Ulrich Noethen (born 18 November 1959) is a German
actor
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...
who has appeared in many movies and TV films.
He starred in ''
Comedian Harmonists
The Comedian Harmonists were an internationally famous, all-male German close harmony ensemble that performed between 1928 and 1934 as one of the most successful musical groups in Europe before World War II. The group consisted of Harry Fromm ...
''. He also played
Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Luitpold Himmler (; 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945) was of the (Protection Squadron; SS), and a leading member of the Nazi Party of Germany. Himmler was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and a main architect of th ...
twice, in ''
Der Untergang
''Downfall'' (german: Der Untergang, it, La caduta – Gli ultimi giorni di Hitler) is a 2004 German-language historical drama, historical war film, war drama film directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel from a screenplay by its producer, Bernd Eichin ...
German Film Award
The German Film Award (), also known as Lola after its prize statuette, is the national film award of Germany. It is presented at an annual ceremony honouring cinematic achievements in the German film industry. Besides being the most important ...
, the
Bavarian Film Award
The Bavarian Film Awards (german: Bayerischer Filmpreis) have been awarded annually since 1979 by the states of Germany, state government of Bavaria in Germany for “exceptional achievement in German filmmaking.” Along with the Deutscher Filmp ...
, the
Adolf Grimme Award
The Grimme-Preis ("Grimme Award"; prior to 2011: Adolf-Grimme-Preis) is one of the most prestigious German television awards. It is named after the first general director of Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk, Adolf Grimme.Golden Camera.
Life
Noethen grew up as the youngest of five children in a clergyman's family. The family initially lived in
Neu-Ulm
Neu-Ulm ( Swabian: ''Nej-Ulm'') is the capital of the Neu-Ulm district and a town in Swabia, Bavaria. Neighbouring towns include Ulm, Senden, Pfaffenhofen an der Roth, Holzheim, Nersingen and Elchingen. The population is 58,978 (31 December 2019 ...
on the
Danube
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
, where his father, Klaus-Peter Schmid (1920-2018), was dean of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Later the family moved to
Augsburg
Augsburg (; bar , Augschburg , links=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swabian_German , label=Swabian German, , ) is a city in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany, around west of Bavarian capital Munich. It is a university town and regional seat of the ' ...
, where he graduated from the Gymnasium bei St. Anna. Ulrich initially studied law for a short time, but later he followed an acting course at the University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart. Ulrich Schmidt adopted his mother's birth name (Noethen) as his stage name. He married the actress Friederike Wagner, with whom he has a daughter. The couple separated in 2005, after thirteen years of marriage, and divorced in 2009. Ulrich Noethen lives with Alina Bronsky and the three children from her first marriage in Berlin-Charlottenburg. The couple also have a daughter together.
Work
Theater
From 1985 to 1987 he was a member of the ensemble of the
Theater Freiburg
Theater Freiburg is a theatre in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Freiburg Theatre, sometimes also referred to as Stadttheater Freiburg (Freiburg municipal theatre), formerly Städtische Bühnen (Municipal Stages) Freiburg, is the oldest and bigg ...
. He then worked at the Zelt-Ensemble Birach until 1988 and then moved to the
Schauspiel Köln
Schauspiel Köln is a theatre and company in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It forms together with the Cologne Opera and other houses the Bühnen der Stadt Köln (Stages of the city of Cologne). The listed building has 830 seats in th ...
for two years, where he worked under the direction of
Frank Castorf
Frank Castorf (born 17 July 1951 in East Berlin) is a German theater director and was the artistic director of the ''Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz'' from 1992 to 2015. His work is often associated with postdramatic theatre.
Biography
Ea ...
and
Max Färberböck
Max Färberböck (born 22 September 1950) is a German film director and writer. He was born in Brannenburg, Bavaria. He began his career at theaters in Buenos Aires and in Italy. He later studied at the University of Television and Film Munich, U ...
, among others. He then moved to the Staatliche Schauspielbühnen Berlin. There he drew attention to himself through his performances in productions of ''Faust'', ''Death and Devil'' and ''
A Midsummer Night's Dream
''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...
''. When the Staatliche Schauspielbühnen Berlin closed, he switched to film acting.
Film
In 1995, he was able to see him for the first time in the TV series ''Die Partner''. He appeared in Dominik Graf's ''
Tatort
''Tatort'' ("Crime scene") is a German language police procedural television series that has been running continuously since 1970 with some 30 feature-length episodes per year, which makes it the longest-running German TV drama. Developed by ...
'' episode ' (1995) and in ' (1997). He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in ''The Scorpion''.
