In Le Mans (1971), Rauch played the race driver Erich Stahler who is Steve McQueen's rival.

His most famous leading role on 1970s German television was Thomas Lieven in Es muss nicht immer Kaviar sein (It Can't Always Be Caviar), based on the spy novel by Johannes Mario Simmel.

From 1999 to 2013 Rauch had one of the leading roles as the captain on Das Traumschiff, one of the most-watched television series in Germany.

[2] He also appeared regularly in other German TV productions, including Der Bergdoktor, and remained active until his death.

[4] Rauch died on 11 March 2018 from sudden heart failure which caused him to fall down stairs at the village fire station near his home.