- Josef Matula
Hermann Josef Matula (played by
Claus Theo Gärtner ) is a character on the Germandetective show "Ein Fall für Zwei ".Matula is one of the two main characters on the show, and the only character to have appeared in every episode so far. Matula is a former
police officer who has become aprivate detective instead. He always works in co-operation with adefense attorney , who is the other main character on the show.The character of the defense attorney has changed several times in the lifetime of the show. In chronological order, the attorneys have been
Dieter Renz ,Rainer Franck ,Johannes Voss andMarkus Lessing , who (as of 2005 ) is the current attorney. The former attorneys left the show because of various reasons: Renz retired due to his old age, Franck accepted a job as a teacher at alaw school , and Voss was shot dead by an escapingcriminal .In the beginning of the first episode in 1981 he mentioned his birthplace to be
Oberhausen and his age to be 31 years. So he is going to celebrate his 60th birthday in two years. Despite this advanced age, Matula is in good physical condition and can put up quite a fight when challenged. According to research done by a German fan of the show, Matula has been beaten up 37 times and knocked unconscious 7 times. Still he somehow manages to stay healthy and fit for his duty.Matula's method of detective work is very direct and hands-down. While the attorney he works with handles the juridistical part of the current case, Matula gets his hands dirty and tracks down the people he suspects of being involved in the crimes. This frequently involves him posing as a
reporter or other similar profession to avoid discovery. Matula's direct, action-oriented way of work often gets him into trouble with the police. He has been arrested 12 times, and the entire plot of one episode centered on Matula being suspected ofmurder and having to escape the police intoAustria .Despite his toughness, Matula is a skilled cook and has a great deal of charm with women. However, he has never been married.
References
* [http://www.umbra.de/sissy/effz/darsteller/matula.htm Fan site page on Matula] (in German)
* [http://www.beruehmte-detektive.de/detektei/matula.html Famous detectives page on Matula] (in German)
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