or


[12/13/12 - 09:45 AM]
Investigation Discovery Profiles a Twisted Tale of Deception on America's Most Notorious Con Man in "The Great Pretender"
The latest installment from ID Films premieres Monday, December 17 at 8:00/7:00c.

[via press release from Investigation Discovery]

INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY PROFILES A TWISTED TALE OF DECEPTION ON AMERICA'S MOST NOTORIOUS CON MAN IN "THE GREAT PRETENDER"

- As part of Investigation Discovery's ID FILMS documentary strand, THE GREAT PRETENDER premieres Monday, December 17 from 8-9:30 PM E/P -

(Silver Spring) - The life of Clark Rockefeller exhibits a bizarre twist on the traditional American success story... not because he had the last name of American royalty, but because the story was a total fabrication. The lifelong con man who effectively masqueraded as a member of the famously rich Rockefeller family for more than 16 years was in reality a poor country boy from a tiny mountain village in Germany. Obsessed with America, Hollywood, and film noir, Clark Rockefeller - born Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter - began his life of duplicity when he arrived in the United States at age 17 with suspicious student visa documents. Over the subsequent 30 years, he brazenly assumed a succession of false identities, moving up the social ladder through exclusive communities in California and New York by way of several larger-than-life personas, including those of a USC film student, a Wall Street trader, a modern art collector, and finally a descendant of the famous Rockefeller dynasty. Now, the twisted tale of deception is chronicled in Investigation Discovery's 90-minute documentary THE GREAT PRETENDER, making its world television premiere as part of the ID Films strand on Monday, December 17 from 8-9:30 PM (E/P).

"At its heart, THE GREAT PRETENDER is a captivating thriller about one of the world's most ingenious con men, but it also speaks to the universal desire to reinvent oneself in one way or another, said Henry Schleiff, president and general manager of Investigation Discovery. Clark Rockefeller's story is our society's true-life nightmare about a man who was willing to do absolutely anything to live the American dream."

Christian Gerhartsreiter came to the United States as a young German hustler with dreams of Hollywood super-stardom and American affluence. He eventually turned into the greatest con man this country has ever seen. A man from humble beginnings, the Bavarian dreamer hailed from Bergen, Germany, the type of small town people live a lifetime without leaving. But Gerhartsreiter would go on to live a life of extravagance, charming his way into the upper echelons of American society. The serial imposter achieved his greatest aspirations, only for them to come crashing down around him. In 2008, after his marriage fell apart and he was arrested for kidnapping his daughter, Gerhartsreiter was caught by the FBI, exposing a life of conspiracies and a connection to the unsolved homicide of a California man and the disappearance of his wife. Now awaiting trial for the 1985 murder of John Sohus, the demons Gerhartsreiter will be forced to face are his own past identities making this, truly, a human interest story of epic proportions.

THE GREAT PRETENDER is filmed, directed and produced by Louise Osmond. The documentary is produced by Uli Hesse and Judith Dawson and executive produced by Edmund Coulthard of Blast! Films. For Investigation Discovery, Liz Massie is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is president and general manager.

About Investigation Discovery

Investigation Discovery (ID) is America's leading mystery-and-suspense network. From harrowing crimes and salacious scandals to the in-depth investigations and heart-breaking mysteries that result, ID challenges our everyday understanding of culture, society and the human condition. ID delivers the highest-quality programming to nearly 80 million U.S. households with viewer favorites that include On the Case with Paula Zahn; Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda; Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?; Disappeared; Stalked: Someone's Watching; and Redrum. For more information, please visit InvestigationDiscovery.com, facebook.com/InvestigationDiscovery, or twitter.com/DiscoveryID. Investigation Discovery is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 209 countries and territories.





  [december 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[10/24/25 - 02:30 PM]
Video: First Look at Upcoming New Drama "Memory of a Killer" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli - Premiering This January on FOX
Dempsey stars as a hitman, Angelo Doyle, leading a dangerous double life while hiding an even deadlier personal secret - he has developed early onset Alzheimer's.

[10/24/25 - 02:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's Most-Watched Newsmagazine Across the Board
In addition, "20/20" posted its best Adults 25-54 in more than four months.

[10/24/25 - 02:01 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 4th Straight Week
"Nightline" grew year to year across the board: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/24/25 - 01:05 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Makes Television History - Rising for Fifth Straight Week
The October 21 episode scored 6.63 million Total Viewers and a 1.38 rating among Adults 18-49, hitting new season highs in both demographics.

[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.