Harald Schmidt
Harald Franz Schmidt is a German actor, comedian, television presenter, and author, best known as the host of two popular German late-night shows. The son of refugees who fled the Sudetenland (now the Czech Republic) in 1945, Schmidt spent his youth in the Swabian town of Nürtingen. Due to his strict Catholic upbringing, he became actively involved in the Roman Catholic Church, serving as a choirmaster and playing the organ. At the age of 21, Schmidt moved to Stuttgart, where he attended drama school for three years. Subsequently, he gained stage experience at the *Städtische Bühne* (Municipal Theater) in Augsburg. His first role was that of the Second Mamluk in Lessing’s *Nathan the Wise*. In 1984, Schmidt became a lyricist for the cabaret ensemble *Kom(m)ödchen* in Düsseldorf, and in 1986, he was named "Best Up-and-Coming Cabaret Artist." That same year, he toured Germany with his own solo show. Television soon took notice of the talented young comedian, and in 1988, Schmidt hosted his first TV program, *MAZ ab*. This was followed by shows such as *Psst!* and *Schmidteinander*. He experienced the greatest boost of his career in 1992, when he took over as host of the popular Saturday-night show *Verstehen Sie Spaß?*. Schmidt was awarded the Adolf Grimme Prize—Germany’s most prestigious television award—the first of many such honors to follow. Just one year later, he was named "Entertainer of the Year" and received both the Bambi and the *Goldene Kamera* awards.
74 acting credits
Acting · 74
DAS!
1991
Volle Kanne
1999
Leute heute
1997
Abendschau
2000
Die Harald Schmidt Show
1995
Wetten, dass..?
1981
Bambi
1948
SOKO Stuttgart
2009
Das Traumschiff
1981
Beckmann
1999
Nachtcafé
1987
Menschen der Woche
2000
Goldene Kamera
1984
Grimme Award
1964
Menschen bei Maischberger
2003
alfredissimo! Kochen mit Bio
1994
Kulturplatz
2004
Der Sonntags-Stammtisch
2007
Sabine Christiansen
1998
Blauer Panther
1989
Romy Award
1990
Ringlstetter
2016
German Television Award
1999
Boulevard Bio
1991
Die Pyramide
1979
Verstehen Sie Spaß?
1980
Münchner Runde
2000
Menschen
1982
Pssst ...
1990
Kurzstrecke mit Pierre M. Krause
2020
Musikantenstadl
1981
Mitternachtsspitzen
1988
Zur Person
1963
Schawinski
2011
Erlesen
2010
Alles Nichts Oder?!
1988
Telestar
1983
Schmidteinander
1990
Nuhr im Ersten
2009
Schmidt & Pocher
2007
Ein Abend für..
2008
Lebens-Künstler
1995
Die Mike Krüger Show
1991
Was liest du?
2003
Sträter
2020
WegGefährten
2007
Lesen! Mit Elke Heidenreich
2003
Prix Pantheon
1995
Der Meisterfälscher
2014
Ottis Schlachthof
1999
7 Zwerge - Männer allein im Wald
2004
The Legend of Timm Thaler: or The Boy Who Sold His Laughter
2017
Gisbert
1999
Kuli & Co.
1999
Klassentreffen
1987
Talk 2000
1997
Late Show
1999
About the Looking for and the Finding of Love
2005
One Mic Stand
2022
Beckenbauer
2024
Die Musterknaben 2
1999
Nich' mit Leo
1995
Gysi & Schmidt
2015
Das McSchmidt-Studio
1998
Schreckenstein Castle
2016
Zettl
2012
Frei:Gespielt - Mehmet Scholl - Über das Spiel hinaus
2007
Schmidteinander - Das Beste
1995
Best of Harald Schmidt - Respektlos und Rezeptfrei
2000
Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten
2010
Rosamunde Pilcher: Ein Doktor und drei Frauen
2016
Stopped on Track
2011
Die Samsas
1998
Gruschel mich! Die studiVZ-Story
2025