In 1997, Ulrich Noethen was the year of his breakthrough as a film actor with the role of the acappella singer and arranger Harry Frommermann in the successful movie ''
Comedian Harmonists
The Comedian Harmonists were an internationally famous, all-male German close harmony ensemble that performed between 1928 and 1934 as one of the most successful musical groups in Europe before World War II. The group consisted of Harry Fromm ...
''. For his role, he was awarded the German Film Award for Best Actor in 1998 and, together with
Ben Becker
Ben Becker (born 19 December 1964) is a German film, theatre and voice actor.
Biography
Becker was born in Bremen, the son of actress Monika Hansen and actor Rolf Becker. He is the brother of actress Meret Becker and the stepson of Otto Sande ...
,
Heino Ferch
Heino Ferch (born 18 August 1963) is a German film, theatre and television actor. His notable film roles include Albert Speer in ''Downfall (2004 film), Downfall'' (2004) and Harry Melchior in The Tunnel (2001 film), ''The Tunnel'' (2001).
Biogr ...
, Heinrich Schafmeister,
Max Tidof
Max Tidof (born 1960 in Polch) is a German actor.
Life
Born 1960 in Polch, he grew up in Hamburg and moved to Munich in 1979 where he started acting in the Theater.
His first experiences in TV he made 1983 with the famous German TV series '' ...
and
Kai Wiesinger
Kai Wiesinger (born 16 April 1966) is a German actor.
Life and work
Wiesinger began taking private acting lessons as a teenager. After his civil service, he became an acting student in Munich. He has been active on German television and in film ...
, with the
Bavarian Film Award
The Bavarian Film Awards (german: Bayerischer Filmpreis) have been awarded annually since 1979 by the states of Germany, state government of Bavaria in Germany for “exceptional achievement in German filmmaking.” Along with the Deutscher Filmp ...
. In 1997 he won the
Bavarian Television Award
Bayerischer Fernsehpreis (the Bavarian TV award) is an award presented by the government of Bavaria, Germany since 1989. The prize symbol is the "Blue Panther", a figure from the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory. The prize money is €10,000 (Spec ...
for Best Actor in ''Der Ausbruch und Busenfreunde''.
In 2000 he played the theatre critic and feuilletonist
Kurt Tucholsky
Kurt Tucholsky (; 9 January 1890 – 21 December 1935) was a German journalist, satirist, and writer. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Kaspar Hauser (after the historical figure), Peter Panter, Theobald Tiger and Ignaz Wrobel.
Tucholsky was on ...
in the literary film ''
Gripsholm
Gripsholm Castle ( sv, Gripsholms slott) is a castle in Mariefred, Södermanland, Sweden. It is located by lake Mälaren in south central Sweden, in the municipality of Strängnäs, about 60 km west of Stockholm. Since Gustav Vasa, Gripshol ...
'', along with Heike Makatsch, Rudolf Wessely and Jasmin Tabatabai. In 2001, Noethen played the role of Mr. Taschenbier in Paul Maar's film ''The Sams''. In the following years he remained true to the genre of cinema-family comedy with roles in ''Bibi Blocksberg'' (2002), ''Das fliegende Klassenzimmer'' after
Erich Kästner
Emil Erich Kästner (; 23 February 1899 – 29 July 1974) was a German writer, poet, screenwriter and satirist, known primarily for his humorous, socially astute poems and for children's books including '' Emil and the Detectives''. He received ...
as teacher Dr. Johann "Justus" Bökh (2003) and in the ''Das Sams'' sequel ''Sams in Danger'' (2003).
In 2004 he appeared in
Oliver Hirschbiegel
Oliver Hirschbiegel (born 29 December 1957) is a German film director. His works include ''Das Experiment'' and the Oscar-nominated '' Downfall''.
Life and career
Hirschbiegel was born in Hamburg, Germany. A Waldorf graduate, Hirschbiegel stud ...
's film ''Downfall'' in the role of Heinrich Himmler, a role he played in 2007 in
Dani Levy
Dani Levy (born 17 November 1957) is a Swiss filmmaker, theatrical director, screenwriter and actor.
Biography
Levy was born to a Jewish family in Switzerland in 1957.
's black comedy ''
My Führer – The Really Truest Truth about Adolf Hitler
''My Führer – The Really Truest Truth about Adolf Hitler'' (german: Mein Führer – Die wirklich wahrste Wahrheit über Adolf Hitler) is a 2007 German comedy-drama film directed by Dani Levy.
The setting is World War II, around New Year's o ...
'' alongside Helge Schneider, Sylvester Groth and Ulrich Mühe in complete other interpretation. Also in 2004 he was seen in the TV drama ''The Boxer and the Hairdresser'' as gay star hairdresser Fränki Laue. In 2005 he impersonated the character of the father in the tragicomedy ', alongside Matthias Schweighöfer and Meret Becker. In the same year he received a nomination for the German Television Award for his acting creation of the opaquely cool Bent Peerson in Carlo Rola's ZDF multi-parter ''The Patriarch'' with
Iris Berben
Iris Renate Dorothea Berben (, born 12 August 1950) is a German actress and voice actress.
