Famous German Actors

Vote for Your Favourite German Actors

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

 1 
Michael Fassbender
(German-Irish Actor and Racing Driver)
Michael Fassbender
14
Birthdate: April 2, 1977
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Heidelberg, Germany

Michael Fassbender is a critically-acclaimed Irish-German actor best known for playing a sex addict in the psychological erotic drama film Shame. Apart from being an actor, Michael is also a well-known racing driver; he started his auto racing career in 2017 and currently races for Proton Competition in the European Le Mans Series.

 2 
Christoph Waltz
(Best Known for His Academy Award Winning Roles in the Films: ‘Inglourious Basterds’ and 'Django Unchained')
Christoph Waltz
13
Birthdate: October 4, 1956
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Christoph Waltz is best known for his Academy Award-winning performances as Colonel Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds and Dr. King Schultz in Django Unchained, both by Quentin Tarantino. Waltz had begun as a stage and TV actor in Germany. Some of his other notable projects are Spectre and Big Eyes.
 3 
Alexander Dreymon
(German Actor Best Known for His TV Series ‘The Last Kingdom’ and ‘American Horror Story: Coven’)
Alexander Dreymon
6
Birthdate: February 7, 1983
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Germany
Alexander Dreymon is best known for portraying Uhtred of Bebbanburg in The Last Kingdom and Luke Ramsey in American Horror Story: Coven. He has also been seen as Steiner in the war movie Resistance. He is trained in martial arts and is a polyglot who speaks German, English, and French.
Recommended Lists:
 4 
Daniel Brühl
(One of the Most Versatile and Influential Spanish-German Actors and Filmmakers)
Daniel Brühl
4
Birthdate: June 16, 1978
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Barcelona, Spain

Spanish-German actor Daniel Brühl began his career with the soap Verbotene Liebe. Raised trilingual, he is now fluent in six languages. Hollywood knows him best as Fredrick Zoller from Inglourious Basterds, while he first made waves with the German film Good Bye, Lenin! He later co-owned two bars.

 5 
Tom Wlaschiha
(German Actor)
Tom Wlaschiha
3
Birthdate: June 20, 1973
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Dohna, Germany
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 6 
Klaus Kinski
(German Actor Known for His Intense On-Screen Presence and Controversial Personality)
Klaus Kinski
3
Birthdate: October 18, 1926
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sopot, Poland
Died: November 23, 1991

Though German actor Klaus Kinski had gained fame with his stellar performances in the films of Werner Herzog, he had also been in the news for his eccentricity and volatile nature. He was once admitted to psychiatric facility for attempting to kill his sponsor, and his own daughter accused him of abuse.

 7 
Benedikt Negro
(Actor)
Benedikt Negro
3
Birthplace: Xanten, Germany

Pantomime and clown Benedikt Negro hails from Germany and began performing at age 9, mastering tricks such as breathing fire, knife throwing, and juggling. Now, the lead attraction of O, the Cirque du Soleil water show, he has also recently worked with famed directors such as James Cameron.

 8 
Arón Piper
5
Birthdate: March 29, 1997
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany

Arón Piper is a German-Spanish actor best known for his portrayal of Ander Muñoz in the Spanish thriller teen drama series, Elite. Apart from being an actor, Piper is also a musician. He joined hands with several other musicians to release a single titled Sigo. In 2020, he released another song titled Rosé.

 9 
Thomas Kretschmann
(Known for His Roles in the Movies: 'Stalingrad', 'The Pianist' and 'Downfall')
Thomas Kretschmann
3
Birthdate: September 8, 1962
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Dessau, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany

While he initially trained to be an Olympic swimmer, Thomas Kretschmann turned to acting at age 25. Surprisingly, he was typecast as a Nazi officer and ended up playing one in 11 films, including The Pianist. He first gained fame with his Max Ophüls Prize-winning role in Der Mitwisser.

 10 
Max Riemelt
(German Actor Best Known for His Role as 'Wolfgang Bogdanow' in the Netflix Series 'Sense8')
Max Riemelt
4
Birthdate: January 7, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany

Max Riemelt is a German actor who achieved international recognition after portraying Wolfgang Bogdanow in the popular American science fiction TV series, Sense8. His performance in the series landed him opportunities to play important roles in German as well as international projects, such as Berlin Syndrome and World on Fire.

