Helge Schneider – born in 1955
The multi-talented Helge Schneider, who has been making his mark on German stages since the 1980s, is returning in 2022 with his new comedy show “Ein Mann und seine Gitarre” (A Man and His Guitar) across Germany, delighting audiences with his typical comedy in all its facets. Between acting, painting and cabaret, he is fitter than ever and has no plans to retire, so he has also booked his appearances for 2023. Over the course of more than a year, he will once again confirm his title as the “King of absurd humor” while dedicating a portion of the proceeds to charity.
Helge Schneider – Born in 1955
Sepp Maier – born in 1944
Sepp Maier, a symbol of resilience and footballing confidence, holds the first of many records to be reported: As goalkeeper for the German national team and FC Bayern Munich, he played 473 consecutive competitive matches for his club. In addition to four German championships and four DFB Cup victories, it was above all his unforgettable performances in the Champions Cup that made him immortal. Off the pitch, Maier is a humorous character, always up for a joke and always ready to develop. Today, he is enjoying his retirement and, apart from the occasional football-related interview, gives little insight into his leisure activities.
Sepp Maier – Born in 1944
Uschi Glas – born in 1944
Uschi Glas began her career as a film actress, but quickly found her way into television, building a successful career that has spanned over half a century. To this day, she is considered one of Germany’s most recognized television personalities and can look back on over eighty productions, including films, series and several musical singles. Despite her age, she can still be seen actively on television and is a guest on entertainment programs in which she reveals, among other things, that her best friends are four-legged friends, as she does voluntary work in animal shelters. In addition to the good deeds, she is also motivated by the variety and the desire to get involved – her energy is undiminished as time passes.
Uschi Glas – Born in 1944
Hella von Sinnen – born in 1959
Hella von Sinnen will be on television for many years to come: It’s now 40 years since her debut, and there’s no end in sight. Known as a presenter and comedian, especially for “Alles nichts, oder?”, she uses her appearances to draw attention to sensitive issues such as discrimination and tolerance towards homosexuals – always with her trademark platinum blonde hair, extravagant outfits and often glasses. The entertainer is also planning a return to “Genial oder Daneben”, after her last appearance on the show was two years ago.
Hella Von Sinnen – Born in 1959
Corinna Harfouch – born 1955
German television’s pre-eminent policewoman, Corinna Harfouch, has confirmed that she will return to “Tatort” in 2022, one of many crime series she has starred in. Although she has her roots in the theater and only gained wider recognition after reunification, she earned widespread acclaim for her roles in the films “Lara” and “Vera Brühne” and was awarded Best (Supporting) Actress in 2001 and 2003. After more than twenty TV roles, it seems that this is far from enough for the German actress, and everyone is eager to see what adventures Corinna will have in the years to come.
Corinna Harfouch – Born in 1955
Senta Berger – born in 1941
Senta Berger’s career began almost playfully, thanks to the strong support of her father, with whom she had a close relationship. Initially in the theater and later in film, she deliberately turned down a Hollywood career to concentrate on national and international films and television series, in which she played over 150 roles during her 70-year career. Since her last role in “An seiner Seite” (2021), the versatile actress has been living in Vienna again, enjoying the simple life with her children and only occasionally appearing in front of the camera for interviews in newspapers and magazines.
Senta Berger – Born in 1941
Freddy Quinn – born in 1932
The idol of the 1950s and 1960s, Freddy Quinn, who sold 60 million records and enchanted audiences in “Sharks On Board”, is now 90 years old – an age that makes it hard to believe that he is simply enjoying his retirement. With his sweetheart by his side, he enjoys taking romantic trips, especially to Africa and Asia, while continuing to pursue his great passion of repairing antique clocks. His main wish for his birthday is good health, although he jokes that he has already booked his coffin – hopefully just his usual irony.
Freddy Quinn – Born in 1932
Tine Wittler – born 1973
Ready to help with color and creativity, Tine Wittler showed in her show “Einsatz in vier Wänden” how deeply her passion for paintbrushes and decorating is anchored in her artistic vein. After several theater appearances and eleven published books, a period of absence from television followed, but now she is back with a bang, more self-confident than ever and openly campaigning against body shaming with her own organization. Having changed outwardly, Wittler is also using her combative attitude to continue running her small business between a restaurant and her own fashion label.
Tine Wittler – Born in 1973
Linda de Mol – born 1964
A scandal meant the end of her career – or so some media speculated when certain truths about Linda de Mol and her former partner came to light. But luckily fans can breathe a sigh of relief: the presenter is returning to television and taking over her cult show “Miljoenenjacht” again, which she had not hosted for more than 22 years. No other TV appearances have yet been announced, meaning that her last appearance in “Traumhochzeit” for ZDF dates back to 2008, while in the Netherlands she is best known as editor-in-chief of the women’s magazine of the same name.