Biography
Berben was born in Detmold, North Rhine-Westphalia. She grew up in Hamburg, where her parents ran a restaurant.
Berben has appeared in about ...
in the leading role.
In 2005 he was seen in ' as returnee Dr. Alexander Kielberg, again alongside Heino Ferch and Ulrich Tukur. For his role he received the German Television Award for Best Supporting Actor. On February 2, 2006 he was awarded the Golden Camera for his role interpretations in ''The Airlift'', ''The Boxer and the Friseuse'', and ''Silver Wedding'' as Best German Actor.
In 2007 he impersonated the role of the husband Helmut Halm in Rainer Kaufmann's film ''
Runaway Horse
''Runaway Horse'' (german: Ein fliehendes Pferd) is a 1978 novella by the German writer Martin Walser.
Plot
Two men facing midlife crisis, Klaus Buch and Helmut Halm, are old school friends and meet by chance during vacation with their wives at ...
'', which was adapted by Martin Walser alongside Ulrich Tukur and Katja Riemann. He was nominated for the German Film Award 2008 in the category of Best Actor. In 2009, Ulrich Noethen appeared as Commissioner Tabor Süd in two ZDF films based on Friedrich Ani's crime novels. For ''Commissioner Süd and the air guitarist'', Noethen received the Adolf Grimme Prize as well as before for his leading role in Hermine Huntgeburth's TV two-part ''Devil's Roast''. He was nominated for the German Film Award for his portrayal of the French monarch Charles IX in Jo Baier's historical film '' Henri 4'' (2009).
In ''
Hannah Arendt
Hannah Arendt (, , ; 14 October 1906 – 4 December 1975) was a political philosopher, author, and Holocaust survivor. She is widely considered to be one of the most influential political theorists of the 20th century.
Arendt was born ...
'' (2012), Noethen portrayed the philosopher Hans Jonas. Since 2014 he plays the psychiatrist Dr. Jessen in the TV series ''Neben der Spur''. Noethen plays Anne's father Otto Heinrich Frank in the literary film ''
Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank
''Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank'' (also known as ''Anne Frank's diary'') is a 2016 German drama film directed by German filmmaker Hans Steinbichler and written by Fred Breinersdorfer. It stars Lea van Acken as Anne Frank, the titular character, Mart ...
'', which was shot in spring 2015 and was released in cinemas on 3 March 2016.
Noethen is a member of the German Acting Association (BFFS).
Noethen was originally supposed to play the role of Professor Boerne in the Münster ''
Tatort
''Tatort'' ("Crime scene") is a German language police procedural television series that has been running continuously since 1970 with some 30 feature-length episodes per year, which makes it the longest-running German TV drama. Developed by ...
'' from 2002, but was unable to maintain his original promise due to other interesting role offers that would have clashed with the long-term format ''Tatort''.
Selected filmography
* ''
Comedian Harmonists
The Comedian Harmonists were an internationally famous, all-male German close harmony ensemble that performed between 1928 and 1934 as one of the most successful musical groups in Europe before World War II. The group consisted of Harry Fromm ...
'' (1997) - Harry Frommermann
* ''Viehjud Levi'' (1999) - Ingenieur Kohler
* '' Beresina, or the Last Days of Switzerland'' (1999) - Dr. Alfred Waldvogel
* ''Grüne Wüste'' (1999) - Detlef
* ' (2000) - Hans Von Dohnanyi
* ''
Gripsholm
Gripsholm Castle ( sv, Gripsholms slott) is a castle in Mariefred, Södermanland, Sweden. It is located by lake Mälaren in south central Sweden, in the municipality of Strängnäs, about 60 km west of Stockholm. Since Gustav Vasa, Gripshol ...
'' (2000) - Kurt
* ''Meine polnische Jungfrau'' (2001) - Eugen Schafmeyer
* ''
Vera Brühne
Vera Brühne (February 6, 1910 in Essen – April 17, 2001 in Munich) became famous throughout Germany as a victim of miscarriage of justice. In 1961/62, she was convicted, together with Johann Ferbach, of having murdered the physician Otto Praun ...
'' (2001, TV miniseries) - Prosecutor Böck
* ' (2001) - Bruno Taschenbier
* ''Francisca'' (2002) - Helmut Busch / Bruno Müller
* ' (2002) - Nico Ellermann
* ''Bibi Blocksberg'' (2002) - Bernhard Blocksberg
* ''Das fliegende Klassenzimmer'' (2003) - Dr. Johann 'Justus' Bökh
* ' (2003) - Bruno Taschenbier
* '' Jargo'' (2004) - Schuldirektor
* '' Downfall'' (2004) -
Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Luitpold Himmler (; 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945) was of the (Protection Squadron; SS), and a leading member of the Nazi Party of Germany. Himmler was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and a main architect of th ...
