Ernst Hinterberger (17 October 1931 – 14 May 2012) was an Austrian writer of novels, particularly detective novels, plays and successful sitcoms. His first TV scripts were unusual for their use of genuine Vienna dialect. He completed training as an electrician, then from 1950 to 1952 he trained at the Vienna Police School to be a police officer, but had to leave a few weeks after beginning work because he suddenly needed glasses, which was not acceptable at the time. Following his time with the police, he first worked as a labourer. After these libraries were closed in 1968, he worked in shipping in a factory until his retirement in 1991. He was unwilling to rely on writing to provide his entire income.
Hinterberger discovered literature in the 1950s through the Bavarian author Oskar Maria Graf; His first wife, Margarete ("Gerti") died in 2001 after 45 years of marriage, Hinterberger had since remarried, to Karla.
Hinterberger was a practising Buddhist
- Gold Award for Service of the City of Vienna, 1996
- Ehrenkieberer ("Honorary Cop"), award from the Vereinigung der Bundeskriminalbeamten Österreichs, shared with Wolfgang Böck, 2001
- Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class, 2003
- Goldener Rathausmann ("Gold Town Hall Man") of the City of Vienna, 2007
- Buchliebling Lifetime Award, 2009
- Axel Corti Prize for lifetime achievement, 2010