---
name: "Norbert Grupe"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/wilhelm-von-homburg"
fi1m_id: "wilhelm-von-homburg"
imdb_id: "nm0902455"
tmdb_id: 27585
wikidata_id: "Q71412"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "25 August 1940"
died: "10 March 2004"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-26T00:14:24.275079+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Norbert Grupe

## Identity

Norbert Grupe

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/wilhelm-von-homburg
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** wilhelm-von-homburg
- **IMDb ID:** nm0902455
- **TMDB ID:** 27585
- **Wikidata ID:** Q71412
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_von_Homburg, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q71412, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0902455/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/27585

Actor. Born 25 August 1940 in Berlin, Germany. Died 10 March 2004.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 25 August 1940, Berlin, Germany
- **Died:** 10 March 2004
- **Active:** 1977–1989
- **Also known as:** Wilhelm von Homburg
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 82 (1), 1980s 74 (2)
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 1, Comedy 1, Drama 1, Fantasy 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $356m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_von_Homburg, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q71412, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0902455/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/27585

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Stroszek*](https://film.one/film/stroszek.md) (82)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Norbert Grupe, also known by the stage name Wilhelm von Homburg, was a German professional boxer, wrestler and actor. Born in Berlin, he began his career in the 1950s wrestling alongside his father Richard Grupe, performing in Germany and the United States under names including Prinz Wilhelm von Homburg. He turned to professional boxing in 1962 and competed until 1970, retiring with a record of 30 wins, 11 losses and 6 draws.

After boxing, Grupe worked as a supporting actor, often in villainous or tough-guy parts. His credits include an uncredited role in *Torn Curtain* (1966), a part in *The Devil's Brigade* (1968), the role of Souteneur in Werner Herzog's *Stroszek* (1977), James in *Die Hard* (1988) and Vigo the Carpathian in *Ghostbusters II* (1989). He was the subject of the 2002 documentary *Der Boxprinz*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, filmportal.de, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Ghostbusters II* (1989), Fi1m 60, as Vigo — [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-ii.md)
- *Die Hard* (1988), Fi1m 89, as James — [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard.md)
- *Stroszek* (1977), Fi1m 82, as Souteneur — [page](https://film.one/film/stroszek.md)

## Complete filmography (20)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *In the Mouth of Madness* (1995), as Simon
- *The Silence of the Hams* (1994), as Maitre 'D
- *Diggstown* (1992), as Charles Macum Diggs
- *Eye of the Storm* (1991), as Killer
- *Night of the Warrior* (1991), as Bike
- *Midnight Cabaret* (1990), as Juan Carlos
- *The Package* (1989), as West Berlin Police Lieutenant
- *Ghostbusters II* (1989), as Vigo — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-ii.md)
- *Die Hard* (1988), as James — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard.md)
- *Stroszek* (1977), as Souteneur — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/stroszek.md)
- *The Swiss Conspiracy* (1976), as Hit Man in cook suit (uncredited)
- *Gentlemen in White Vests* (1970), as Boxer Max Graf
- *The Wrecking Crew* (1968), as Gregor
- *The Hell with Heroes* (1968), as Hans
- *The Devil's Brigade* (1968), as Fritz
- *The Invaders* (1967), series, as Alien Patient
- *Torn Curtain* (1966), as Blonde Twin in Bus (uncredited)
- *The Last of the Secret Agents?* (1966), as GGI Man
- *The Wild Wild West* (1965), series, Actor
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Otto

## Gallery

- ![Norbert Grupe](https://film.one/media/person/446524/gallery-9fb48ea49fba.jpg) Norbert Grupe — Image via TMDB
- ![Norbert Grupe](https://film.one/media/person/446524/gallery-3992082569b7.jpg) Norbert Grupe — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/wilhelm-von-homburg