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
The Audition (2019)
Actor
Open the Wall (2014)
as Manfred
Die Pfeiler der Macht 2 (2016)
as Joseph Pilaster
From Hilde, with Love (2024)
as Dr. Minergerode
In Times of Fading Light (2017)
Actor
Naked Among Wolves (2015)
as Hans Bochow
Donbass (2018)
as German Journalist
Miss Merkel - Ein Kreuzfahrt-Krimi (2025)
as Joachim
Triptych (—)
Actor
Alfons Zitterbacke (2019)
as Mr. Flickendorf
Bibi Blocksberg - Die total verhexte Zeitreise (2026)
as Krause
Operation Valkyrie (2004)
as Peter Graf Yorck v. Wartenburg
Berlin Hero (2025)
as Harald Wischnewsky
Der Rücktritt (2014)
as Martin Heidemanns
The Elementary Particles (2006)
as Hubert
Gundermann (2018)
as Puppenspieler
Tiger Milk (2017)
as Stefan
We Are Young. We Are Strong. (2014)
Actor
Atlas (2018)
as Alfred Hoppe
Stopped on Track (2011)
Actor
Gun-shy (2003)
as Krausser
Sooner or Later (2007)
Actor
The Golden Goose (2013)
as Räubervater
Foreign Body (2015)
as Wolfgang
What You Can See from Here (2022)
as Herr Rödder
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World (2018)
as Taxifahrer Klaus
Grill Point (2002)
as Christian
Silvi - Maybe Love (2013)
as Michael
Einschnitt (2015)
as der Bürochef
Wahrheit oder Pflicht (2005)
as Lehrer Behnke
In Liebe eine Eins (2005)
as Herr Steiner
Locked in Society (2022)
as Manfred Prohaska
Curveball (2021)
as Schatz
Hit Mom – Mörderische Weihnachten (2017)
as Professor
Alfons Jitterbit – Class Trip Chaos! (2022)
as Herr Flickendorf
Auf Doktor komm raus (2010)
as Apotheker Walter
There Are No Orange Trees in Berlin (2020)
as Wärter Grunert
Miss Merkel - Ein Uckermark-Krimi (2023)
as Joachim Sauer
Lunik (2007)
as Toni Harmann
The Last Pig (2016)
as Meier
Miss Merkel - Mord auf dem Friedhof (2024)
as Achim Sauer
Rübezahls Schatz (2017)
as Arzt
Willkommen bei Habib (2014)
as Bruno
The Policeman's Niece (2025)
as Werner Barth
Die Frau am Ende der Straße (2007)
as Klaus Garbers
Cicadas (2025)
as Uwe
Heil (2015)
as Verfassungsschützer F. – Sachsen
Der zweite Kurzschluss (2023)
as Oliver
Exit (2020)
as Hönings
Brothers (2017)
as Rainer Welke
Der große Zusammenbruch (2026)
as Andrè
Hunting Season (2022)
as Vermieter
Charlotte (2004)
as Georg
Ruhm (2012)
as Klaus Rubinstein
November Child (2008)
as Alexander
I've Never Been Happier (2009)
as Schlickenrieder
Das Nebelhaus (2017)
as Doros Chef
Sushi in Suhl (2012)
as Hans Leutner
Bach - A Christmas Miracle (2024)
as Adrian Stieglitz
Underdogs (2008)
as Forster
Rough Road Ahead (2015)
Actor
A Stroll to Syracuse (2026)
Actor
Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot (2012)
as Hofrat
Remarque - Sein Weg zum Ruhm (2008)
as Chefredakteur der „Sport im Bild“
Kohlhaas or the Proportionality of Means (2013)
as Herse
Der Fall Marianne Voss (2024)
as Fritz Malowski
Inklusion - gemeinsam anders (2011)
as Heribert Stein
Night to be Gone (2024)
as Dieter
Eine riskante Entscheidung (2022)
as Bernhard Elster
Die Verteidigerin - Tötungsabsicht (—)
Actor
Gravity (2010)
as Kollath
Haltet die Welt an (2010)
as André Spanuth
Arschkalt (2011)
as Erhard
Sprachlos in Irland (2021)
as Dirk
Vom Atmen unter Wasser (2008)
as Jo
Die Nachrichten (2005)
Actor
Alki Alki (2015)
as Thomas
Silent Country (1992)
as Kai Finke
Sunny (2013)
Actor
Der vierte Mann (2019)
as Kurt Lehrmann
Gespensterwald (—)
as Jan Jürgens
Meer is nich (2007)
as Friedrich
Weisst du eigentlich dass ganz viele Blumen blühen im Park (2011)
Actor
Kleine Eheverbrechen (2023)
as Dieter Beil
Knorx (2019)
as Vogtländer
Augen zu (2011)
as Frank
Schwarzer Sommer (—)
as Jan Jürgens
Die Weihnachtswette (2006)
as Reinhold
Four Windows (2006)
as Vater
Transport (2004)
Actor
Nothing More Perfect (2020)
Actor
Up – Down (1994)
as Peet
Frösche petzen nicht (2010)
as Jörg Hilbert
Good Girl Gone Bad (2019)
as Helmut Mayer
Der zweite Mann (2013)
as Klaus Padberg
Empathie (2010)
as Rüdiger
Roxy (2024)
as Passfälscher