Linda De Mol – Born in 1964
Mario Adorf – born 1930
Mario Adorf, born in 1930, is one of the best-known and most popular German actors at home and abroad and can look back on a career spanning over sixty years with more than 200 films with renowned directors and outstanding performances. Juggling music and four languages at once, he has earned the affectionate nickname “The Good Bear” over the years. After his last television appearance in 2021 in “Real Fight”, he retired from the stage and has since lived between Italy, Germany and France, where he mainly pursues his talk show engagements, which mainly revolve around literature – a passion that has accompanied him since childhood.
Mario Adorf – Born in 1930
Andrea Berg – born in 1966
The pop singer Andrea Berg is one of the most commercially successful artists in Germany and celebrated her 30th stage anniversary in July 2022 with the release of her 17th album “Ich würd’s wieder tun”. She has sold over 15 million records in her career. To mark her anniversary, she was given her own ZDF show called “30 Years of Andrea Berg”, hosted by Giovanni Zarrella, which reached over four million viewers. Even at 56, she has lost none of her popularity, and she is far from thinking about retirement – we can look forward to seeing what comes next.
Andrea Berg – Born in 1966
Susanne Uhlen – born 1955
Susanne Uhlen is celebrating a “golden wedding” with her career: after 50 years between theater and film, she is ready to close this productive and successful chapter. It was a difficult decision for her, but at the same time she felt reborn and was able to rediscover her greatest passions. Between photography, drawing and writing, she doesn’t miss the stressful filming, but looks back fondly on projects such as “Traumschiff” and “Die Kinder meiner Schwester”. Susanne is also socially committed to her four-legged friends and actively supports animal welfare as a member of the “WTG”.
Susanne Uhlen – born 1955
Eva Herman – born in 1959
It has been several years since “Tagesschau” presenter Eva Herman ended her career in 2007 – perhaps not entirely voluntarily. After 18 years at NDR and controversial political statements that divided the public, she reinvented herself as an author and publicist, albeit only for smaller newspapers. Between controversial topics and far-right ideas, she gained the – neither polite nor ironic – title of “icon of the conspiracy scene”. A decline that was determined by Eva herself: Out of pride and stubbornness, first a striking feature, then a public condemnation that will stay with her for as long as the public remembers.
Eva Herman – Born in 1959
Paul Breitner – born 1951
At the age of 23, Paul Breitner was already considered one of the greatest footballers in the world and the first true all-rounder in history, who started out as a left-back but excelled all over the pitch. He was already a star at FC Bayern Munich at the age of 18 and soon became a member of the national team. Years later, Breitner remains a revolutionary, known for his distinctive hairstyle, which earned him the nickname “The Afro”, even though his hair is now white. At the age of 71, he now works as a pundit on television and in journalism and returns to the stadiums – this time to watch the game from above.
Paul Breitner – Born in 1951
Dieter Hallervorden – born in 1935
“Didi” has grown up – from black-and-white television to the colorful days of the cult classic “Nonstop Nonsense”, Dieter Hallervorden is a legend of German television. Anyone who thinks he has retired from the stage is mistaken: Hallervorden is more active than ever, only on other stages, because his theater career is a flame that refuses to go out. in 2022, he opened his new theater in Dessau, the city where he was born and raised. With his strong and determined personality, he always answers the question about his retirement with “never”, because for him, retirement is about giving up.
Dieter Hallervorden – Born in 1935
Hugo Egon Balder – born in 1950
Hugo Egon Balder is a household name, especially through “Tutti Frutti”, where his talent made every show he appeared in a success. After 18 years on “Genial daneben”, he continued to be present until 2021 and still lives with the same youthful spirit – between charisma and discussions. There were also big changes in his private life: in 2019, he exchanged wedding rings with his new love Elena Sumischewskaja. Hugo Egon is enjoying the moment, has few thoughts about the future and is happily back in the theater – the rest? Carpe diem.
Hugo Egon Balder – Born in 1950
Thomas Gottschalk – born in 1950
Thomas Gottschalk is best known as the long-standing presenter of “Wetten, dass…?”. His career began on the radio before he switched to television in 1976 with the music clip program “Szene”, where he has been an integral part of German show stages ever since. After an extended stay in the USA, he returned to Germany in 2019 and now lives in Baden-Baden with his partner Karina Mroß. He is still active on television and radio today: he has hosted the show “Die Puppenstars” on RTL since 2022 and has his own radio show “Gottschalks Playlist” on SWR, which is broadcast every other Friday.
