Biography
Ulrich Noethen (born Ulrich Schmid; November 18, 1959, in Munich) is a German actor, radio drama performer, and audiobook narrator. He is considered one of Germany's most renowned film actors and gained widespread public recognition through his role in the feature film Comedian Harmonists*. Noethen grew up as the youngest of five children in a pastor's family. After graduating from high school in Augsburg, he initially studied law before deciding to pursue acting; he subsequently completed his studies at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart. He adopted the stage name "Noethen" from his grandmother's maiden name. His theater career began in the mid-1980s at the Städtische Bühnen Freiburg (Freiburg Municipal Theaters). Further engagements took him to venues such as the Schauspiel Köln (Cologne Playhouse) and the Staatliche Schauspielbühnen Berlin (Berlin State Theaters), where he distinguished himself with roles in classics such as Faust and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He achieved his cinematic breakthrough in 1997 with the role of Harry Frommermann in Comedian Harmonists. For this performance, he received the German Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, as well as the Bavarian Film Award. Numerous other defining roles in film and television followed. Among his most well-known works are the family films Das Sams, Bibi Blocksberg, and Das fliegende Klassenzimmer. In Der Untergang (Downfall), he played Heinrich Himmler, while in Mein Führer – Die wirklich wahrste Wahrheit über Adolf Hitler (My Führer – The Truly Truest Truth About Adolf Hitler), he offered a satirical interpretation of the same historical figure. Other significant productions include Gripsholm, Ein fliehendes Pferd, Hannah Arendt, and Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank (The Diary of Anne Frank), in which he portrayed Otto Frank. Since 2014, Noethen has starred as the psychiatrist Dr. Jessen in the crime series Neben der Spur. Additionally, he appeared as Ferdinand Sauerbruch in the historical drama series Charité. Noethen has received numerous awards and honors, including the Goldene Kamera (Golden Camera), the Adolf-Grimme-Preis, and multiple nominations for the German Film Award. He lives in Berlin-Charlottenburg and is in a relationship with the writer Alina Bronsky.
Acted in 99
2020s
- 2026
- 2025
Miss Sophie - Same Procedure as Every Year
Butler Mortimer · 6 episodes
- 2024
Josefa’s Return
Norbert Blume
- 2022
Wendland
Jakob Stiller · 5 episodes
- 2021
The Wasp
Nobbe Zosch · 6 episodes
Ku'damm 63
Kurt Moser · 3 episodes
- 2020
Louis van Beethoven
Christian Gottlob Neefe
2010s
- 2019
St. Louis
Captain Gustav Schröder
- 2018
Ku'damm 59
Kurt Moser · 3 episodes
54 Hours: The Gladbeck Hostage Crisis
Einsatzleiter Recklinghausen · 2 episodes
- 2017
- 2016
Departure
Hillas Vater
NSU German History X
Helmut Roewer · 1 episode
The Diary of Anne Frank
Otto Heinrich Frank
The General Case
Fritz Bauer
- 2015
Die Eisläuferin
Helmuth Wendt
Neben der Spur
Dr. Johannes Jessen · 8 episodes
- 2014
Unexpected
Bernd
- 2013
Broken Glass Park
Volker Trebur
My Husband, An Assassin
Paul Frei
The Inventive Lady
Gregor
- 2012
Allerleirauh
King Tobald
Zwei übern Berg
Paul
Hannah Arendt
Hans Jonas
Cracks in the Shell
Kaspar Friedmann
Kennen Sie Ihren Liebhaber?
Kai Stellmann
- 2011
Es ist nicht vorbei
Prof. Wolfgang Limberg
The Invisible Girl
Wilhelm Michel
The Man with the Bassoon
Rudi Bockelmann · 2 episodes
Von Mäusen und Lügen
Dr. Arnold 'Arnie' Fischer
The Promise
Leo Rosenbaum · 4 episodes
- 2010
Trau’ niemals deinem Chef
Oskar Moedebeck
Aghet
Armin Wegner
2000s
- 2009
Erntedank - Ein Allgäu-Krimi
Günter Hartmann
Meine Tochter und der Millionär
Moritz von Wrede
- 2008
Marie Brand
Professor Jacobsen · 1 episode
Long Shadows
Volker Widmer
Ett enklare liv
Peter Hoffman
Was wenn der Tod uns scheidet
Joachim Hellwig
Teufelsbraten
Vater · 2 episodes
- 2007
Runaway Horse
Helmut
Life Actually
Roland Spatz
- 2006
TKKG - The Secret of the Mysterious Mind Machine
Lehrer Herr Manek
Silberhochzeit
Leo
- 2005
Ausgerechnet Weihnachten
Carl
Die Luftbrücke
Alexander Kielberg · 2 episodes
Polly Blue Eyes
Herbert Pinn
The Young Schiller
Buchhändler Schwan
Die Patriarchin
Bent Peerson · 3 episodes
- 2004
The Boxer and the Hairdresser
Fränki Laue
Off Beat
Prof. Olivari
- 2003
My Magical Friend Sams
Bruno Taschenbier
The Flying Classroom
Dr. Johann 'Justus' Bökh
- 2002
Under Suspicion
Max Wemmer · 1 episode
The Red Jacket
Vater
¿De qué lado estás?
Movie
- 2001
Vera Brühne
Oberstaatsanwalt Böck · 2 episodes
- 2000
Gripsholm
Kurt
1990s
- 1999
The Green Desert
Detlef
Jew-boy Levi
Ingenieur Kohler
Beresina
Dr. Alfred Waldvogel
- 1998
- 1997
The Scorpion
Arno Jürging
Busenfreunde
Bernhard Kroll
- 1996
Sperling
Herr Krause · 1 episode
- 1995
Die Partner
Martin Zobel · 26 episodes
- 1994
Zwei Brüder
Ludwig Hellmann · 1 episode
1980s
- 1988
Eurocops
TV
- 1981
Appearances10
2010s
- 2015
- 2013
2000s
- 2006
Brecht - Die Kunst zu leben
Narrator (voice)
- 2005
Hitler's Final Days: The Movie 'Downfall'
Self
1990s
- 1999
- 1992
1970s
- 1979
1940s
- 1948
