Harald Schmidt
Known for: Acting
Harald Franz Schmidt is a German actor, comedian, television presenter, and author, best known as the host of two popular German late-night shows. The son of refugees who fled the Sudetenland (now the Czech Republic) in 1945, Schmidt spent his youth in the Swabian town of Nürtingen. Due to his strict Catholic upbringing, he became actively involved in the Roman Catholic Church, serving as a choirmaster and playing the organ. At the age of 21, Schmidt moved to Stuttgart, where he attended drama school for three years. Subsequently, he gained stage experience at the *Städtische Bühne* (Municipal Theater) in Augsburg. His first role was that of the Second Mamluk in Lessing’s *Nathan the Wise*. In 1984, Schmidt became a lyricist for the cabaret ensemble *Kom(m)ödchen* in Düsseldorf, and in 1986, he was named "Best Up-and-Coming Cabaret Artist." That same year, he toured Germany with his own solo show. Television soon took notice of the talented young comedian, and in 1988, Schmidt hosted his first TV program, *MAZ ab*. This was followed by shows such as *Psst!* and *Schmidteinander*. He experienced the greatest boost of his career in 1992, when he took over as host of the popular Saturday-night show *Verstehen Sie Spaß?*. Schmidt was awarded the Adolf Grimme Prize—Germany’s most prestigious television award—the first of many such honors to follow. Just one year later, he was named "Entertainer of the Year" and received both the Bambi and the *Goldene Kamera* awards.
Filmography
Volle Kanne
Self
1999
Series
Wetten, dass..?
Self
1981
Series
Die Harald Schmidt Show
Self - Host
1995
Series
Leute heute
Self
1997
Series
DAS!
1991
Series
DAS!
Self
1991
Series
SOKO Stuttgart
Prof. Dr. Lukas Gotthardt
2009
Series
Bambi
Self - Laudation
1948
Series
Bambi
Self
1948
Series
Bambi
Self - Moderator
1948
Series
Abendschau
Self
2000
Series
Das Traumschiff
Oskar de Navetta
1981
Series
Das Traumschiff
Oskar Schifferle
1981
Romy Award
Self
1990
Grimme Award
Self
1964
Series
Nachtcafé
Self
1987
Series
Beckmann
Self
1999
Goldene Kamera
Self
1984
Menschen der Woche
Self
2000
Menschen bei Maischberger
Self
2003
Series
alfredissimo! Kochen mit Bio
Self
1994
Series
Kulturplatz
Self
2004
Series
Ringlstetter
Self
2016
German Television Award
Self
1999
Münchner Runde
2000
Blauer Panther
Self
1989
Series
Boulevard Bio
Self
1991
Der Sonntags-Stammtisch
Self
2007
Series
Nuhr im Ersten
Self
2009
Sabine Christiansen
Self
1998
Series
Verstehen Sie Spaß?
Self - Host
1980
Die Pyramide
Self
1979
Musikantenstadl
Self
1981
Menschen
Self
1982
Mitternachtsspitzen
Self
1988
Lebens-Künstler
Self
1995
Pssst ...
Self - Host
1990
Gredig direkt
Self
2020
Series
Kurzstrecke mit Pierre M. Krause
Self
2020
Series
Kurzstrecke mit Pierre M. Krause
2020
Series
Alles Nichts Oder?!
Self
1988
Series
Sträter
Self - Guest
2020
Erlesen
self
2010
Series
Schmidt & Pocher
Self - Host
2007
Telestar
Self
1983
Series
Schmidteinander
Moderator
1990
Prix Pantheon
himself
1995
Kuli & Co.
Self
1999
Film
7 Zwerge - Männer allein im Wald
Jester Candidate
2004
Series
Zur Person
Self
1963
Film
Frei:Gespielt - Mehmet Scholl - Über das Spiel hinaus
Himself
2007
Schawinski
Self
2011
Die Mike Krüger Show
Self
1991
Klassentreffen
Self
1987
Ein Abend für..
Self
2008
Gysi & Schmidt
2015
Gysi & Schmidt
Self
2015
WegGefährten
self
2007
Lesen! Mit Elke Heidenreich
Self
2003
Film
Schreckenstein Castle
Graf Schreckenstein
2016
Der Meisterfälscher
Self
2014
Was liest du?
Self
2003
Series
One Mic Stand
Self - Coach
2022
Film
The Legend of Timm Thaler: or The Boy Who Sold His Laughter
Racecourse speaker
2017
Ottis Schlachthof
himself
1999
Film
About the Looking for and the Finding of Love
Psychotherapeut
2005
Series
Gisbert
1999
Series
Talk 2000
Self
1997
Film
Stopped on Track
Himself
2011
Film
Rosamunde Pilcher: Ein Doktor und drei Frauen
lord Hurrleton
2016
Film
Late Show
Conrad 'Conny' Scheffer
1999
Film
Die Musterknaben 2
Himself
1999
Film
Zettl
Conny Scheffer
2012
Film
Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten
Rooster (voice)
2010
Das McSchmidt-Studio
Self
1998
Film
Nich' mit Leo
Bishop
1995
Series
Schmidteinander - Das Beste
1995
Film
Beckenbauer
Self - Interviewee
2024
Film
Best of Harald Schmidt - Respektlos und Rezeptfrei
2000
Die Samsas
1998
Film
Gruschel mich! Die studiVZ-Story
Self (archive footage)
2025