Thomas Gottschalk – Born in 1950
Elke Sommer – born 1941
Elke Sommer, known as a sex symbol of the 1960s, was discovered during a vacation in Italy in 1958 and was elected Miss Viareggio, which enabled her to enter the Italian film industry and later also the German film world. she reached Hollywood in 1962 with “The Girl and the Prosecutor”, but did not have a major breakthrough. In almost all of her films, she played the sexy role type, later she also worked in the theater and as a painter. Today, Elke Sommer has retired from the film business and enjoys her retirement with her husband Wolf Walther, alternating between Los Angeles and Marloffstein in central Franconia.
Elke Sommer – Born in 1941
Heino – born in 1939
Heino became famous as a pop singer, but he has always reinvented his music – and continues to do so to this day. He celebrated his breakthrough in 1965 with the group “Comedian Terzett” before enjoying success as a solo artist; hits such as “Blau blüht der Enzian” are still legendary today. in 2013, he released the album “Mit freundlichen Grüßen”, on which he covered well-known pop, hip-hop and rock songs, and a year later he released his own hits reinterpreted in a metal style. in 2019, Heino gave a farewell tour and did not actually want to give any more concerts afterwards, but has since abandoned these plans.
Heino – born in 1939
Herbert Grönemeyer – born in 1956
Herbert Grönemeyer began playing the piano at the age of eight, before first becoming known as an actor. His big breakthrough came in 1981 with his role in “Das Boot” alongside Martin Semmelrogge and Uwe Ochsenknecht. Later, he increasingly focused on music and wrote big hits such as “Männer” and “Flugzeuge im Bauch”, which are still regularly played on the radio today. After the loss of first his brother and later his wife in 1998, he withdrew and later dealt with these strokes of fate in his album “Mensch”. Grönemeyer is still musically active today and last toured in 2019.
Herbert Grönemeyer – Born in 1956
Ingrid van Bergen – born in 1931
After leaving school, Ingrid van Bergen trained as an actress and singer, and her smoky voice quickly became her trademark. She embarked on a successful career and appeared in numerous national and international productions. in 1977, she shot her lover and was sentenced to prison for manslaughter. After her release, she initially found it difficult to regain a foothold in the film industry, but was gradually able to take on roles again. in 2009, she took part in the reality show “Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!” and won the jungle crown. Today she lives as a Buddhist in the Lüneburg Heath and is committed to animal rights.
Ingrid Van Bergen – Born in 1931
Michael Fassbender – born 1977
Michael Fassbender, born in Germany, grew up in Ireland and therefore speaks better English than German. He played his first leading role in 2008 in Steve McQueen’s drama “Hunger”, but his big breakthrough came with Quentin Tarantino’s film “Inglourious Basterds”. Since then, Fassbender has appeared in numerous other productions, earning him many awards and even an Oscar nomination. Today he is living his childhood dream and racing cars: in 2021 he took part in the Porsche Supercup and a year later in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he finished 16th out of 51 teams.
Michael Fassbender – Born in 1977
Diane Kruger – born in 1976
Diane Kruger began her career as a model in Paris, where she took acting lessons on the side and initially took on smaller film roles. She achieved her international breakthrough as Helen in Wolfgang Petersen’s film “Troy” and has been an integral part of the big screen ever since. in 2017, she starred in her first German-language film “Aus dem Nichts” by Fatih Akin, and according to the director, a further collaboration is not out of the question. Today, Diane Kruger lives with her family in the USA, but is currently in Paris for filming and plans to stay there until the end of the year.
Diane Kruger – Born 1976
Ilja Richter – born in 1953
At the age of eight, Ilja Richter was already engaged as an announcer and singer on the radio before moving into the theater and taking on his first television role in the series “Till, der Junge von nebenan” in 1961. He became famous above all through his eleven years of presenting the music program “Disco”. Today, Richter is back on the theater stage and works as a voice actor, including as the voice of Mike Glotzkowski in Disney’s “Die Monster AG” and “Die Monster Uni”. He also publishes books, most recently his autobiographical work “Nehmen Sie’s persönlich: Portraits von Menschen, die mich präprägten” in 2022.
