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Thorsten Merten
Actor

Thorsten Merten

1 Dec 1963Born
62Age
142Credits
Ruhla, GermanyBirthplace

Biography

Thorsten Merten (born December 4, 1963, in Ruhla) is a German actor.

Thorsten Merten originally intended to become a journalist and initially worked as a trainee at the newspaper *Das Volk*. After completing his military service, he underwent acting training from 1986 to 1990 at the "Ernst Busch" Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin, where he attended the newly established cabaret department and graduated with a diploma in cabaret performance.

This was followed by engagements at various theaters both at home and abroad, including the Théâtre Vidy in Lausanne, the Staatstheater Schwerin, the Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin, the Volksbühne Berlin, and the Deutsches Theater Berlin.

Read the full biography

For his stage work, he was awarded the Conrad Ekhof Prize in 1999.

His notable stage roles include McMurphy in *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest*, the Ghost in *Hamlet*, as well as roles in *Ivanov*, *Prometheus*, and *Sonnenallee*. In 2024, he played the role of operations manager Kuckuck in the operetta *Messeschlager Gisela* at the Komische Oper Berlin.

Merten gained his first experience in front of the camera in 1992 in Andreas Dresen's film *Stilles Land*. He achieved his breakthrough in 2001 with the tragicomedy *Halbe Treppe* (Grill Point), also directed by Dresen. Since then, he has appeared regularly in both feature films and television productions.

Merten also gained recognition through roles in *Wilsberg*, *Afrika, mon amour*, *Bella Block*, *Helen Dorn*, *Donna Leon*, and numerous episodes of *Tatort*. From 2013 to 2021, he played the role of precinct chief Stich in the Weimar-based *Tatort* series. Since 2009, he has portrayed Chief Inspector—later Police Commissioner—Martin Fichte in the ZDF series *Spreewaldkrimi*.

He has also played lead roles in other productions, including *Silvi* and *Fremdkörper*. In 2021, he received the German Film Award for his supporting role in *Curveball – Wir machen die Wahrheit*. Furthermore, Merten came up with the idea for the Netflix series *Das letzte Wort*, in which he appeared alongside Anke Engelke.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 142 credits.

  1. TBAGespensterwaldFilm: Jan Jürgens
  2. TBASchwarzer SommerFilm: Jan Jürgens
  3. TBADie Verteidigerin - TötungsabsichtFilm
  4. TBATriptychFilm
  5. 2026Der große ZusammenbruchFilm
  6. 2026Bibi Blocksberg - Die total verhexte ZeitreiseFilm: Krause
  7. 2026A Stroll to SyracuseFilm
  8. 2025Berlin HeroFilm: Harald Wischnewsky
  9. 2025Miss Merkel - Ein Kreuzfahrt-KrimiFilm: Joachim
  10. 2025The Policeman's NieceFilm: Werner Barth
  11. 2025CicadasFilm: Uwe
  12. 2025Other People's MoneySeries: Rolf Lebert (3 episodes)
  13. 2025The Next LevelSeries: Matt (6 episodes)
  14. 2024Bach - A Christmas MiracleFilm: Adrian Stieglitz
  15. 2024From Hilde, with LoveFilm: Dr. Minergerode
  16. 2024Der Fall Marianne VossFilm: Fritz Malowski
  17. 2024Miss Merkel - Mord auf dem FriedhofFilm: Achim Sauer
  18. 2024PumpenSeries: Rainer Müller (1 episode)
  19. 2024RoxyFilm: Passfälscher
  20. 2024Night to be GoneFilm: Dieter
  21. 2023Der zweite KurzschlussFilm: Oliver
  22. 2023Berlin Bad TripSeries: Jens Lamprecht (6 episodes)
  23. 2023The GryphonSeries: Dr. Peters (6 episodes)
  24. 2023German GeniusSeries: Olli Hansen (1 episode)
  25. 2023Kleine EheverbrechenFilm: Dieter Beil
  26. 2023Sam: A SaxonSeries: Major Schreier (7 episodes)
  27. 2023Miss Merkel - Ein Uckermark-KrimiFilm: Joachim Sauer
  28. 2022What You Can See from HereFilm: Herr Rödder
  29. 2022Hunting SeasonFilm: Vermieter
  30. 2022Alfons Jitterbit – Class Trip Chaos!Film: Herr Flickendorf
  31. 2022Locked in SocietyFilm: Manfred Prohaska
  32. 2022Divided We StandSeries: Hajo Gärster (6 episodes)
  33. 2022Eine riskante EntscheidungFilm: Bernhard Elster
  34. 2021Befriending the GrouchSeries: Nowak (6 episodes)
  35. 2021Sprachlos in IrlandFilm: Dirk
  36. 2021CurveballFilm: Schatz
  37. 2020There Are No Orange Trees in BerlinFilm: Wärter Grunert
  38. 2020The Last WordSeries: Andreas Borowski (6 episodes)
  39. 2020ExitFilm: Hönings
  40. 2020DeutscherSeries: Frank Pielcke (4 episodes)
  41. 2020Nothing More PerfectFilm
  42. 2019KnorxFilm: Vogtländer
  43. 2019The AuditionFilm
  44. 2019Der vierte MannFilm: Kurt Lehrmann
  45. 2019Good Girl Gone BadFilm: Helmut Mayer
  46. 2019Alfons ZitterbackeFilm: Mr. Flickendorf
  47. 2018AtlasFilm: Alfred Hoppe
  48. 2018The Most Beautiful Girl in the WorldFilm: Taxifahrer Klaus
  49. 2018DonbassFilm: German Journalist
  50. 2018GundermannFilm: Puppenspieler
  51. 2018The Institute - Oasis of FailureSeries (1 episode)
  52. 2017Rübezahls SchatzFilm: Arzt
  53. 2017Hit Mom – Mörderische WeihnachtenFilm: Professor
  54. 2017Das NebelhausFilm: Doros Chef
  55. 2017BrothersFilm: Rainer Welke
  56. 2017Bruder - Schwarze MachtSeries: Bahr (4 episodes)
  57. 2017Babylon BerlinSeries: Henning (34 episodes)
  58. 2017Tiger MilkFilm: Stefan
  59. 2017In Times of Fading LightFilm
  60. 2016The Last PigFilm: Meier
  61. 2016Die Pfeiler der MachtSeries: Joseph Pilaster (2 episodes)
  62. 2015Alki AlkiFilm: Thomas
  63. 2015Die KanzleiSeries: Otto Suhlke (1 episode)
  64. 2015SedwitzSeries: Ralf "Ralle" Pietzsch (6 episodes)
  65. 2015HeilFilm: Verfassungsschützer F. – Sachsen
  66. 2015Foreign BodyFilm: Wolfgang
  67. 2015Naked Among WolvesFilm: Hans Bochow
  68. 2015EinschnittFilm: der Bürochef
  69. 2015Rough Road AheadFilm
  70. 2014Open the WallFilm: Manfred
  71. 2014We Are Young. We Are Strong.Film
  72. 2014Willkommen bei HabibFilm: Bruno
  73. 2014Helen DornSeries: Wachmann Strauch (1 episode)
  74. 2014Der RücktrittFilm: Martin Heidemanns
  75. 2013The Golden GooseFilm: Räubervater
  76. 2013Der zweite MannFilm: Klaus Padberg
  77. 2013SunnyFilm
  78. 2013Silvi - Maybe LoveFilm: Michael
  79. 2013Kohlhaas or the Proportionality of MeansFilm: Herse
  80. 2012Schneeweißchen und RosenrotFilm: Hofrat

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.