Was 78 years old

Mourning for “Polt” author: Alfred Komarek dies

Alfred Komarek, author of the cult crime novels about the gendarme Simon Polt, died on Saturday morning at the age of 78.(Bild: Jeff Mangione / KURIER / picturedesk.com)

The cult author Alfred Komarek has died in Vienna at the age of 78. Komarek's cult book series about the dismissed editor-in-chief Daniel Käfer and the gendarme Simon Polt, which were also made into films, made him particularly popular. 

However, his list of works comprises around 80 books and ranges from "Der verliebte Osterhase Eberhard" to "Schräge Vögel", in which he also portrayed himself - as a caveman. 

Honorary award for tolerance
In 2011, Alfred Komarek, who had residences in Bad Aussee, Vienna and the Weinviertel, was awarded the Honorary Prize of the Austrian Book Trade for Tolerance in Thought and Action.

Alfred Komarek with Erwin Steinhauer, who played Simon Polt in the film adaptation of his novels.(Bild: Starpix / picturedesk.com)

"For Polt, as for me, being tolerant is a way of coming to terms with the world and people to some extent," said the essayist and storyteller in his acceptance speech at the time.