Famous German Film & Theater Personalities

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 1 
Christoph Waltz
(Best Known for His Academy Award Winning Roles in the Films: ‘Inglourious Basterds’ and 'Django Unchained')
Christoph Waltz
7
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.
 2 
Michael Fassbender
(German-Irish Actor and Racing Driver)
Michael Fassbender
6
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.

 3 
Diane Kruger
(German and American Actress)
Diane Kruger
11
Birthdate: July 15, 1976
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Algermissen, Germany

An aspiring ballerina, Diane Kruger, turned towards modelling after an injury and eventually made her way into the world of acting. The German-American actress bagged limelight with the movie Troy and later cemented her position with an acclaimed film performance in Inglourious Basterds. Her other notable works include drama series The Bridge and movies National Treasure and In the Fade.

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 4 
Marlene Dietrich
(Actress and Singer)
Marlene Dietrich
5
Birthdate: December 27, 1901
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Schöneberg, Berlin, Germany
Died: May 6, 1992
Marlene Dietrich initially performed on stage in Berlin and then shot to fame with The Blue Angel. She continued to rule Hollywood with films such as Morocco, Desire, and Shanghai Express. She helped German and French exiles during World War II. Openly bisexual, she was famous for her androgynous image.
 5 
Werner Herzog
(German Film Director Regarded as a Pioneer of 'New German Cinema')
Werner Herzog
4
Birthdate: September 5, 1942
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Werner Herzog, one of the prominent figures of the New German Cinema era, has directed films such as Fitzcarraldo and Aguirre, and documentaries such as Grizzly Man. Named to TIME 100, he has written countless books and directed many operas. He was also seen playing The Client in The Mandalorian.
 6 
Zazie Beetz
(Actress Best Known for Her Comedy Series ‘Atlanta’ and Anthology Series ‘Easy’)
Zazie Beetz
6
Birthdate: May 25, 1991
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mitte, Berlin, Germany

German-American actress, Zazie Beetz, is best known for her role in the FX comedy-drama series Atlanta. She became interested in acting while in high school and appeared in many community theater productions. She began her career with small roles in short films and established herself as a popular TV actress in a few years.

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 7 
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.

 8 
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.
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 9 
Claudia Schiffer
(German Supermodel and Actress)
Claudia Schiffer
3
Birthdate: August 25, 1970
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rheinberg, Germany
In 2020, Claudia Schiffer stunned fans with an Instagram picture in a lacy blue gown on her 50th birthday, looking not any less desirable than a 20-something. The German model had earlier soared to fame as the face of Chanel and has graced the cover of American Vogue 16 times.
 10 
Nastassja Kinski
(German Actress and Former Model Known for Her Films: 'Stay as You Are' and 'Tess')
Nastassja Kinski
4
Birthdate: January 24, 1961
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany

Nastassja Kinski is a German actress who played a major role in the success of several European and American films throughout the 1980s and 1990s. One of the most popular German sex symbols of her generation, Kinski appeared in erotic films like Cat People. She is also renowned for her much-publicized personal life, which includes her relationship with Roman Polanski.

 11 
Nico
(Singer Know for Her Song 'The Velvet Underground's' debut album 'The Velvet Underground & Nico')
Nico
3
Birthdate: October 16, 1938
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cologne, Germany
Died: July 18, 1988

Nico was a German musician, singer, and songwriter. Her work continues to serve as an inspiration to several musicians like Björk, Morrissey, and the English rock band The Cure. In 2017, Susanna Nicchiarelli directed Nico's biographical film titled Nico, 1988. Also an actress, Nico appeared in many films, including Andy Warhol's experimental underground film Chelsea Girls.

 12 
Franka Potente
(German Actress Best Known for Her Starring Role in the 1998 Film 'Run Lola Run')
Franka Potente
3
Birthdate: July 22, 1974
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Münster, Germany

Franka Potente is a German actress who took the entertainment world by storm with her performance in her debut film, After Five in the Forest Primeval, for which she won a Bavarian Film Award for Best Young Actress. After establishing herself in her native country, she moved on to Hollywood, appearing in multiple popular films. 

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 13 
Sibel Kekilli
(German Actress Known for Her Role as 'Shae' on the TV Series 'Game of Thrones')
Sibel Kekilli
3
Birthdate: June 16, 1980
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Heilbronn, Germany

Two-time Lola Award-winning German actor Sibel Kekilli is best known to international audiences as Shae from the iconic HBO series Game of Thrones. The Turkish-origin actor took up many odd jobs, working as a porn actor and a waitress, before stepping into mainstream movies and tasting success with Head-On.

