Ulrich Noethen
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.
Known For

Scene of the Crime

Scene of the Crime

Scene of the Crime

Scene of the Crime

Polizeiruf 110

The Old Fox

Morgenmagazin

NDR Talk Show
All Movies (82)
- Makellos - Eine kurze Welle des Glücks2026 · as Anton Laux
- Josefa’s Return2024 · as Norbert Blume
- Louis van Beethoven2020 · as Christian Gottlob Neefe
- St. Louis2019 · as Captain Gustav Schröder
- The German Lesson2019 · as Jens Ole Jepsen
- Departure2016 · as Hillas Vater
- The Diary of Anne Frank2016 · as Otto Heinrich Frank
- The General Case2016 · as Fritz Bauer
- Die Eisläuferin2015 · as Helmuth Wendt
- Unexpected2014 · as Bernd
- Pettson and Findus: A Little Nuisance, a Great Friendship2014 · as Pettersson
- Broken Glass Park2013 · as Volker Trebur
- My Husband, An Assassin2013 · as Paul Frei
- The Inventive Lady2013 · as Gregor
- Allerleirauh2012 · as King Tobald
- Moon Man2012 · as The Father (voice)
- A Coffee in Berlin2012 · as Walter Fischer
- Eine Hand wäscht die Andere2012 · as Chlodwig Pullmann
- Zwei übern Berg2012 · as Paul
- Hannah Arendt2012 · as Hans Jonas
- Sams im Glück2012 · as Bruno Taschenbier
- Cracks in the Shell2012 · as Kaspar Friedmann
- Kennen Sie Ihren Liebhaber?2012 · as Kai Stellmann
- Es ist nicht vorbei2011 · as Prof. Wolfgang Limberg
- The Invisible Girl2011 · as Wilhelm Michel
- Von Mäusen und Lügen2011 · as Dr. Arnold 'Arnie' Fischer
- Lügen haben linke Hände2011 · as Max Timmermann
- Trau’ niemals deinem Chef2010 · as Oskar Moedebeck
- Rumpe und Tuli2010 · as Therapeut
- Aghet2010 · as Armin Wegner
- Henri 42010 · as Karl IX
- Erntedank - Ein Allgäu-Krimi2009 · as Günter Hartmann
- Meine Tochter und der Millionär2009 · as Moritz von Wrede
- Kommissar Süden und der Luftgitarrist2009 · as Tabor Süden
- Kommissar Süden und das Geheimnis der Königin2009 · as Tabor Süden
- Long Shadows2008 · as Volker Widmer
- Ett enklare liv2008 · as Peter Hoffman
- Was wenn der Tod uns scheidet2008 · as Joachim Hellwig
- Ein starker Abgang2008 · as Arzt 2
- Runaway Horse2007 · as Helmut
- Life Actually2007 · as Roland Spatz
- My Führer2007 · as Heinrich Himmler
- Tsunami oder: Die Maximale Mitmenschlichkeit2006
- TKKG - The Secret of the Mysterious Mind Machine2006 · as Lehrer Herr Manek
- Brecht - Die Kunst zu leben2006 · as Narrator (voice)
- Silberhochzeit2006 · as Leo
- Ausgerechnet Weihnachten2005 · as Carl
- Berlin Airlift2005 · as Dr. Alex Kielberg
- Polly Blue Eyes2005 · as Herbert Pinn
- Hitlers letzte Tage - Der Film "Der Untergang"2005 · as Self
- The Young Schiller2005 · as Buchhändler Schwan
- Bibi Blocksberg and the Secret of Blue Owls2004 · as Bernhard Blocksberg
- Downfall2004 · as Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler
- The Boxer and the Hairdresser2004 · as Fränki Laue
- Off Beat2004 · as Prof. Olivari
- Mörderische Elite2004 · as Klee
- Secret Stories2004 · as Reiner
- Jargo2004 · as Schuldirektor
- My Magical Friend Sams2003 · as Bruno Taschenbier
- The Flying Classroom2003 · as Dr. Johann 'Justus' Bökh
- I'm The Father2002 · as Nico Ellermann
- Bibi Blocksberg2002 · as Bernhard Blocksberg
