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Ulrich Noethen

Ulrich Noethen

Birthday: 1959-11-18 | Place of Birth: Munich, Germany

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.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

2026
2025
Miss Sophie - Same Procedure as Every Year

as    Butler Mortimer

2025
Parallel Me

as    Thomas

2024
Josefa’s Return

as    Norbert Blume

2022
Wendland

as    Jakob Stiller

2020
Louis van Beethoven

as    Christian Gottlob Neefe

2020
Unterleuten: The Torn Village

as    Dr. Gerhard Fließ

2020
The German Lesson

as    Jens Ole Jepsen

2019
St. Louis

as    Captain Gustav Schröder

2018
54 Hours: The Gladbeck Hostage Crisis

as    Einsatzleiter Recklinghausen

2018
Ku'damm 59

as    Kurt Moser

2016
The General Case

as    Fritz Bauer

2016
Departure

as    Hillas Vater

2016
The Diary of Anne Frank

as    Otto Heinrich Frank

2015
Neben der Spur

as    Dr. Johannes Jessen

2014
A Coffee in Berlin

as    Walter Fischer

2013
The Inventive Lady

as    Gregor

2013
Hannah Arendt

as    Hans Jonas

2013
Broken Glass Park

as    Volker Trebur

2012
Sams im Glück

as    Bruno Taschenbier

2012
Eine Hand wäscht die Andere

as    Chlodwig Pullmann

2012
Kennen Sie Ihren Liebhaber?

as    Kai Stellmann

2012
Cracks in the Shell

as    Kaspar Friedmann

2012
Allerleirauh

as    King Tobald

2012
Zwei übern Berg

as    Paul

2012
Moon Man

as    The Father (voice)

2011
The Invisible Girl

as    Wilhelm Michel