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.
141 acting credits
Acting · 141
Scene of the Crime
1970
Polizeiruf 110
1971
SOKO Köln
2003
SOKO Leipzig
2001
Riverboat
1992
Babylon Berlin
2017
Küstenwache
1997
Vienna Crime Squad
2005
Hamburg Dockland
2007
SOKO Kitzbühel
2001
Wolffs Revier
1992
Ein starkes Team
1994
Im Namen des Gesetzes
1994
Der Staatsanwalt
2005
Der Kriminalist
2006
Letzte Spur Berlin
2012
Wilsberg
1995
Die Chefin
2012
Stubbe – Von Fall zu Fall
1995
Bella Block
1993
Die Kanzlei
2015
Donna Leon
2000
Kommissar Stolberg
2006
Helen Dorn
2014
Bloch
2002
Unter anderen Umständen
2006
KDD - Kriminaldauerdienst
2007
Spreewaldkrimi
2006
German Genius
2023
Flemming
2009
Sam: A Saxon
2023
The Gryphon
2023
Kommissar Marthaler
2012
Other People's Money
2025
Pumpen
2024
K3 – Kripo Hamburg
2003
The Hero of Friedrichstrasse Station
2025
The Last Word
2020
The Next Level
2025
The Institute - Oasis of Failure
2018
Divided We Stand
2022
Operation Valkyrie
2004
Die Pfeiler der Macht
2016
Sedwitz
2015
Berlin Bad Trip
2023
Donbass
2018
Heil
2015
Bruder - Schwarze Macht
2017
The Elementary Particles
2006
Cicadas
2025
Deutscher
2020
Open the Wall
2014
Befriending the Grouch
2021
Gun-shy
2003
We Are Young. We Are Strong.
2014
Solo für Schwarz
2003
Tiger Milk
2017
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
2018
Curveball
2021
The Audition
2019
Roxy
2024
Locked in Society
2022
Naked Among Wolves
2015
From Hilde, with Love
2024
Ruhm
2012
November Child
2008
Alfons Jitterbit – Class Trip Chaos!
2022
Atlas
2018
Bibi Blocksberg - Die total verhexte Zeitreise
2026
The Last Pig
2016
Der Fall Marianne Voss
2024
Underdogs
2008
In Berlin wächst kein Orangenbaum
2020
Arschkalt
2011
Hunting Season
2022
Grill Point
2002
Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot
2012
Rübezahls Schatz
2017
Good Girl Gone Bad
2019
Alfons Zitterbacke
2019
Gundermann
2018
Hit Mom – Mörderische Weihnachten
2017
Stopped on Track
2011
Miss Merkel - Mord auf dem Friedhof
2024
Silent Country
1992
Triptych
—
Sushi in Suhl
2012
Remarque - Sein Weg zum Ruhm
2008
Alki Alki
2015
Empathie
2010
Bach - A Christmas Miracle
2024
Die Weihnachtswette
2006
Willkommen bei Habib
2014
Four Windows
2006
Meer is nich
2007
Kleine Eheverbrechen
2023
The Golden Goose
2013
In Times of Fading Light
2017
Die Frau am Ende der Straße
2007
Foreign Body
2015
What You Can See from Here
2022
Miss Merkel - Ein Uckermark-Krimi
2023
The Policeman's Niece
2025
Gravity
2010
I've Never Been Happier
2009
Kohlhaas or the Proportionality of Means
2013
Der zweite Kurzschluss
2023
Die Verteidigerin - Tötungsabsicht
—
Das Nebelhaus
2017
Frösche petzen nicht
2010
Der zweite Mann
2013
Brothers
2017
Inklusion - gemeinsam anders
2011
Exit
2020
Auf Doktor komm raus
2010
Sprachlos in Irland
2021
Augen zu
2011
Der vierte Mann
2019
Transport
2004
Knorx
2019
Der Rücktritt
2014
Lunik
2007
Silvi - Maybe Love
2013
Charlotte
2004
Rough Road Ahead
2015
In Liebe eine Eins
2005
Vom Atmen unter Wasser
2008
Eine riskante Entscheidung
2022
Wahrheit oder Pflicht
2005
Miss Merkel - Ein Kreuzfahrt-Krimi
2025
Schwarzer Sommer
—
Up – Down
1994
Gespensterwald
—
Sooner or Later
2007
Haltet die Welt an
2010
Night to be Gone
2024
Sunny
2013
Weisst du eigentlich dass ganz viele Blumen blühen im Park
2011
Nothing More Perfect
2020
Einschnitt
2015
Der große Zusammenbruch
—