- The Red Jacket2002 · as Vater
- ¿De qué lado estás?2002
- The Slurb2001 · as Mr. Taschenbier
- Heirate mir!2001 · as Eugen Schafmeyer
- Das Rätsel des blutroten Rubins2001 · as Prof. Planitz
- Gripsholm2000 · as Kurt
- Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace2000 · as Hans von Dohnanyi
- The Green Desert1999 · as Detlef
- Jew-boy Levi1999 · as Ingenieur Kohler
- Beresina1999 · as Dr. Alfred Waldvogel
- Beckmann und Markowski: Gehetzt1999 · as Rablonski
- Bangkok - Ein Mädchen verschwindet1999 · as Sven Arnhold
- Busenfreunde 2 - Alles wird gut!1998 · as Bernhard
- The Harmonists1997 · as Harry Frommermann
- Mein ist die Rache1997 · as Girres
- The Scorpion1997 · as Arno Jürging
- The Deep End1997 · as Steffen
- Busenfreunde1997 · as Bernhard Kroll
- Lautlose Schritte1996 · as Henry Stöver
- Der Parkhausmörder1996 · as Jochen Stein
All TV Shows (60)
- Miss Sophie - Same Procedure as Every Year2025 · as Butler Mortimer
- Parallel Me2025 · as Thomas
- Wendland2022 · as Jakob Stiller
- The Wasp2021 · as Nobbe Zosch
- Furia2021 · as Brehme
- Ku'damm 632021 · as Kurt Moser
- Unterleuten: The Torn Village2020 · as Dr. Gerhard Fließ
- Vienna Blood2019 · as Graf von Triebenbach
- Ku'damm 592018 · as Kurt Moser
- 54 Hours: The Gladbeck Hostage Crisis2018 · as Einsatzleiter Recklinghausen
- Charité2017 · as Ferdinand Sauerbruch
- NSU German History X2016 · as Helmut Roewer
- Quizduell-Olymp2015 · as Self
- Wer weiß denn sowas?2015 · as Self
- Deutschland2015 · as General Wolfgang Edel
- Neben der Spur2015 · as Dr. Johannes Jessen
- Lesenswert2013 · as Self
- The Man with the Bassoon2011 · as Rudi Bockelmann
- The Promise2011 · as Leo Rosenbaum
- Hindenburg: The Last Flight2011 · as Ernst Lehmann
- Marie Brand2008 · as Professor Jacobsen
- Teufelsbraten2008 · as Vater
- Mein Nachmittag2008 · as Self
- Der Kriminalist2006 · as Ulli Grützke
- Kommissar Stolberg2006 · as Ralf Reger
- 3satBuchzeit2006 · as Self
- Thadeusz2005 · as self
- Die Luftbrücke2005 · as Alexander Kielberg
- Die Patriarchin2005 · as Bent Peerson
- Under Suspicion2002 · as Max Wemmer
- Vera Brühne2001 · as Oberstaatsanwalt Böck
- Menschen der Woche2000 · as Self
- German Television Award1999 · as Self
- Volle Kanne1999 · as Self
- Siska1998 · as Albert Branner
- Siska1998 · as Erwin Schöller
- Die Verbrechen des Professor Capellari1998
- Sperling1996 · as Herr Krause
- Die Partner1995 · as Martin Zobel
- Zwei Brüder1994 · as Ludwig Hellmann
- Rosa Roth1994 · as Ralf Vorburg
- Im Namen des Gesetzes1994 · as Frank Kleinert
- Stadtklinik1993 · as Robert Wasser
- Morgenmagazin1992 · as Self
- Blauer Panther1989 · as Self
- Eurocops1988
- Goldene Kamera1984 · as Self
- A Case For Two1981 · as Dr. Jürgen Mattes
- Bavarian Film Awards1979 · as Self
- NDR Talk Show1979 · as Self
- The Old Fox1977 · as Prof. Simon Holter
- Polizeiruf 1101971 · as Alexander Beck
- Scene of the Crime1970 · as Dr. Zimmer
- Scene of the Crime1970 · as Nat Dorsey
- Scene of the Crime1970 · as Hans Wolff
- Scene of the Crime1970 · as Staatsanwalt Jörg Reinhardt
- Grimme Award1964 · as Self
- German Film Award1951 · as Self
- Bambi1948 · as Self
- Love & Chaos—