KD
Klaus Doldinger
Composer, Actor, Additional Credits
Born May 12, 1936Died October 16, 2025 (89 years)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Klaus Doldinger (born 12 May 1936) was a German saxophonist, especially well known for jazz and as a composer of film music. He was the recipient of 1997's Bavarian Film Awards. He died October 16, 2025 in Icking, Germany.
Doldinger was born in Berlin, and entered a Düsseldorf conservatory in 1947, originally studying piano and then clarinet, graduating in 1957. In his student years, Doldinger gained professional performing experience, starting in 1953 in the German Dixieland band The Feetwarmers, and recording with them in 1955. Later that year he founded Oscar's Trio, modeled on Oscar Peterson's work.
During the 1960s he worked as a tenor saxophonist, working with visiting American jazz musicians and recording in his own right.
Doldinger is perhaps best known for his film scores to the acclaimed German U-boat film Das Boot (1981) and later The NeverEnding Story (1984).
Doldinger married Inge Beck in 1960; they have three children, Viola, Melanie and Nicolas Doldinger. Since 1968 they have resided in Icking, a small Bavarian village, south of Munich.
Doldinger's jazz band Passport (2008)
Doldinger's recurring jazz project Passport, started in 1971 (then called "Klaus Doldinger's Passport"), still enjoys huge success in Germany. In its influence it was sometimes called the European version of Weather Report.
At various times members of Passport included Peter O'Mara (guitar), Roberto DiGioia (keyboards), Patrick Scales (bass, since 1994), Ernst Stroer (de:Ernst Ströer) (percussion, since 1989), Christian Lettner (drums, since 2000), Michael Hornek (keyboard since 2009), Biboul Darouiche (percussion, since 1995) and others. Guests include Brian Auger (1973), Johnny Griffin (1973) and Pete York (1973).[3] The first true Passport album had strong ties to Amon Düül II containing contributions from Olaf Kübler, Lothar Meid and Jimmy Jackson, it remains an off-the-radar Krautrock essential.
Klaus Doldinger (born 12 May 1936) was a German saxophonist, especially well known for jazz and as a composer of film music. He was the recipient of 1997's Bavarian Film Awards. He died October 16, 2025 in Icking, Germany.
Doldinger was born in Berlin, and entered a Düsseldorf conservatory in 1947, originally studying piano and then clarinet, graduating in 1957. In his student years, Doldinger gained professional performing experience, starting in 1953 in the German Dixieland band The Feetwarmers, and recording with them in 1955. Later that year he founded Oscar's Trio, modeled on Oscar Peterson's work.
During the 1960s he worked as a tenor saxophonist, working with visiting American jazz musicians and recording in his own right.
Doldinger is perhaps best known for his film scores to the acclaimed German U-boat film Das Boot (1981) and later The NeverEnding Story (1984).
Doldinger married Inge Beck in 1960; they have three children, Viola, Melanie and Nicolas Doldinger. Since 1968 they have resided in Icking, a small Bavarian village, south of Munich.
Doldinger's jazz band Passport (2008)
Doldinger's recurring jazz project Passport, started in 1971 (then called "Klaus Doldinger's Passport"), still enjoys huge success in Germany. In its influence it was sometimes called the European version of Weather Report.
At various times members of Passport included Peter O'Mara (guitar), Roberto DiGioia (keyboards), Patrick Scales (bass, since 1994), Ernst Stroer (de:Ernst Ströer) (percussion, since 1989), Christian Lettner (drums, since 2000), Michael Hornek (keyboard since 2009), Biboul Darouiche (percussion, since 1995) and others. Guests include Brian Auger (1973), Johnny Griffin (1973) and Pete York (1973).[3] The first true Passport album had strong ties to Amon Düül II containing contributions from Olaf Kübler, Lothar Meid and Jimmy Jackson, it remains an off-the-radar Krautrock essential.
