Thorsten Merten

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. 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.

Filmografi

The Audition2019 · Open the Wall2014 · ManfredAtlas2018 · Alfred HoppeDer Rücktritt2014 · Martin HeidemannsIn Times of Fading Light2017 · From Hilde, with Love2024 · Dr. MinergerodeAlfons Zitterbacke2019 · Mr. FlickendorfBibi Blocksberg - Die total verhexte Zeitreise2026 · KrauseTriptych · Die Pfeiler der Macht 22016 · Joseph PilasterNaked Among Wolves2015 · Hans BochowDonbass2018 · German JournalistWe Are Young. We Are Strong.2014 · Sooner or Later2007 · Foreign Body2015 · WolfgangBerlin Hero2025 · Harald WischnewskyThe Golden Goose2013 · RäubervaterIn Liebe eine Eins2005 · Herr SteinerAuf Doktor komm raus2010 · Apotheker WalterEinschnitt2015 · der BürochefThe Most Beautiful Girl in the World2018 · Taxifahrer KlausStopped on Track2011 · The Elementary Particles2006 · HubertCurveball2021 · Schatz