 14 
Heidi Klum
(The First German Model to Become a Victoria's Secret Angel)
Heidi Klum
5
Birthdate: June 1, 1973
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

German-American model and TV host, Heidi Klum has been featured on the cover of French, Portuguese, German, and Spanish Vogue magazines. She was the first German model to become a Victoria's Secret Angel. After a successful modeling career, she became a TV host in the 2000s. She is actively involved in philanthropic endeavors. 

 15 
Roland Emmerich
(Director Best Known as 'Master of Disaster' for His Science Fiction and Disaster Films)
Roland Emmerich
3
Birthdate: November 10, 1955
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Stuttgart, Germany
German director/producer Roland Emmerich is best known for his blockbuster disaster/war films such as The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day, Godzilla, and The Patriot. The LGBT activist is also openly gay. He is also an avid art collector. He has also worked for women’s rights and environmental causes.
 16 
Leni Riefenstahl
(Film Director, Photographer and Actress Known for Her Seminal Role in Producing Nazi Propaganda)
Leni Riefenstahl
3
Birthdate: August 22, 1902
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: September 8, 2003

Leni Riefenstahl was a German film director and actress best remembered for her role in producing Nazi propaganda. She made her directorial debut in 1932, becoming one of the few women to direct a movie during the Weimar Period. Riefenstahl is credited with directing two of the most technically innovative propaganda films of all time, Olympia and Triumph des Willens.

 17 
Elisabeth Rohm
(Best Known for Her Roles in TV Series: ‘Angel’ and ‘Law & Order’)
Elisabeth Rohm
3
Birthdate: April 28, 1973
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Düsseldorf, Germany
Elisabeth Röhm is best known as Kate Lockley from Angel and as Serena Southerlyn from Law & Order. Fans also loved in movies such as American Hustle. She was named to Maxim’s Hot 100 in 2002 and was also a skilled horseback rider earlier but quit it after an accident.
 18 
Tom Wlaschiha
(German Actor)
Tom Wlaschiha
3
Birthdate: June 20, 1973
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Dohna, Germany
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 19 
Arón Piper
3
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.

 20 
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.

 21 
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.

 22 
Q'orianka Kilcher
(Actress Known for Her Role as Pocahontas in the 2005 Film the New World)
Q'orianka Kilcher
4
Birthdate: February 11, 1990
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Schweigmatt, Schopfheim, Germany

Q'orianka Kilcher is an American actress, activist, and singer. She is best known for playing important characters in films like The New World and Princess Kaiulani. As an activist, Kilcher has been visiting universities and colleges and delivering speeches at organizations like Amnesty International. 

 23 
Shawn Bradley
(Former German-American Basketball Player)
Shawn Bradley
3
Birthdate: March 22, 1972
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Landstuhl, West Germany
Height: 7'6" (229 cm)
 24 
Luise Rainer
(The First Actress to Win Consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actress)
Luise Rainer
2
Birthdate: January 12, 1910
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Düsseldorf, Germany
Died: December 30, 2014

Luise Rainer, the first actor to win consecutive Academy Awards, had decided to make a career as an actor after watching a circus performance at age 6. A prominent stage actor in Germany, she secured an MGM movie deal and move to the U.S. during the Nazi regime.

 25 
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.

 26 
Brittney Powell
(German-American Actress)
Brittney Powell
3
Birthdate: March 4, 1972
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Würzburg, Germany
Best known for her relationship with the late pint-sized actor Verne Troyer of Austin Powers fame, Brittney Powell gained popularity with Celebrity Wife-Swap. She has also appeared in single-episode or cameo roles in a number of series, such as Friends and Titans. She has a son from a previous marriage.
 27 
Heike Makatsch
(Actress)
Heike Makatsch
3
Birthdate: August 13, 1971
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Düsseldorf, Germany

The daughter of former German ice-hockey player Rainer Makatsch, Heike Makatsch initially apprenticed as a dressmaker. She began her entertainment career hosting shows such as Interaktiv. She later appeared in movies such as Love Actually and Am I Beautiful? She also earned an Emmy nomination for Margarete Steiff.

 28 
Toni Garrn
(German Fashion Model and Actress)
Toni Garrn
3
Birthdate: July 7, 1992
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
German model/actor Toni Garrn gained recognition after signing with Calvin Klein and then modeled for Victoria's Secret. She played Reeva Steenkamp in Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer and also appeared in Spider-Man: Far from Home. An avid philanthropist, she is associated with the Because I Am a Girl campaign.
 29 
Romy Schneider
(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Empress Elisabeth’ in the Romantic Biopic ‘Sissi’)
Romy Schneider
4
Birthdate: September 23, 1938
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: May 29, 1982

German-French actor Romy Schneider began her career with the Heimatfilm genre of films as a teenager. She appeared as Empress Elisabeth of Austria in the Austrian Sissi trilogy and in Ludwig. She is also remembered for her César Award-winning roles in Une histoire simple and L'important c'est d'aimer.