Klaus Doldinger Filmography
| 2017 | Das doppelte Lottchen · as Original Music Composer |
| 2012 | Doomsday - World War I (TV Series) |
| 2010 | The Bull and The Country Egg (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 2009 | |
| 2006 | Drei Schwestern made in Germany · as Composer |
| 2004 | Faszination Natur - Seven Seasons · as Composer |
| 2003 | In the Shadow of Power · as Composer |
| 2003 | Pfarrer Braun (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 2001 | Dear Fidel · as Composer |
| 2000 | Hitler's Holocaust (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 2000 | |
| 1998 | |
| 1997 | Living Dead · as Composer |
| 1996 | Hitler's Henchmen (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1996 | Sperling (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1995 | Hitler: A Profile (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1995 | A.S. - Gefahr ist sein Geschäft (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1994 | Rosa Roth (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1994 | Wir sind auch nur ein Volk (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1994 | Alles außer Mord! (TV Series) · as Original Music Composer |
| 1994 | Ärzte (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1993 | Hecht & Haie (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1992 | |
| 1992 | Wolffs Revier (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1990 | Peter in Magicland · as Composer |
| 1990 | Neuner · as Composer |
| 1990 | Die Piefke-Saga (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1990 | Ekkehard (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1989 | Peter Strohm (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1988 | Nonni and Manni (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1988 | The men from K3 (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1988 | Me and Him · as Original Music Composer |
| 1988 | Z.B. ... Otto Spalt · as Original Music Composer |
| 1988 | A Father's Revenge · as Original Music Composer |
| 1987 | Flight into Hell (TV Series) |
| 1987 | Das Boot - Die komplette TV-Serie (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1986 | Großstadtrevier (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1986 | Die Stunde des Leon Bisquet · as Composer |
| 1986 | Liebling Kreuzberg (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1984 | The NeverEnding Story · as Original Music Composer |
| 1983 | The Roaring Fifties · as Original Music Composer |
| 1983 | Love Is Forever · as Original Music Composer |
| 1981 | Das Boot · as Original Music Composer |
| 1981 | A Case for Two (TV Series) · as Original Music Composer |
| 1981 | Ein zauberhaftes Biest (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1978 | Schwarz und weiß wie Tage und Nächte · as Original Music Composer |
| 1978 | Moritz, Dear Moritz · as Original Music Composer |
| 1978 | |
| 1977 | |
| 1977 | Eichholz und Söhne (TV Series) |
| 1977 | Sanfter Schrecken · as Composer |
| 1977 | The Old Fox (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1976 | Vier gegen die Bank · as Original Music Composer |
| 1976 | |
| 1976 | Alle Jahre wieder: Die Familie Semmeling (TV Series) · as Original Music Composer |
| 1975 | The Net · as Original Music Composer |
| 1975 | To the Bitter End · as Original Music Composer |
| 1974 | Derrick (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1974 | |
| 1973 | ...But Johnny! · as Original Music Composer |
| 1972 | Okay S.I.R. (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1972 | Ein Toter stoppt den 8 Uhr 10 · as Composer |
| 1971 | |
| 1971 | Polizeiruf 110 (TV Series) · as Original Music Composer |
| 1970 | Tatort (TV Series) · as Original Music Composer |
| 1970 | How Did a Nice Girl Like You... · as Composer |
| 1970 | Baal · as Original Music Composer |
| 1968 | Negresco · as Original Music Composer |
| 2024 | Life After the NeverEnding Story · as Self |
| 2021 | Das Boot: Welterfolg aus der Tiefe · as Self - Das Boot Music Composer |
| 2019 | ManDoki Soulmates: Wings Of Freedom · as Self |
| 2019 | |
| 2017 | Offene Wunde deutscher Film · as Self |
| 2012 | Hallo Hessen (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | Sing! Inge, Sing! · as Himself |
| 2011 | Dein Song 2011 · as Self |
| 2009 | Goisern Goes West (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | Nachtlinie (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | Wir in Bayern (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1999 | Volle Kanne (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1998 | alpha-Forum (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | Zimmer frei! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1995 | Kulturzeit (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | ARD-Morgenmagazin (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | Riverboat (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1991 | Disney Club (Germany) (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1991 | DAS! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1976 | Kölner Treff (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1974 | 3nach9 (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1972 | The Music Shop (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1965 | Beat Club (TV Series) · as Self - Musician |
| 1964 | Die Drehscheibe (TV Series) · as Self - Musician |
| 1997 | Das Boot - The Director's Cut · as Sound Director |
| 1985 | Das Boot (TV Series) · as Sound Director |