 11 
Florian Munteanu
(Actor known for his role of the boxer Viktor Drago in Creed 2, the son of former Soviet boxer Ivan Drago, from 1985's Rocky IV)
Florian Munteanu
0
Birthdate: October 13, 1990
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Würzburg, Germany
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 12 
Flula Borg
(German Actor, Musician and Youtuber)
Flula Borg
3
Birthdate: March 28, 1982
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Erlangen, Germany

Flula Borg is a German actor, comedian, musician, DJ, and YouTube personality. Despite being a German, Borg has managed to establish himself in the American film and TV industry; he has appeared in films like Pitch Perfect 2 and Bad Therapy. Popular on social media, Flula Borg was named in The Hollywood Reporter magazine's Top 25 Digital Stars list in 2015.

 13 
Udo Kier
(German Actor)
Udo Kier
3
Birthdate: October 14, 1944
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lindenthal, Germany
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 14 
Horst Buchholz
(Actor)
Horst Buchholz
3
Birthdate: December 4, 1933
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: March 3, 2003
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 15 
Jürgen Prochnow
(German-American Actor)
Jürgen Prochnow
2
Birthdate: June 10, 1941
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 16 
Til Schweiger
(German Actor and the Country’s Most Successful Director)
Til Schweiger
4
Birthdate: December 19, 1963
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Til Schweiger is a German actor, filmmaker, and voice actor. Apart from playing important roles in German films, Schweiger has also appeared in several American films, such as Investigating Sex, King Arthur, and Already Dead. Til Schweiger is credited with establishing a production company named Barefoot Films.

 17 
Sebastian Koch
(Actor)
Sebastian Koch
3
Birthdate: May 31, 1962
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Karlsruhe, Germany
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 18 
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
(Prominent Figure and Catalyst of the New German Cinema Movement)
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
3
Birthdate: May 31, 1945
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bad Wörishofen, Germany
Died: June 10, 1982

Rainer Werner Fassbinder was a German actor, filmmaker, and playwright. He grew up in the aftermath of World War II and had a tough childhood. He sought solace by watching films and took acting lessons. He began his career in theater and eventually entered films as well. He is considered a prominent figure of the New German Cinema movement. 

 19 
Andrew Sachs
(Actor)
Andrew Sachs
3
Birthdate: April 7, 1930
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: November 23, 2016
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 20 
Conrad Veidt
(Best Known for His Roles in the Films: ‘Different from the Others’ and ‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’)
Conrad Veidt
2
Birthdate: January 22, 1893
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: April 3, 1943
Ironically, though he and his wife fled from Nazi Germany to Britain, actor Conrad Veidt was cast as a Nazi villain in quite a few films. Best known for his roles in Casablanca and The Thief of Baghdad, he died playing his favorite sport, golf, at an LA golf course. 
 21 
Matthias Schweighofer
(Actor)
Matthias Schweighofer
2
Birthdate: March 11, 1981
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Anklam, Germany

Matthias Schweighofer is a German actor, film director, voice actor, and producer. Over the course of his career, Schweighofer has received several prestigious awards like the German Television Prize, Adolf Grimme Award, and Bavarian Film Award. Matthias Schweighofer is also a fashion enthusiast; he is credited with co-founding a fashion label named German Garment along with television presenter Joko Winterscheidt.

 22 
Max Schreck
(Actor)
Max Schreck
2
Birthdate: September 6, 1879
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: February 20, 1936
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 23 
Lex Barker
(Actor)
Lex Barker
2
Birthdate: May 8, 1919
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Rye, New York, United States
Died: May 11, 1973
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 24 
Gert Fröbe
(German Actor Known for His Negative Role 'Auric Goldfinger' in the James Bond Film 'Goldfinger')
Gert Fröbe
2
Birthdate: February 25, 1913
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Oberplanitz, Zwickau, Germany
Died: September 5, 1988

German actor Gert Fröbe is best remembered as Auric Goldfinger from the James Bond film Goldfinger and as Baron Bomburst from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He initially gained fame with German films such as Berliner Ballade. He was also part of the Canadian-German series The Little Vampire.

 25 
Louis Hofmann
(Actor)
Louis Hofmann
3
Birthdate: June 3, 1997
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bensberg, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 26 
Samuel E. Wright
(Actor)
Samuel E. Wright
2
Birthdate: November 20, 1946
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Camden, South Carolina, United States

Two-time Tony-nominated actor Samuel E. Wright is best known for his performances in The Lion King and The Tap Dance Kid. Fans also know him as the voice of Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, and his track Under the Sea, from the movie, won an Academy Award.

