Best German Actors in History

Internationally one of the most successful German actors. He had a German father and a French mother, born and raised in Germany. 1946 he got the Austrian citizenship.

He was the first person to be presented with an Oscar when he was honored with the first Academy Award for Best Actor in 1929. Ancestry: a German American father (Emil Janenz), a Russian-German mother of distant Jewish descent. Emil grew up in Görlitz and Leipzig, Germany.

He is honored with a star on the "Boulevard der Stars" in Berlin.

He is the father of the German actor Götz George.

Probably the most famous and popular actor in classic German cinema.

Götz George was a son of the legendary German actor Heinrich George.

TV series (most notable):
Schimanski (since 1997, as Schimanski)
Tatort (1970s-80s, as Schimanski)

Movies (most notable):
George (2013)
Deckname Luna (2012)
Kabale und Liebe (2005)
Nichts als die Wahrheit (1999)
Rossini (1997)
Der Totmacher (1995)
Der Sandmann (1995)
Schtonk! (1992)
Der Bruch (1989)
Die Katze (1988)
Abwärts (1984)
Aus einem deutschen Leben (1977)
Herrenpartie (1964)
Der Schatz im Silbersee (1962)
Der Teufel spielte Balalaika (1961)
Kirmes (1960)
Jacqueline (1959)

Awards:
Filmband in Silber (1960)
Filmband in Gold (1985, 1992, 1996)
Bambi (1962, 1984, 1992)
Adolf-Grimme-Preis (1989, 1996, 2003, 2011)
Goldene Kamera (1992, 2001)
Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (1993)
Bayerischer Filmpreis (1995)
Coppa Volpi (1995)
Emmy (2003)
Deutscher Fernsehpreis (2007)
Star on the "Boulevard der Stars" in Berlin (2010)
Deutscher Schauspielerpreis (2013)
..and others..

He is honored with a star on the "Boulevard der Stars" in Berlin.

He is honored with a star on the "Boulevard der Stars" in Berlin.

Armin Mueller-Stahl is the only German actor who was successful in both German countries (GDR, FRG) and in Hollywood.

TV Series (most notable):
The West Wing (2004, 4 episodes, as Israeli Prime Minister)
Die Manns - Ein Jahrhundertroman (2001)

Movies (most notable):
Angels & Demons (2009)
The International (2009)
Buddenbrooks (2008)
Eastern Promises (2007)
Jakob the Liar (1999)
The Third Miracle (1999)
The Thirteenth Floor (1999)
The X Files (1998)
The Peacemaker (1997)
The Game (1997)
Shine (1996)
The House of the Spirits (1993)
The Power of One (1992)
Kafka (1991)
Night on Earth (1991)
Music Box (1989)
Das Spinnennetz (1989)
Oberst Redl (1985)
Bittere Ernte (1985)
Die Sehnsucht der Veronika Voss (1982)
Lola (1981)

Awards:
Nationalpreis der DDR zweiter Klasse (1972)
Filmband in Gold (1982)
Bundesverdienstkreuz (1989, 2002, 2008)
Silberner Bär (1992)
Berliner Bär (1993)
Jupiter-Award (1997, 2002)
Berlinale Kamera (1997)
Adolf-Grimme-Preis (2003)
Deutscher Filmpreis (2007)
Bambi (2007)
Goldene Feder (2008)
Genie Award (2008)
Star on the "Boulevard der Stars" in Berlin (2010)
Goldener Ehrenbär (2011)
Goldene Kamera (2011)
..and others..

He is honored with a star on the "Boulevard der Stars" in Berlin.

Otto Gebühr (29 May 1877 – 14 March 1954) was a German stage and film actor, who appeared in 102 films released between 1917 and 1954. He is noted for his performance as the Prussian king Frederick the Great in numerous films - this role suited perfectly to him.

films (examples):
Der große König
Fridericus
Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam
Nanon
Bismarck

He is honored with a star on the "Boulevard der Stars" in Berlin.

Vicco von Bülow, better known as Loriot, was a comedian, humorist, cartoonist, film director, actor and writer.
He is best known for his cartoons, the sketches from his 1976 television series 'Loriot', alongside Evelyn Hamann, and his two movies, Ödipussi (1988) and Pappa Ante Portas (1991).

Here you can watch his most famous scetch: Loriot - Die Nudel
...and here another funny clip: Loriot - German for Foreigners
...a clip with his comedian partner Evelyn Hamann: Loriot - Die Inhaltsangabe

He is honored with a star on the "Boulevard der Stars" in Berlin.

He is honored with a star on the "Boulevard der Stars" in Berlin.

Karl Valentin and Liesl Karlstadt were comedian partners, almost always performing together on stage and in films.



Karl is honored with a star on the "Boulevard der Stars" in Berlin.

Fröbe is one of the greatest German character actors of the 20th Century. He also acted in many international productions like 'Goldfinger', 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' or 'The Longest Day'.

The most popular actor in the GDR.

Known for his role as Inspektor Derrick

Hans Söhnker (1903–1981) appeared in 105 films between 1933 and 1980.

Paul Henckels (1885–1967) appeared in more than 230 films between 1921 and 1965 - mostly as supporting actor. He starred in 'Die Feuerzangenbowle' as Professor Bömmel.

Fritz Rasp (1891–1976) appeared in 104 films between 1916 and 1976. He excelled in dark roles: villains, rapists, traitors. His most notable films were Metropolis (1927), Tagebuch einer Verlorenen/Diary of a Lost Girl (1929), Die 3-Groschen-Oper/The Threepenny Opera (1931).

Curt Bois (1901–1991) began acting in 1907, becoming one of the film world's first child actors. He is internationally best remembered for his performance as the Pickpocket in Casablanca (1942). Bois' acting career spanned eighty years, a longer period than can be claimed by any other actor.

Dieter Borsche (1909–1982) appeared in over 90 films between 1935 and 1981. Borsche became a film star after the Second World War following his performance in Keepers of the Night (1949).

Carl Raddatz (1912–2004) appeared in 55 films between 1938 and 1990. He was a leading man of German cinema during the Nazi era appearing in a number of propaganda films and romances. Later in his career he developed a reputation for playing benevolent father figures.

One of the most popular actors in the GDR.

One of the most popular actors in the GDR.

He was very popular in the GDR during the 1960's and 80's.

He was a popular actor in the GDR and today especially popular as a narrator and dubbing actor.

Gustav Knuth (1901–1987) appeared in 128 films between 1935 and 1982.

Hans Leibelt (1885–1974) appeared in nearly 200 films between 1923 and 1970 mainly in supporting roles. He often played fathers, uncles, diplomats and directors.

From 1929 onwards, Platte performed in more than 200 film roles, embodying the shy and underestimated, likeable "Little Man".

Sigfried Arno (1895–1975) was a German-Jewish film actor who appeared in such films as Pardon My Sarong, and The Mummy's Tomb. He may be best remembered from The Palm Beach Story (1942) as "Toto", the nonsense-talking mustachio'd man who follows around Mary Astor's "Princess Centimillia".

Rudolf Fernau (1898–1985) appeared in 53 films between 1936 and 1982.

Martin Held (1908-1992) appeared in nearly 70 films between 1951 and 1987. Before he was already a very successfull stage actor.