* '' Off Beat'' (2004) - Prof. Olivari
* ' (2004) - Bernhard Blocksberg
* ' (2005) - Herbert Pinn
* ' (2005, TV film) - Dr. Alexander Kielberg
* ''TKKG und die rätselhafte Mind-Machine'' (2006) - Herr Manek
* ' (2006) - Roland Spatz
* ''
My Führer – The Really Truest Truth about Adolf Hitler
''My Führer – The Really Truest Truth about Adolf Hitler'' (german: Mein Führer – Die wirklich wahrste Wahrheit über Adolf Hitler) is a 2007 German comedy-drama film directed by Dani Levy.
The setting is World War II, around New Year's o ...
'' (2007) - Heinrich Himmler
* ''
Runaway Horse
''Runaway Horse'' (german: Ein fliehendes Pferd) is a 1978 novella by the German writer Martin Walser.
Plot
Two men facing midlife crisis, Klaus Buch and Helmut Halm, are old school friends and meet by chance during vacation with their wives at ...
'' (2007) - Helmut Halm
* ' (2008) - Joachim Hellwig
* ''Schattenwelt'' (2008) - Bernd Widmer
* '' Henri 4'' (2010) - Charles IX
* ''Rumpe & Tuli'' (2010) - Therapeut
* ' (2011, TV film) - Kapitän Lehmann
* ' (2011) - Rudi Bockelmann
* ''
Cracks in the Shell
''Cracks in the Shell'' (german: Die Unsichtbare; ) is a 2011 German drama film directed by Christian Schwochow.
Cast
* Stine Fischer Christensen as Josephine 'Fine' Lorenz
* Ulrich Noethen as Kaspar Friedmann
* Dagmar Manzel as Susanne Loren ...
'' (2011) - Kaspar Friedmann
* ' (2011, TV film) - Wilhelm Michel
* ''Sams im Glück'' (2012) - Bruno Taschenbier
* ''Der Mondmann'' (2012) - The Father (voice)
* ''
A Coffee In Berlin
''A Coffee in Berlin'', also titled ''Oh Boy'', is a 2012 German tragicomedy film directed by Jan-Ole Gerster. It is in black-and-white. It is the director's debut film, and thesis project for the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin.
The ...
'' (2012) - Walter Fischer
* ''
Hannah Arendt
Hannah Arendt (, , ; 14 October 1906 – 4 December 1975) was a political philosopher, author, and Holocaust survivor. She is widely considered to be one of the most influential political theorists of the 20th century.
Arendt was born ...
Deutschland 83
''Deutschland 83'' is a 2015 German television series starring Jonas Nay as a 24-year-old native of East Germany who, in 1983, is sent to West Germany as an undercover spy for the HVA, the foreign intelligence agency of the Stasi. It is a co-pr ...
'' (2015) - General Wolfgang Edel
* ' (2016, TV film) -
Fritz Bauer
Fritz Bauer (16 July 1903 – 1 July 1968) was a German Jewish judge and prosecutor. He was instrumental in the post-war capture of former Holocaust planner Adolf Eichmann and played an essential role in beginning the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials ...
* ''
Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank
''Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank'' (also known as ''Anne Frank's diary'') is a 2016 German drama film directed by German filmmaker Hans Steinbichler and written by Fred Breinersdorfer. It stars Lea van Acken as Anne Frank, the titular character, Mart ...
'' (2016) - Otto Frank
* ''
NSU German History X
''NSU German History X'' is the American name for the 2016 German TV miniseries ''Mitten in Deutschland: NSU''. The three-part series dramatizes the true events and characters of the National Socialist Underground, a neo-Nazi German terrorist ...
: '' (2016) -
Helmut Roewer
Helmut Roewer (born 1950) is a German lawyer and author. He served between 1994 and 2000 as president of the regional office for protection of the constitution in Thuringia (''"Thüringer Landesamtes für Verfassungsschutz"''). This is a state ...
* ''
Charité
The Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Charité – Berlin University of Medicine) is one of Europe's largest university hospitals, affiliated with Humboldt University and Free University Berlin. With numerous Collaborative Research Cen ...
'' (2019) -
Ferdinand Sauerbruch
Ernst Ferdinand Sauerbruch (; 3 July 1875 – 2 July 1951) was a Nazi Germany, German surgery, surgeon. His major work was on the use of negative-pressure chambers for surgery.
Biography
Sauerbruch was born in Barmen (now a district of Wu ...