Der Clown

45min

Crime

Action & Adventure

Der Clown was a German television series that ran between 21 April 1998 and 11 October 2001. It ran for 46 episodes, and starred Sven Martinek, Diana Frank, Thomas Anzenhofer and Volkmar Kleinert. Der Clown was also a 2005 film.

Production Companies

RTL

action concept

Episodes

Cast

Dirty Money

1. Dirty Money

46min

28th Apr 1998

A journalist investigating a money-counterfeiting gang is murdered; The Clown uncovers a violent counterfeit operation.

Death by Extortion

2. Death by Extortion

46min

5th May 1998

An anonymous extortionist demands 50 million Deutsche Mark from the federal government, threatening to kill members of the Bundestag and their families. When ignored, he fires shots at a charity event attended by Ludowski and Claudia—narrowly missing Sarah Graz, a member of parliament and Claudia’s former schoolmate. Max poses as their driver/bodyguard; when their car is shot at, he neutralizes the assassin. After the government gives in, The Clown refuses, leading to a high‑stakes cat‑and‑mouse game with the extortionist and the police

Brothers‑in‑arms

3. Brothers‑in‑arms

46min

12th May 1998

Cosmo Nunnari, an old friend from Max’s Bundeswehr and WIPA days, pleads for help—he’s building a case against the ruthless arms dealer Van Vericke. Vericke retaliates by kidnapping Cosmo’s young daughter, Gina, and exchanging her for the evidence. The Clown, joined by Claudia and Cosmo, locates her on an isolated farm. In a tense raid, they storm the hideout, only to face an unexpected twist upon arrival .

Harlequin

4. Harlequin

46min

19th May 1998

A man wearing a harlequin mask leaves a trail of murders in the red‑light district. The press falsely accuses the Clown, and Ludowski fails to convince Führmann otherwise. Max infiltrates as bait with Claudia’s help to expose the Harlequin, linked to a brothel‑owner’s underworld killings .

The Shadows of Rasputin

5. The Shadows of Rasputin

46min

26th May 1998

An assassination attempt on Ludowski outside a chess club alerts Max and Cosmo. They uncover a group of Russian special‑forces called the "Shadows of Rasputin," and, with Claudia’s aid, locate their hideout .

The Duel

6. The Duel

46min

2nd Jun 1998

Real estate tycoon Börner uses threats and violence to acquire properties in the station district. Martina Sanchez, owner of a local bar, refuses to sell. After her employee is run down—staged as a hit and run—Ludowski suspects police involvement and corruption. It's up to The Clown to intervene. Max and his allies confront Börner directly; he retaliates fiercely. The resulting confrontation becomes a nerve‑wracking duel between Börner and The Clown .

First air date

28th Apr 1998

Last air date

11th Oct 2001

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

de

Networks