Kruger, who deserted the Nazi army during World War II, appeared in numerous German-language films beginning in the 1940s, the AP reported. He later starred in the 1957 British film “The One That Got Away” and other English-language movies, such as 1977′s “A Bridge Too Far” and 1978′s “The Wild Geese,” according to the news agency.
“The fight against racism and the education of young people was his personal mission in life,” his agent said in a statement obtained by the AP. “His warmth, his joy for life and his unshakable sense of justice made him unforgettable.”
Kruger is survived by his third wife, writer Anita Park, and three children from previous marriages, including Christiane, Malaika and Hardy Jr., the AP reported.
Photos: Hardy Kruger through the years Here are some memorable photos of German actor Hardy Kruger through the years. (BIPS/Getty Images)
Photos: Hardy Kruger through the years 1958: Hardy Kruger on location in Cambridge for the filming of the British comedy "The Freshman," aka "Bachelor of Hearts." (BIPS/Getty Images)
Photos: Hardy Kruger through the years 1976: Blonde German actor Hardy Kruger plays "Potato Fritz" in the comedy-western of same name, directed by Peter Schamoni and originally titled "Zwei Gegen Tod Und Teufel." (Keystone/Getty Images)
Photos: Hardy Kruger through the years 2008: Placido Domingo, Claudia Cardinale and Hardy Krueger attendsthe Bambi Awards 2008 Show on November 27, 2008, in Offenburg, Germany. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Photos: Hardy Kruger through the years 2010: Actor Hardy Krueger and his wife, Anita, arrive for the memorial service for Loki Schmidt, wife of former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, at the St. Michaelis church on November 1, 2010, in Hamburg, Germany. (Joern Pollex/Getty Images)
Photos: Hardy Kruger through the years 2011: Actor Hardy Krueger and wife Anita Krueger pose with his prize at the Jupiter Award at the Puro Lounge on April 1, 2011, in Berlin. (James Coldrey/Getty Images)
Photos: Hardy Kruger through the years 2013: Hardy Krueger attends the presentation of a project against Right-Wing Extremists at City Hall Hamburg on April 8, 2013, in Hamburg, Germany. (Christian Augustin/Getty Images)
Photos: Hardy Kruger through the years 2014: German President Joachim Gauck, his partner, Daniela Schadt, and Hardy Krueger hold one minute's silence during a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the bombing in Keupstrasse street on June 9, 2014, in Cologne, Germany. (Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images)
Photos: Hardy Kruger through the years 2015: Actor Hardy Krueger and his wife, Anita, arrive for the Steiger Award 2015 at colliery Hansemann on September 26, 2015, in Dortmund, Germany. (Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images)
Photos: Hardy Kruger through the years 2018: This April 12, 2018, file photo shows German actor Hardy Kruger in Hamburg, Germany. (Axel Heimken/dpa via AP, file)