Wolfgang Petersen (14 March 1941 – 12 August 2022) was a renowned German filmmaker. During his active years, he made waves in the film industry with his numerous outstanding films. His most famous work was the World War II submarine warfare film Das Boot (1981), for which he was nominated for two prestigious Academy Awards. His portfolio also includes other well-known films like The NeverEnding Story (1984), Enemy Mine (1985), In the Line of Fire (1993), Outbreak (1995), Air Force One (1997), The Perfect Storm (2000), Troy (2004), and Poseidon (2006).

Born on 14 March 1941 in Emden, Petersen started his creative journey with an 8mm camera while still in school. His career spanned from directing plays at Hamburg's Ernst Deutsch Theater to producing TV series like the popular German Tatort. Petersen's first theatrical feature film was the psychological thriller One or the Other of Us, released in 1974. Following Das Boot, Petersen continued to make ground-breaking films, audaciously exploring genres from epic wars to suspense thrillers. His works continue to inspire enthusiasts in the film industry and audience worldwide. Petersen passed away from pancreatic cancer in August 2022, leaving a legacy as a great director and screenwriter.