Ulrich Noethen
Known for: Acting
Ulrich Noethen (born Ulrich Schmid; * November 18, 1959, in Munich) is a German actor, radio drama performer, and audiobook narrator. He is considered one of Germany's most renowned film actors and gained widespread public recognition through his role in the feature film *Comedian Harmonists*. Noethen grew up as the youngest of five children in a pastor's family. After graduating from high school in Augsburg, he initially studied law before deciding to pursue acting; he subsequently completed his studies at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart. He adopted the stage name "Noethen" from his grandmother's maiden name. His theater career began in the mid-1980s at the *Städtische Bühnen Freiburg* (Freiburg Municipal Theaters). Further engagements took him to venues such as the *Schauspiel Köln* (Cologne Playhouse) and the *Staatliche Schauspielbühnen Berlin* (Berlin State Theaters), where he distinguished himself with roles in classics such as *Faust* and *A Midsummer Night's Dream*. He achieved his cinematic breakthrough in 1997 with the role of Harry Frommermann in *Comedian Harmonists*. For this performance, he received the German Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, as well as the Bavarian Film Award. Numerous other defining roles in film and television followed. Among his most well-known works are the family films *Das Sams*, *Bibi Blocksberg*, and *Das fliegende Klassenzimmer*. In *Der Untergang* (Downfall), he played Heinrich Himmler, while in *Mein Führer – Die wirklich wahrste Wahrheit über Adolf Hitler* (My Führer – The Truly Truest Truth About Adolf Hitler), he offered a satirical interpretation of the same historical figure. Other significant productions include *Gripsholm*, *Ein fliehendes Pferd*, *Hannah Arendt*, and *Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank* (The Diary of Anne Frank), in which he portrayed Otto Frank. Since 2014, Noethen has starred as the psychiatrist Dr. Jessen in the crime series *Neben der Spur*. Additionally, he appeared as Ferdinand Sauerbruch in the historical drama series *Charité*. Noethen has received numerous awards and honors, including the *Goldene Kamera* (Golden Camera), the *Adolf-Grimme-Preis*, and multiple nominations for the German Film Award. He lives in Berlin-Charlottenburg and is in a relationship with the writer Alina Bronsky.
Filmography
Series
Scene of the Crime
Dr. Zimmer
1970
Series
Scene of the Crime
Nat Dorsey
1970
Series
Scene of the Crime
Hans Wolff
1970
Series
Scene of the Crime
Staatsanwalt Jörg Reinhardt
1970
Series
The Old Fox
Prof. Simon Holter
1977
Series
Morgenmagazin
Self
1992
Volle Kanne
Self
1999
Series
Polizeiruf 110
Alexander Beck
1971
Series
NDR Talk Show
Self
1979
Mein Nachmittag
Self
2008
Series
A Case For Two
Dr. Jürgen Mattes
1981
Series
Wer weiß denn sowas?
Self
2015
Series
Bambi
Self
1948
Grimme Award
Self
1964
Menschen der Woche
Self
2000
German Film Award
Self
1951
Series
Der Kriminalist
Ulli Grützke
2006
Goldene Kamera
Self
1984
Quizduell-Olymp
Self
2015
Blauer Panther
Self
1989
Im Namen des Gesetzes
Frank Kleinert
1994
Film
Downfall
Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler
2004
Series
Siska
Albert Branner
1998
Series
Siska
Erwin Schöller
1998
Series
Charité
Ferdinand Sauerbruch
2017
Series
Vienna Blood
Graf von Triebenbach
2019
Series
Deutschland
General Wolfgang Edel
2015
German Television Award
Self
1999
Bavarian Film Awards
Self
1979
Series
Furia
Brehme
2021
Thadeusz
self
2005
Series
Kommissar Stolberg
Ralf Reger
2006
Stadtklinik
Robert Wasser
1993
Series
Under Suspicion
Max Wemmer
2002
Series
Eurocops
1988
Series
Lesenswert
Self
2013
Series
Rosa Roth
Ralf Vorburg
1994
Series
Zwei Brüder
Ludwig Hellmann
1994
Film
I'm The Father
Nico Ellermann
2002
Series
Miss Sophie - Same Procedure as Every Year
Butler Mortimer
2025
3satBuchzeit
Self
2006
Film
Hannah Arendt
Hans Jonas
2012
Film
Bibi Blocksberg
Bernhard Blocksberg
2002
Series
Die Verbrechen des Professor Capellari
1998
Series
Parallel Me
Thomas
2025
Series
NSU German History X
Helmut Roewer
2016
Series
Ku'damm 59
Kurt Moser
2018
Series
The Promise
Leo Rosenbaum
2011
Sperling
Herr Krause
1996
Series
Hindenburg: The Last Flight
Ernst Lehmann
2011
Series
Neben der Spur
Dr. Johannes Jessen
2015
Love & Chaos
Film
My Führer
Heinrich Himmler
2007
Series
Marie Brand
Professor Jacobsen
2008
Series
Unterleuten: The Torn Village
Dr. Gerhard Fließ
2020
Film
The Red Jacket
Vater
2002
Series
The Wasp
Nobbe Zosch
2021
Series
Ku'damm 63
Kurt Moser
2021
Film
Makellos - Eine kurze Welle des Glücks
Anton Laux
2026
Film
Henri 4
Karl IX
2010
Mörderische Elite
Klee
2004
Film
A Coffee in Berlin
Walter Fischer
2012
Series
54 Hours: The Gladbeck Hostage Crisis
Einsatzleiter Recklinghausen
2018
Series
Die Patriarchin
Bent Peerson
2005
Series
Teufelsbraten
Vater
2008
Series
Die Partner
Martin Zobel
1995
Film
Jargo
Schuldirektor
2004
Film
Unexpected
Bernd
2014
Film
Heirate mir!
