Til Schweiger is a renowned German actor, producer, writer, and director, widely regarded as the country's most successful filmmaker and best-known actor. With over 51 million admissions, he has drawn more people to cinemas than any other German filmmaker.
Born on December 19, 1963, in Giessen, Germany, Schweiger was raised alongside his two brothers. Initially, he studied German and Medicine, but later dropped out of university to pursue a career in acting, attending drama school from 1986 to 1989. He honed his skills by playing at several theaters as a stage actor.
Schweiger's breakthrough role came in 1991 with Manta, Manta, followed by his leading role in Maybe... Maybe Not in 1994, with the support of renowned film producer and mentor Bernd Eichinger. In 1996, he co-founded his first film production company, Mr. Brown Entertainment, with business partner Tom Zickler. Schweiger made his producing debut with Knockin' on Heaven's Door in 1997, which won several Festival Awards. The road movie has since become a cult favorite worldwide.
Schweiger won the "Polish Oscar" at the International Warsaw Film Festival in 1997 for his performance in Bandyta, becoming the first foreign actor to receive the award. He has since built an impressive acting credits in dozens of German movies, including Der Eisbär, where he made his directorial debut.
Schweiger's international credits include Judas Kiss, SLC Punk!, The Replacement Killers, Driven, Intimate Affairs, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life, King Arthur, New Year's Eve, and many more.
As an actor, writer, director, and producer, Schweiger has delivered a series of German-language hits, winning numerous awards. His films Barefoot, Rabbit Without Ears, and its sequel Rabbit Without Ears 2 were local box office successes. In 2011, he wrote, produced, and directed Kokowääh, which grossed $43 million, starring alongside his daughter Emma.
Schweiger received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Hugo Stieglitz in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds in 2009. In 2014, he released the family-friendly dramedy Head Full of Honey, which he co-wrote, directed, produced, and starred in, breaking the 6.3 million admissions barrier.
In addition to his film career, Schweiger has also played the lead role in the German TV series Tatort, generating the best ratings for the long-running procedural in 20 years.
