, concurrent with Grossstadtrevier, he starred on the small-town comedy Neues aus Büttenwarder as farmer Kurt Brakkelman, remaining on both series until his death.