Matthias Schweighöfer

Matthias Schweighöfer (; born 11 March 1981) is a German actor and filmmaker known for his work in several German and American film productions. He is best known for his role as Lieutenant Franz Herber in the 2008 film ''Valkyrie''. In 2021, Schweighöfer appeared in the Netflix film '' Army of the Dead'', directed by Zack Snyder, as Ludwig Dieter. He reprised his role in the prequel film, '' Army of Thieves'', which he also directed. In 2023, he appeared in the role of German theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg in Christopher Nolan's biographical thriller, '' Oppenheimer'', about J. Robert Oppenheimer and the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.

Early life

Born in Anklam, Western Pomerania, at the time part of the communist East Germany, Schweighöfer attended Berlin's renowned acting school Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts, but dropped out after one year. Nevertheless, the son of actors had already worked with established directors such as Peter Greenaway.

Career

His first role in a feature film was ' (1997), directed by Andreas Dresen. In the following years, he appeared in projects such as '' Soloalbum'' (2003), '' Off Beat'' (2004), ''Eight Miles High'' (2007) and '' Rabbit Without Ears''. Schweighöfer portrayed Lieutenant Franz Herber in ''Valkyrie'', a 2008 film dramatizing the failed 20 July assassination and political coup plot to kill Adolf Hitler. The international release of ''Valkyrie'' and the all-star cast (including Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp and Bill Nighy) not only allowed Schweighöfer to be recognized abroad, it provided an opportunity for him to be cast in other English speaking roles.

In 2009, Schweighöfer founded the fashion label ''German Garment'' with TV presenter Joko Winterscheidt.

In 2010, he made his debut as film director with the romantic comedy '' What a Man'', followed in 2013 by his second movie '. In 2017, he directed, produced and played the lead role in ''You Are Wanted'', Amazon Studios' first non-English-language TV series.

In 2021, Schweighöfer appeared in the Netflix film '' Army of the Dead'', directed by Zack Snyder, as Ludwig Dieter. He reprised his role in the prequel film, '' Army of Thieves'', which he also directed.

In 2021/2022, he took on the role of real-life music producer Frank Farian in the biopic ''Girl You Know It's True'' about the scandalous pop duo Milli Vanilli, written and directed by Simon Verhoeven, produced by Wiedemann & Berg Film. The film was released theatrically by Leonine in December 2023.

In 2023, he portrayed physicist Werner Heisenberg in the Christopher Nolan biopic '' Oppenheimer''.

Personal life

Between 2004 and 2012, Schweighöfer dated Ani Schromm, and they got together again in the summer of 2013. They have a daughter born in 2009 and a son born in 2014. Schweighöfer and Schromm later separated, and as of 2019 Schweighöfer has been in a relationship with his ''Army of Thieves'' co-star Ruby O. Fee. Schweighöfer lives in Berlin.

Awards

* 2000: German Television Prize – Promotional Award for the performance in '
* 2002: Günter Strack TV Award – Best Young Actor for the performance in '
* 2003: Golden Camera – "Curt Jürgens Memorial Camera" for best newcomer and performances in ''Friends of Friends'' & '
* 2003: – For the performance in ''Friends of Friends''
* 2003: New Faces Award – ''Best Actor''
* 2004: Bavarian Film Award – Best Young Actor
* 2004: Baden-Baden TV and Film Festival – Special award for the outstanding performances in ' and ''Cold Spring''
* 2005: Undine Award – Best Young Actor (TV) for the performance in ''The Young Schiller''
* 2006: DIVA-Award – Best Actor for the performances in ', ''The Young Schiller'' and ''Polly Blue Eyes''
* 2007: Undine Award – Best Young Actor (feature film) for the performance in ''Eight Miles High''
* 2007: Bambi Award – Film – National – Male
* 2009: Golden Camera – Best German Actor for the performance in ''The Author of Himself: The Life of Marcel Reich-Ranicki''
* 2010: Jupiter Award – Best Male Actor (TV) for his performance in ''The Author of Himself: The Life of Marcel Reich-Ranicki''
* 2011: GQ Man of the Year – Film National

