Thorsten Merten
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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. 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
Credits
Alfons Zitterbacke (2019)
as Mr. Flickendorf
The Audition (2019)
Actor
Sooner or Later (2007)
Actor
Miss Merkel - Ein Kreuzfahrt-Krimi (2025)
as Joachim
Der Rücktritt (2014)
as Martin Heidemanns
Foreign Body (2015)
as Wolfgang
Alfons Jitterbit – Class Trip Chaos! (2022)
as Herr Flickendorf
The Hero of Friedrichstrasse Station (2025)
as Harald Wischnewsky
Open the Wall (2014)
as Manfred
Willkommen bei Habib (2014)
as Bruno
Wahrheit oder Pflicht (2005)
as Lehrer Behnke
From Hilde, with Love (2024)
as Dr. Minergerode
Lunik (2007)
as Toni Harmann
Operation Valkyrie (2004)
as Peter Graf Yorck v. Wartenburg
Naked Among Wolves (2015)
as Hans Bochow
In Times of Fading Light (2017)
Actor
The Elementary Particles (2006)
as Hubert
Atlas (2018)
as Alfred Hoppe
Einschnitt (2015)
as der Bürochef
Arschkalt (2011)
as Erhard
Gun-shy (2003)
as Krausser
Silvi - Maybe Love (2013)
as Michael
Bibi Blocksberg - Die total verhexte Zeitreise (2026)
as Krause
The Golden Goose (2013)
as Räubervater
Auf Doktor komm raus (2010)
as Apotheker Walter
Sushi in Suhl (2012)
as Hans Leutner
Stopped on Track (2011)
Actor
Curveball (2021)
as Schatz
Charlotte (2004)
as Georg
Triptych (—)
Actor
In Liebe eine Eins (2005)
as Herr Steiner
Eine riskante Entscheidung (2022)
as Bernhard Elster
Der zweite Kurzschluss (2023)
as Oliver
Tiger Milk (2017)
as Stefan
We Are Young. We Are Strong. (2014)
Actor
Donbass (2018)
as German Journalist
Gundermann (2018)
as Puppenspieler
A Stroll to Syracuse (2026)
Actor
Die Verteidigerin - Tötungsabsicht (—)
Actor
Sprachlos in Irland (2021)
as Dirk
Hunting Season (2022)
as Vermieter
I've Never Been Happier (2009)
as Schlickenrieder
November Child (2008)
as Alexander
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World (2018)
as Taxifahrer Klaus
Four Windows (2006)
as Vater
Locked in Society (2022)
as Manfred Prohaska
Grill Point (2002)
as Christian
Gravity (2010)
as Kollath
Ruhm (2012)
as Klaus Rubinstein
Rough Road Ahead (2015)
Actor
Cicadas (2025)
as Uwe
Frösche petzen nicht (2010)
as Jörg Hilbert
Die Frau am Ende der Straße (2007)
as Klaus Garbers
Miss Merkel - Ein Uckermark-Krimi (2023)
as Joachim Sauer
In Berlin wächst kein Orangenbaum (2020)
as Wärter Grunert
Meer is nich (2007)
as Friedrich
Heil (2015)
as Verfassungsschützer F. – Sachsen
What You Can See from Here (2022)
as Herr Rödder
Alki Alki (2015)
as Thomas
Rübezahls Schatz (2017)
as Arzt
Schwarzer Sommer (—)
as Jan Jürgens
Miss Merkel - Mord auf dem Friedhof (2024)
as Achim Sauer
Hit Mom – Mörderische Weihnachten (2017)
as Professor
The Policeman's Niece (2025)
as Werner Barth
Das Nebelhaus (2017)
as Doros Chef
Der große Zusammenbruch (—)
Actor
Exit (2020)
as Hönings
Vom Atmen unter Wasser (2008)
as Jo
Kohlhaas or the Proportionality of Means (2013)
as Herse
Underdogs (2008)
as Forster
Der zweite Mann (2013)
as Klaus Padberg
Empathie (2010)
as Rüdiger
Der Fall Marianne Voss (2024)
as Fritz Malowski
Sunny (2013)
Actor
Night to be Gone (2024)
as Dieter
The Last Pig (2016)
as Meier
Inklusion - gemeinsam anders (2011)
as Heribert Stein
Brothers (2017)
as Rainer Welke
Der vierte Mann (2019)
as Kurt Lehrmann
Remarque - Sein Weg zum Ruhm (2008)
as Chefredakteur der „Sport im Bild“
Knorx (2019)
as Vogtländer
Up – Down (1994)
as Peet
Haltet die Welt an (2010)
as André Spanuth
Silent Country (1992)
as Kai Finke
Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot (2012)
as Hofrat
Bach - A Christmas Miracle (2024)
as Adrian Stieglitz
Roxy (2024)
as Passfälscher
Augen zu (2011)
as Frank
Gespensterwald (—)
as Jan Jürgens
Kleine Eheverbrechen (2023)
as Dieter Beil
Die Weihnachtswette (2006)
as Reinhold
Transport (2004)
Actor
Good Girl Gone Bad (2019)
as Helmut Mayer
Weisst du eigentlich dass ganz viele Blumen blühen im Park (2011)
Actor
Nothing More Perfect (2020)
Actor