 27 
Sophia Thomalla
(German Model, Actress, and Television Presenter)
Sophia Thomalla
2
Birthdate: October 6, 1989
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 28 
Hardy Krüger
(Actor)
Hardy Krüger
2
Birthdate: April 12, 1928
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Wedding, Berlin, Germany
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 29 
David Kross
(Film actor)
David Kross
2
Birthdate: July 4, 1990
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Henstedt-Ulzburg, Germany
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 30 
Oliver Masucci
(Actor)
Oliver Masucci
2
Birthdate: December 6, 1968
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Stuttgart, Germany
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 31 
Dieter Laser
(Actor)
Dieter Laser
2
Birthdate: February 17, 1942
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kiel, Germany
Died: February 29, 2020
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 32 
August Diehl
(Actor)
August Diehl
2
Birthdate: January 4, 1976
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: West Berlin
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 33 
Ernst Lubitsch
(Film director)
Ernst Lubitsch
2
Birthdate: January 29, 1892
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: November 30, 1947
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 34 
Wilhelm von Homburg
(German Boxer and Actor)
Wilhelm von Homburg
2
Birthdate: August 25, 1940
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
Died: March 10, 2004
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 35 
Thorsten Kaye
(Actor)
Thorsten Kaye
2
Birthdate: February 22, 1966
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Frankfurt, Germany
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 36 
Emil Jannings
(German Actor Who was the First Recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actor)
Emil Jannings
2
Birthdate: July 23, 1884
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Rorschach, Switzerland
Died: January 2, 1950

Emil Jannings was a German actor who became the first recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actor. He was born in Switzerland but moved to Germany as a young child. He began his career as a theater actor and enjoyed tremendous success. He later ventured into films and became a popular figure in Hollywood in the 1920s.   

 37 
Tomer Sisley
(Israeli and French Comedian and Actor)
Tomer Sisley
2
Birthdate: August 14, 1974
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: West Berlin, West Germany
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 38 
Ingo Rademacher
(Actor)
Ingo Rademacher
2
Birthdate: April 22, 1971
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Iserlohn, Germany
 39 
Henry Brandon
(Actor)
Henry Brandon
2
Birthdate: June 8, 1912
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: February 15, 1990
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 40 
Peter Stumpp
Peter Stumpp
2
Birthplace: Bedburg
Died: October 31, 1589
 41 
Numan Acar
(Actor and Film Producer Best Known for His Role as 'Haissam Haqqani' in the TV Series 'Homeland')
Numan Acar
554
Birthdate: October 7, 1974
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Kozoglu, Kelkit District, Turkey

Numan Acar is a Turkish-German film producer and actor. A civil engineer by profession, Acar chose acting in the late 1990s and started appearing in German and Turkish films. In 2007, he began his own production company Acar Entertainment, which produces German-Turkish movies. Numan Acar achieved international fame in 2019 when he played Dmitri Smerdyakov in Spider-Man: Far From Home. 

 42 
Gustav Knuth
(German Actor)
Gustav Knuth
2
Birthdate: July 7, 1901
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Braunschweig, Germany
Died: February 1, 1987

Gustav Knuth was a German actor who appeared in over 120 movies between 1935 and 1982. Some of his best-known films include My Daughter and I, You Don't Shoot at Angels, and That Can Happen to Anyone. Gustav Knuth also played an important role in the TV series Alle meine Tiere.

 43 
George Nader
(Actor)
George Nader
2
Birthdate: October 19, 1921
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Pasadena, California, United States
Died: February 4, 2002

American actor/writer George Nader is best known for his iconic films such as Sins of Jezebel and Congo Crossing. With his 6’1” frame, the actor mostly earned "beefcake" roles. Though not openly gay, he lived with his partner Mark Miller. An eye injury later forced him to retire from acting.

 44 
Serkan Çayoğlu
(Actor)
Serkan Çayoğlu
2
Birthdate: May 31, 1987
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Germany
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 45 
Elyas M'Barek
(Austrian Actor)
Elyas M'Barek
2
Birthdate: May 29, 1982
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 46 
Walter Gotell
(Actor)
Walter Gotell
2
Birthdate: March 15, 1924
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bonn, Germany
Died: May 5, 1997
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 47 
Blixa Bargeld
(German Musician)
Blixa Bargeld
2
Birthdate: January 12, 1959
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 48 
Falk Hentschel
(German Actor, Dancer and Choreographer)
Falk Hentschel
2
Birthdate: March 31, 1982
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Leipzig, Germany

Falk Hentschel is a German dancer, actor, and choreographer. Best known for his work in the American film industry, Hentschel has played important roles in movies like Transcendence and White House Down. He earned international recognition when he played Hawkman in DC's Legends of Tomorrow in 2016.   

 49 
Richard Sammel
(Known for his role as Thomas Eichhorst on the FX television series The Strain)
Richard Sammel
2
Birthdate: October 13, 1960
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Heidelberg, Germany
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 50 
Volker Bruch
(Actor)
Volker Bruch
2
Birthdate: March 9, 1980
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)