Eugen Schafmeyer
2001
Film
The Harmonists
Harry Frommermann
1997
Film
The Diary of Anne Frank
Otto Heinrich Frank
2016
Series
Wendland
Jakob Stiller
2022
Film
The German Lesson
Jens Ole Jepsen
2019
Film
Cracks in the Shell
Kaspar Friedmann
2012
Film
Life Actually
Roland Spatz
2007
Film
The Green Desert
Detlef
1999
Film
Pettson and Findus: A Little Nuisance, a Great Friendship
Pettersson
2014
Film
Moon Man
The Father (voice)
2012
Film
Beresina
Dr. Alfred Waldvogel
1999
Film
The Flying Classroom
Dr. Johann 'Justus' Bökh
2003
Film
Bibi Blocksberg and the Secret of Blue Owls
Bernhard Blocksberg
2004
Film
Busenfreunde
Bernhard Kroll
1997
Film
The Young Schiller
Buchhändler Schwan
2005
Film
Aghet
Armin Wegner
2010
Film
The Scorpion
Arno Jürging
1997
Series
Vera Brühne
Oberstaatsanwalt Böck
2001
Film
The General Case
Fritz Bauer
2016
Film
The Invisible Girl
Wilhelm Michel
2011
Series
Die Luftbrücke
Alexander Kielberg
2005
Series
The Man with the Bassoon
Rudi Bockelmann
2011
Film
Brecht - Die Kunst zu leben
Narrator (voice)
2006
Film
The Slurb
Mr. Taschenbier
2001
Film
Hitler's Final Days: The Movie 'Downfall'
Self
2005
Bangkok - Ein Mädchen verschwindet
Sven Arnhold
1999
Film
Louis van Beethoven
Christian Gottlob Neefe
2020
Film
My Magical Friend Sams
Bruno Taschenbier
2003
Film
Gripsholm
Kurt
2000
Film
Meine Tochter und der Millionär
Moritz von Wrede
2009
Film
Zwei übern Berg
Paul
2012
Film
Jew-boy Levi
Ingenieur Kohler
1999
Busenfreunde 2 - Alles wird gut!
Bernhard
1998
Film
Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace
Hans von Dohnanyi
2000
Film
TKKG - The Secret of the Mysterious Mind Machine
Lehrer Herr Manek
2006
Film
Sams im Glück
Bruno Taschenbier
2012
Das Rätsel des blutroten Rubins
Prof. Planitz
2001
Film
Off Beat
Prof. Olivari
2004
Film
Allerleirauh
King Tobald
2012
Film
Berlin Airlift
Dr. Alex Kielberg
2005
Film
Erntedank - Ein Allgäu-Krimi
Günter Hartmann
2009
Kommissar Süden und das Geheimnis der Königin
Tabor Süden
2009
Film
St. Louis
Captain Gustav Schröder
2019
Film
Die Eisläuferin
Helmuth Wendt
2015
Film
Departure
Hillas Vater
2016
Film
Kennen Sie Ihren Liebhaber?
Kai Stellmann
2012
Eine Hand wäscht die Andere
Chlodwig Pullmann
2012
Beckmann und Markowski: Gehetzt
Rablonski
1999
The Deep End
Steffen
1997
Secret Stories
Reiner
2004
Film
Was wenn der Tod uns scheidet
Joachim Hellwig
2008
Film
The Boxer and the Hairdresser
Fränki Laue
2004
Film
Broken Glass Park
Volker Trebur
2013
Lautlose Schritte
Henry Stöver
1996
Film
Ausgerechnet Weihnachten
Carl
2005
Lügen haben linke Hände
Max Timmermann
2011
Film
Runaway Horse
Helmut
2007
Das Sams in Gefahr
Film
My Husband, An Assassin
Paul Frei
2013
Film
Polly Blue Eyes
Herbert Pinn
2005
Film
¿De qué lado estás?
2002
Film
Long Shadows
Volker Widmer
2008
Film
The Inventive Lady
Gregor
2013
Film
Ett enklare liv
Peter Hoffman
2008
Film
Josefa’s Return
Norbert Blume
2024
Tsunami oder: Die Maximale Mitmenschlichkeit
2006
Rumpe und Tuli
Therapeut
2010
Film
Silberhochzeit
Leo
2006
Film
Trau’ niemals deinem Chef
Oskar Moedebeck
2010
Kommissar Süden und der Luftgitarrist
Tabor Süden
2009
Film
Es ist nicht vorbei
Prof. Wolfgang Limberg
2011
Ein starker Abgang
Arzt 2
2008
Mein ist die Rache
Girres
1997
Der Parkhausmörder
Jochen Stein
1996
Film
Von Mäusen und Lügen
Dr. Arnold 'Arnie' Fischer
2011