Ilja Richter – Born in 1953
Franka Potente – born 1974
Franka Potente achieved her big breakthrough in 1998 with the film “Run Lola Run”. After graduating from high school, she began training as an actress in Munich, but dropped out to go to New York. She has appeared in numerous Hollywood productions, including “Blow” with Johnny Depp and “The Bourne Identity” with Matt Damon. Today, she also works as a screenwriter and director, for example on the drama “Home”, which was released in German cinemas in 2021 and was nominated for several film awards and also stars her husband, actor Derek Richardson. She currently lives with him and their two children in Los Angeles.
Franka Potente – Born in 1974
Daniel Brühl – born 1978
His father Hanno Brühl already worked as a television director, so it was hardly surprising that Daniel Brühl also chose this path. He appeared in front of the camera at an early age and became internationally famous in 2003 with his role in “Good Bye Lenin”. This was followed by appearances in Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds” and the Spanish science fiction production “Eva”. Since 2018, he has starred in the Netflix series “The Alienist”, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Today, Daniel Brühl also works as a producer and made his directorial debut in 2018 with the black comedy “Next Door”.
Daniel Brühl – Born in 1978
Jürgen Prochnow – born in 1941
After studying acting, Jürgen Prochnow started out in the theater before switching to television in the 1970s. He achieved his breakthrough with the leading role as a submarine commander in “Das Boot”, after which he received numerous international offers, including for “Der Wüstenplanet” and “Body of Evidence” alongside Madonna. In addition to his film career, Prochnow also works as a dubbing actor, including as the German voice of Sylvester Stallone in the film “Samaritan”, which was released in 2022. He has also been active in the theater again since 2004 and played the Hun King Etzel in the play “Siegfried’s Heirs” in 2018, for example.
Jürgen Prochnow – Born in 1941
Nina Hoss – born 1975
Nina Hoss first appeared on a theater stage at the age of 14. After studying acting, she attracted attention with her film debut in “Und keiner weint mir nach” and was given the lead role in “Das Mädchen Rosemarie” by Bernd Eichinger, for which she won the Golden Camera for Best Young Actress. She later achieved great fame with her role in “The White Maasai”. Today, Nina Hoss continues to appear in front of the camera and on theater stages; in 2020, she was nominated for the European Film Award for the title role in the family drama “Schwesterlein”. In her private life, she lives in Berlin and is involved in various social projects.
Nina Hoss – born in 1975
Max Riemelt – born 1984
Max Riemelt gained his first acting experience in school theater and on a relative’s children’s theater stage before appearing in front of the camera for the first time in 1997 for the two-part film “Eine Familie zum Küssen”. His talent was quickly recognized, including by director Dennis Gansel, who cast him in several leading roles. in 2009, Riemelt played the male lead in the vampire film “Wir sind die Nacht”. In recent years, he has increasingly taken on character roles and has been engaged for international productions, including a leading role in the science fiction film “The Matrix Resurrections” (2020/2021).
Max Riemelt – Born in 1984
Til Schweiger – born 1964
Til Schweiger is a multi-talented German filmmaker who first became known in the 1990s as an actor in films such as “Manta, Manta” and “Der bewegte Mann”. in 2004, he founded the production company “Barefoot Films” and for the first time took on the roles of screenwriter, director, producer and actor simultaneously for the film “Barfuss”. in 2014, he produced “Honig im Kopf”, one of the most successful German films of the year. In addition to feature films, Schweiger now also produces documentaries, including the documentary about Sebastian Schweinsteiger, which was released on Prime Video in 2020.
Til Schweiger – Born in 1964
Armin Mueller-Stahl – born in 1931
Due to a “lack of talent”, Armin Mueller-Stahl had to abandon his acting studies in the GDR, but still managed to gain a foothold, first in the theater and later as a character actor in various GDR film and television productions. After emigrating to West Berlin, he successfully continued his career and also became known in Hollywood; he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Shine”. In addition to acting, he has published novels, stories, drawings and watercolors; his exhibition “Alle Kunst will Musik werden” (All art wants to become music) was on display at the Kunsthalle Rostock until September 2022.
Armin Mueller Stahl – Born in 1931
Katja Ebstein – born 1945
Since her debut, Katja Ebstein has proven that she is a versatile singer who can adapt to any genre. After three successful participations in the Eurovision Song Contest, she began a stellar career that saw her perform on German stages for over 50 years and ended in 2019 with her last television appearance. But time has changed nothing about her: Even though she has now put music aside in favor of her social commitment to children, she has kept her striking red hair and continues to show how to stand confidently on stage.