 30 
F. W. Murnau
(Film director)
F. W. Murnau
2
Birthdate: December 28, 1888
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bielefeld, Germany
Died: March 11, 1931

F. W. Murnau was a German film director best remembered for directing the 1922 silent horror film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, which is widely regarded as a masterpiece of German Expressionist cinema. He also made Hollywood films like Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, which is often counted among the best movies ever made by critics and film directors.

 31 
Elke Sommer
(Actress)
Elke Sommer
3
Birthdate: November 5, 1940
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 32 
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)
 33 
Margot Frank
(Second World War victim)
Margot Frank
3
Birthdate: February 16, 1926
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany
Died: March 9, 1945
 34 
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.

 35 
Max Riemelt
(German Actor Best Known for His Role as 'Wolfgang Bogdanow' in the Netflix Series 'Sense8')
Max Riemelt
3
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.

 36 
Florence Kasumba
(Ugandan-German Actress Known for Her Role as ‘Ayo’ in the Film ‘Captain America: Civil War’)
Florence Kasumba
3
Birthdate: October 26, 1976
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kampala, Uganda

Ugandan-born German actor Florence Kasumba is best known as Ayo from the Marvel films. Apart from voicing Shenzi in the 2019 version of The Lion King, she has also appeared in Wonder Woman. The multilingual actor was first inspired to join the entertainment industry after watching a musical at 12.

 37 
Udo Kier
(German Actor)
Udo Kier
3
Birthdate: October 14, 1944
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lindenthal, Germany
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 38 
Anita Pallenberg
(Actress Best Known for Her Romantic Links to Three of the 'Original Rolling Stones')
Anita Pallenberg
3
Birthdate: April 6, 1942
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: June 13, 2017

Known as the Rolling Stones muse, for her affairs with at least two of the iconic rock band’s members, Anita Pallenberg was an actor-model. The Rolling Stones tracks such as You Got The Silver and Angie were inspired by her. She had also studied fashion designing after recovering from drug addiction.

 39 
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)
 40 
Helena Zengel
(Actress)
Helena Zengel
3
Birthdate: June 10, 2008
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany

When German actor Helena Zengel won the Lola Award for the Best Actress for System Crasher, she became the youngest performer to achieve the feat. She has also appeared with Tom Hanks in News of the World and earned a Golden Globe nomination for it.

 41 
Uwe Boll
(German Filmmaker Who Came to Limelight for His Adaptations of Video Game Franchises)
Uwe Boll
5
Birthdate: June 22, 1965
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Wermelskirchen, Germany
German filmmaker Uwe Boll has faced a lot of backlash for his supposedly poor-quality films, many of which have been crowdfunded. The Golden Raspberry Award-winning director has now moved on to the restaurant business and has also inspired the documentary F*** You All: The Uwe Boll Story
 42 
Lisa Vicari
(Actress)
Lisa Vicari
3
Birthdate: February 11, 1997
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Munich, Bavaria, German
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 43 
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)
 44 
Antje Traue
(Actress best known for her portrayal of the villainous, indestructible character of Faora in the 2013 Superman movie Man of Steel)
Antje Traue
3
Birthdate: January 18, 1981
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Mittweida, Germany
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 45 
Sebastian Koch
(Actor)
Sebastian Koch
3
Birthdate: May 31, 1962
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Karlsruhe, Germany
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 46 
Jürgen Prochnow
(German-American Actor)
Jürgen Prochnow
3
Birthdate: June 10, 1941
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 47 
Gudrun Burwitz
(Heinrich Himmler's daughter)
Gudrun Burwitz
3
Birthdate: August 8, 1929
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Died: May 24, 2018
 48 
Michael Haneke
(Film director, Screenwriter, Writer, University teacher)
Michael Haneke
3
Birthdate: March 23, 1942
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Munich

Award-winning Austrian film director and screenwriter Michael Haneke, who teaches film direction at the Film Academy Vienna, is best-known for films like The Piano Teacher, Caché, The White Ribbon and Amour. Haneke has made films in English, French and German, and mostly deals with subjects that examine social issues and portrays feelings of individuals facing social alienation in modern society.

 49 
Til Schweiger
(German Actor and the Country’s Most Successful Director)
Til Schweiger
5
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.

 50 
Henning Wehn
(Stand-up Comedian)
Henning Wehn
3
Birthdate: April 10, 1974
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hagen, Germany
Known as the German Comedy Ambassador in London, Henning When initially moved from Germany to the U.K. for a marketing job. A random open mic performance turned his life around. His acts on shows such as The Alternative Comedy Experience have mostly had jokes about German stereotypes.