Born in Bochum, Germany, Hans Spurkel started his journalistic career at a small regional newspaper before switching to the largest daily in the area. In 1969, he was hired by one of Germany's leading television magazines, TV Horen und Sehen, and relocated to Hamburg. After seven years, the magazine appointed him their Hollywood correspondent and sent him to Los Angeles where he has lived and reported on the entertainment industry ever since. In 1978, Spurkel joined the HFPA and has remained an active member. He has served the association in various positions (Board member, Treasurer, Vice President) and on several committees. Today he works as a free-lancer for two European magazines, Glueckspost (Switzerland), and Topic (Austria).