Katja Ebstein – Born in 1945
Nastassja Kinski – born 1961
Androgynous and hyper-feminine at the same time, Natassja Kinski became a symbol of the 1980s even as a baby star and managed to become the muse of European arthouse cinema. With her striking beauty, she moved to Hollywood, but showed her nomadic and anti-commercial character early on, which was reflected in films such as “Paris, Texas” and “Tess”. Hollywood did not remain her home; instead, she continued her career on sets across Europe, appearing in cinema until 2012 and on television for another five years. She has been a member of the AMPAS film academy since 2016 and prefers to devote herself to teaching rather than acting.
Nastassja Kinski – Born in 1961
Ulrich Wickert – born in 1943
Wickert returned to “Tagesschau” for a short time, if only to congratulate his colleagues. After 15 years as presenter, which ended in 2006, the German journalist handed over the baton to Caren Miosga. Even after his official retirement, he has always remained loyal to ARD and his honorary title, passing on his knowledge at universities and colleges. As a member of various associations, from the “Youth Press” to the PEN Centre, Wickert regularly supports organizations for children’s rights and is frequently invited as a guest speaker on NDR and ARD for discussions and important topics, thus continuously confirming himself as a point of reference for German journalism.
Ulrich Wickert – Born in 1943
Martin Semmelrogge – born in 1956
His father Willy Semmelrogge was already an actor and director, so Martin Semmelrogge was practically born with his talent. He began his career at the age of 16 with a role in the TV series “Der Kommissar” and appeared in various crime series until his big breakthrough with the feature film “Das Boot”. Semmelrogge has also appeared regularly on theater stages since 2008, including as the narrator of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and at the Karl May Games in Bad Segeberg. Most recently, he appeared with his wife Sonja as a contestant in the RTL reality show “Das Sommerhaus der Stars – Kampf der Promi-Paare” in 2017.
Martin Semmelrogge – born in 1956
Claude-Oliver Rudolph – born in 1957
Together with Herbert Grönemeyer, Claude-Oliver Rudolph began his acting career at the Schauspielhaus in Bochum and is now one of Germany’s best-known character actors, often referred to as “the best villain in the world”. In Germany, he became best known for his role in “Das Boot”, internationally he gained attention as the villain in the James Bond film “The World Is Not Enough” alongside Pierce Brosnan. Rudolph is still active as an actor today, shooting films and series while also working behind the camera as a producer, director and writer. Until 2019, he also worked as “Head of Arts and Culture” for the Russian broadcaster RT Deutsch.
Claude Oliver Rudolph – Born in 1957
Veronica Ferres – born 1965
Veronica Ferres celebrated her big breakthrough in 1996 with the leading role in “Das Superweib”. She has mainly appeared in television films and series, including the multi-award-winning production “The Manns – A Novel of the Century”, but has also been seen repeatedly in the cinema, for example in “A Life for a Life – Adam Resurrected” alongside Jeff Goldblum and Willem Dafoe. In addition to acting, she has published children’s books such as “No, I won’t go with strangers!” (2007) and is privately committed to helping children, including as patron of the children’s charity “Die Arche”.
Veronica Ferres – born in 1965
Matthias Schweighöfer – born in 1981
Matthias Schweighöfer is still active in the film world, combining his career on the big and small screen with his musical passion, which he will continue until 2023 in a brand new concert. With acting as his family heritage, he began his professional career in 1997, but had to wait six years for the success he deserved. Since then, it has been a steep uphill climb, with awards and recognition for one of Germany’s best-known actors. Schweighöfer is also active as a producer, albeit behind the camera with fewer titles, and is currently enjoying the success of “Army of Thieves” while eagerly looking ahead to upcoming projects.
Matthias Schweighöfer – Born in 1981
Christina Plate – born 1955
She is often associated with the face of Oliver Geissen, but Christina Plate is not only his wife, she also has a past as an actress and voice actress. Her career began when Plate was still a child, we first saw her in a children’s series in 1976 and she delighted us the last time in 2015 with “Coast Guard – The Ultimatum” and in 2020 with the last episode of “Circle of Life” in the 16-year-old series. Although her filmography is much longer, at the moment it seems as though Plate has put her acting career on hold, with her recent appearances and interviews mainly taking place alongside her husband.
Christina Plate – Born 1955
Katarina Witt – born in 1966
The ice queen Katarina Witt enchanted the world at the Olympic Games in Sarajevo and Calgary, even impressed Donald Trump with her charm and remains a symbol of her sport to this day. Even after the end of her active career, she leads an eventful life: she is a mother, produces shows in the USA, works as a TV commentator in Germany, played alongside Robert de Niro, is an author, corporate testimonial and ambassador for the Laureus Foundation. Looking back, Witt emphasizes that she “had many opportunities and is privileged” – but we are convinced that talent is always right.
Katarina Witt – Born in 1966