Selected filmography

Director

Actor

* 1999: '' Dr. Stefan Frank'', season 4, episode 10, als Ingo
* 2000: ' ('), as Ben Simon
* 2000: ''Trust Me'' ('), as Speedy
* 2001: ''Babykram ist Männersache'', as Malte
* 2001: ' (''Herz im Kopf''), as Dirk
* 2002: ' (''Nachts im Park''), as Hansen
* 2002: ' (TV film), as Gregor
* 2002: '' FeardotCom'', as Dieter Schrader
* 2003: '' Soloalbum'' ('), as Ben
* 2003: ', as Felix
* 2004: ''Baal'' (TV film), as Baal
* 2004: ' (', TV film), as Ben
* 2004: '' Off Beat'' ('), as Crash
* 2004: '' Gold – The Tulse Luper Suitcases''
* 2005: ' (TV film), as
* 2005: ', as Ronny Helske
* 2006: ''Lulu'' (TV film), as Jack the Ripper
* 2007: ''Eight Miles High'' ('), as Rainer Langhans
* 2007: ' (TV film), as Felix
* 2007: '' Fata Morgana'', as Daniel
* 2007: '' Rabbit Without Ears'', as Moritz
* 2008: '' The Red Baron'' ('), as Manfred von Richthofen
* 2008: ', as Jan Winter
* 2008: ''Valkyrie'', as Lieutenant Herber
* 2009: ' (TV film), as Marcel Reich-Ranicki
* 2009: '' Night Train'', as Frankie
* 2009: '' 12 Paces Without a Head'', as Gottfried Michaelsen
* 2009: '' Rabbit Without Ears 2'', as Moritz
* 2010: '' Friendship!'', as Tom
* 2011: '' What a Man'', as Alex Nowak
* 2011: ', as Alexander Honk
* 2012: '' Russian Disco'', as Wladimir
* 2013: ', as Paul Voigt
* 2013: '' Frau Ella'', as Sascha
* 2013: '' Kokowääh 2'', as himself
* 2014: '' Joy of Fatherhood'', as Felix
* 2015: '' The Little Prince'', as the Fox (German version)
* 2015: '' The Manny'', as Clemens
* 2016: '' The Most Beautiful Day'', as Andi
* 2016: '' Vier gegen die Bank'', as Max
* 2017: '' The Price'', as Jonas
* 2017: ''You Are Wanted'' (TV series), as Lukas Franke
* 2018: ''Hot Dog'', as Theo
* 2018: '' A Jar Full of Life'', as Erik Ruge
* 2018: '' 100 Things'', as Toni Katz
* 2018: ''Kursk'', as Pavel
* 2019: '' Playmobil: The Movie'', as Rex Dasher (German version)
* 2020: '' Resistance'', as Klaus Barbie
* 2021: '' Army of the Dead'', as Ludwig Dieter
* 2021: '' Army of Thieves'', as Ludwig Dieter/Sebastian Schlencht-Wöhnert
* 2022: '' The Swimmers'' as Sven
* 2022: ''Hinterland'' as Josef Severin
* 2023: '' Oppenheimer'' as Werner Heisenberg
* 2023: '' Heart of Stone''
* 2023: '' Family Switch'' as Rolf
* 2023: '' Girl You Know It's True'' as Frank Farian
* 2025: '' Elio'' as Ambassador Tegmen (English and German versions)
* 2025: ''Amrum''

Theatre

* 2004: '' One, Two, Three'' – Otto Ludwig Pfiffl, Hebbel Theatre, Berlin
* 2007: ''North'', directed by Frank Castorf, , Berlin

Audiobooks

* 2008: ''Slam'' by Nick Hornby,
* 2008: ''Die Traumnovelle'' by Arthur Schnitzler,

References

External links

*

Matthias Schweighöfer
at the German Dubbing Card Index

Matthias Schweighöfer at Players Agency

Schweighöfer at german-films.de

Rubbeldiekatz Videointerview

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schweighofer, Matthias
1981 births
Living people
German film directors
German male film actors
German male television actors
German male voice actors
People from Anklam
21st-century German male actors
Male actors from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania