Acting
Thorsten Merten
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.
Filmography
Der große Zusammenbruch
Film · 2026
Bibi Blocksberg - Die total verhexte Zeitreise
Film · 2026
A Stroll to Syracuse
Film · 2026
Berlin Hero
Film · 2025
The Policeman's Niece
Film · 2025
Cicadas
Film · 2025
Miss Merkel - Ein Kreuzfahrt-Krimi
Film · 2025
The Next Level
Series · 2025
Other People's Money
Series · 2025
Night to be Gone
Film · 2024
Roxy
Film · 2024
Der Fall Marianne Voss
Film · 2024
Miss Merkel - Mord auf dem Friedhof
Film · 2024
From Hilde, with Love
Film · 2024
Bach - A Christmas Miracle
Film · 2024
Pumpen
Series · 2024
Miss Merkel - Ein Uckermark-Krimi
Film · 2023
Kleine Eheverbrechen
Film · 2023
Der zweite Kurzschluss
Film · 2023
The Gryphon
Series · 2023
Berlin Bad Trip
Series · 2023
Sam: A Saxon
Series · 2023
German Genius
Series · 2023
Locked in Society
Film · 2022
What You Can See from Here
Film · 2022
Hunting Season
Film · 2022
Eine riskante Entscheidung
Film · 2022
Alfons Jitterbit – Class Trip Chaos!
Film · 2022
Divided We Stand
Series · 2022
Sprachlos in Irland
Film · 2021
Curveball
Film · 2021
Befriending the Grouch
Series · 2021
Nothing More Perfect
Film · 2020
There Are No Orange Trees in Berlin
Film · 2020
Exit
Film · 2020
The Last Word
Series · 2020
Deutscher
Series · 2020
Good Girl Gone Bad
Film · 2019
Der vierte Mann
Film · 2019
Alfons Zitterbacke
Film · 2019
Knorx
Film · 2019
The Audition
Film · 2019
Gundermann
Film · 2018
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
Film · 2018
Atlas
Film · 2018
Donbass
Film · 2018
The Institute - Oasis of Failure
Series · 2018
In Times of Fading Light
Film · 2017
Rübezahls Schatz
Film · 2017
Tiger Milk
Film · 2017
Das Nebelhaus
Film · 2017
Hit Mom – Mörderische Weihnachten
Film · 2017
Brothers
Film · 2017
Bruder - Schwarze Macht
Series · 2017
Babylon Berlin
Series · 2017
The Last Pig
Film · 2016
Die Pfeiler der Macht 2
Film · 2016
Die Pfeiler der Macht
Series · 2016
Naked Among Wolves
Film · 2015
Foreign Body
Film · 2015
Alki Alki
Film · 2015
Heil
Film · 2015
Einschnitt
Film · 2015
Rough Road Ahead
Film · 2015
Die Kanzlei
Series · 2015
Sedwitz
Series · 2015
Willkommen bei Habib
Film · 2014
Der Rücktritt
Film · 2014
Open the Wall
Film · 2014
We Are Young. We Are Strong.
Film · 2014
Helen Dorn
Series · 2014
Kohlhaas or the Proportionality of Means
Film · 2013
Silvi - Maybe Love
Film · 2013
Der zweite Mann
Film · 2013
Sunny
Film · 2013
The Golden Goose
Film · 2013
Ruhm
Film · 2012
Sushi in Suhl
Film · 2012
Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot
Film · 2012
Die Chefin
Series · 2012
Letzte Spur Berlin
Series · 2012
Kommissar Marthaler
Series · 2012
Arschkalt
Film · 2011
Inklusion - gemeinsam anders
Film · 2011
Weisst du eigentlich dass ganz viele Blumen blühen im Park
Film · 2011
Augen zu
Film · 2011
Stopped on Track
Film · 2011
Haltet die Welt an
Film · 2010
Auf Doktor komm raus
Film · 2010
Gravity
Film · 2010
Frösche petzen nicht
Film · 2010
Empathie
Film · 2010
I've Never Been Happier
Film · 2009
Flemming
Series · 2009
Underdogs
Film · 2008
November Child
Film · 2008
Remarque - Sein Weg zum Ruhm
Film · 2008
Vom Atmen unter Wasser
Film · 2008
Lunik
Film · 2007
Meer is nich
Film · 2007
Die Frau am Ende der Straße
Film · 2007
Sooner or Later
Film · 2007
KDD - Kriminaldauerdienst
Series · 2007
Hamburg Dockland
Series · 2007
The Elementary Particles
Film · 2006
Die Weihnachtswette
Film · 2006
Four Windows
Film · 2006
Unter anderen Umständen
Series · 2006
Der Kriminalist
Series · 2006
Kommissar Stolberg
Series · 2006
Der Kriminalist
Series · 2006
Spreewaldkrimi
Series · 2006
Spreewaldkrimi
Series · 2006
Wahrheit oder Pflicht
Film · 2005
In Liebe eine Eins
Film · 2005
Die Nachrichten
Film · 2005
Der Staatsanwalt
Series · 2005
Vienna Crime Squad
Series · 2005
Operation Valkyrie
Film · 2004
Transport
Film · 2004
Charlotte
Film · 2004
Gun-shy
Film · 2003
K3 – Kripo Hamburg
Series · 2003
SOKO Köln
Series · 2003
Solo für Schwarz
Series · 2003
Grill Point
Film · 2002
Bloch
Series · 2002
Leipzig Homicide
Series · 2001
Murder in the Mountains
Series · 2001
Donna Leon
Series · 2000
Donna Leon
Series · 2000
Küstenwache
Series · 1997
Stubbe – Von Fall zu Fall
Series · 1995
Wilsberg
Series · 1995
Up – Down
Film · 1994
Im Namen des Gesetzes
Series · 1994
Ein starkes Team
Series · 1994
Bella Block
Series · 1993
Silent Country
Film · 1992
Wolffs Revier
Series · 1992
Riverboat
Series · 1992
Polizeiruf 110
Series · 1971
Polizeiruf 110
Series · 1971
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Scene of the Crime
Series · 1970
Gespensterwald
Film
Schwarzer Sommer
Film
Die Verteidigerin - Tötungsabsicht
Film
Triptych
Film