Til Schweiger
Tilman Valentin Schweiger (De-Til Schweiger.ogg; born 19 December 1963) is a German actor and filmmaker. He became known in the 1990s for films such as Manta, Manta, Der bewegte Mann and Knockin' on Heaven's Door. He went on to star in international film productions such as Inglourious Basterds, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life and King Arthur.
Til Schweiger

Stefan Brending (2eight) · Foto: Stefan Brending, Lizenz: Creative Commons by-sa-3.0 de · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
- Name
- Til Schweiger
- Birth Name
- Tilman Valentin Schweiger
- Born
- 19 December 1963
- Birthplace
- Freiburg, West Germany
- Occupation
- * Actor
- Nationality
- Germany.
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Documentary summary
Tilman Valentin Schweiger (De-Til Schweiger.ogg; born 19 December 1963) is a German actor and filmmaker. He became known in the 1990s for films such as Manta, Manta, Der bewegte Mann and Knockin' on Heaven's Door. He went on to star in international film productions such as Inglourious Basterds, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life and King Arthur.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q57391 · wikipedia · Til Schweiger
In this article
Biography
Biography
Schweiger worked across actor, film director, screenwriter, film producer and film editor and 7 further recorded occupations. This article rests on 1 catalogued composition, 2 published texts and 6 scholarly references drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.

Til Schweiger #2
Damien D. from Toronto, Canada · Til Schweiger #2 Uploaded by bjs

Til Schweiger #1
Damien D. from Toronto, Canada · Til Schweiger #1 Uploaded by bjs
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Til Schweiger • Birth Name — Tilman Valentin Schweiger • Born — 19 December 1963 • Birthplace — Freiburg, West Germany • Occupation — * Actor • filmmaker • Years Active — 1989–present • Children — 4, including Luna, Lilli and Emma • Website — til-schweiger.com
Early life
Early life
Schweiger was born in Freiburg, West Germany, to two teachers. He grew up in Heuchelheim near Giessen in Hesse, where he went to school. Later, he took acting lessons at Der Keller in Cologne.
Career
Career
• Illustration — Schweiger in 1998 Schweiger's debut as a producer and (uncredited) director came in 1997 with Knockin' on Heaven's Door. He also directed and produced Der Eisbär (The Polar Bear) in 1998. Schweiger won a Bambi Award for Barfuss (Barefoot) in 2005, based on the original English screenplay "Barefoot" by Stephen Zotnowski, which he co-wrote, directed, and starred in. He also won a Bambi for his lead role in Traumschiff Surprise – Periode 1. In 2007, Keinohrhasen (this literally translates to "no ear rabbit" while the English title is Rabbit Without Ears), written, produced, and directed by Schweiger, became the most successful film in German theaters with a box office result of 62million. The film won a Bambi, a Bavarian Film Award, the German Comedy Award, two DIVA Awards, a Jupiter Award and the Ernst Lubitsch Award. The sequel, Zweiohrküken (Rabbit Without Ears 2, literally "two ear chicks"), was released the following year with over 4.2 million viewers and a box office collection of 45million. Schweiger then went on to direct, produce and star in 1½ Knights – In Search of the Ravishing Princess Herzelinde, which also proved a huge cinema hit on its release in 2008. The movie Kokowääh debuted in German cinemas in February 2011. Schweiger's daughter Emma stars beside him, and the movie is also directed, co-written and produced by him. Schweiger and Emma reprised their roles as Henry and Magdalena, respectively, in its sequel, titled Kokowääh 2. The film was released on 7 February 2013. In 2012 Schweiger made a film alongside his daughter Luna named Schutzengel. In 2013, Schweiger also started to produce commercials with his daughters (Watchever, VHV Group). Onscreen, Schweiger first appeared as an actor in 1989 in the TV series Lindenstraße. His first film role came in 1991 with Manta, Manta. Additional TV and film roles followed, including Der bewegte Mann (Maybe, Maybe Not), Männerpension (Jailbirds), Das Mädchen Rosemarie (A Girl Called Rosemary), Bastard (Bandyta), Der große Bagarozy (The Devil and Ms. D.), Was tun, wenn's brennt (What to Do in Case of Fire?), Les Daltons vs. Lucky Luke, The Red Baron, Wo ist Fred (Where is Fred?), Phantomschmerz (Phantom Pain), Männerherzen (Men in the City), and others. • Illustration — Schweiger at the 2011 Boulevard der Stars ceremony in Berlin Schweiger has also appeared as a supporting actor in American films, including Already Dead, King Arthur, In Enemy Hands, Magicians, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life, Driven, SLC Punk!, Investigating Sex, Joe and Max, The Replacement Killers and New Year's Eve. He wore a Nazi uniform for the first time in his career for his role in Inglourious Basterds but, as Quentin Tarantino revealed, "only because his character was killing Nazis." Schweiger then appeared in the American productions The Courier with Mickey Rourke, This Means War (2012) with Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon, and in 2013 as Darko in Charlie Countryman with Shia LaBeouf among others. He also made an appearance in 2014's Muppets Most Wanted, 2017's David Leitch's Atomic Blonde, and 2024's The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. In November 2024, Til Schweiger took part in the filming of a promotional video about drift in Minsk (Belarus).
Personal life
Personal life
Schweiger married American model Dana Carlsen on 19 June 1995. They have four children: Valentin Florian Schweiger (born 1995), Luna Marie Schweiger (born 1997), Lilli Camille Schweiger (born 1998), and Emma Tiger Schweiger (born 2002). Schweiger and Carlsen separated in 2005 and were divorced in 2014. Schweiger lives in Mallorca, Spain, and his neighbour is former German cyclist Jan Ullrich. In August 2018, Ullrich was arrested for allegedly breaking onto Schweiger's property and threatening him.
Television
Television
• Year — TV Show — Role — Director — Notes • 1989–1992 — Lindenstraße — Jo Zenker — 37 episodes • 1994 — Lemgo — Jan Peters — Jörg Grünler • 1994–1996 — Die Kommissarin — Nick Siegel — 26 episodes • 1996 — Adrenalin — Stefan Renner — Dominique Othenin-Girard • A Girl Called Rosemary — Nadler — Bernd Eichinger • Teenage Wolfpack (1996 film) — Freddy — Urs Egger • 2002 — Joe and Max — Max Schmeling — Steve James • 2013–2016 — Tatort — Nick Tschiller — Christian Alvart — Tatort in Hamburg (4 episodes) • 2020 — Tatort: Tschill Out — Nick Tschiller — Eoin Moore — Tatort • 2022 — Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin — Pickle Host #1 — Richie Keen — Episode: "Verschlimmbessern"
Life and work
Life and work
Til Schweiger was born on 19 December 1963 in Freiburg im Breisgau. Schweiger held the nationality of Germany. Schweiger was educated at Herderschule Gießen. Married to: Dana Schweiger. Recorded child: Luna Schweiger, Lilli Schweiger, Emma Schweiger and Valentin Schweiger. Schweiger worked as actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer, and the authority record catalogues a further 8 occupations under the same name, among them film editor, film actor, stage actor, television actor, manufacturer and singer. Schweiger was active from 1991. Schweiger worked in German, English and Spanish.
Work for the screen
Work for the screen
Schweiger worked for the screen, as film director, screenwriter and film producer. 20 films survive in the institutional catalogues, spanning 1998 to 2023. Among them are The Polar Bear (1998), Auf Herz und Nieren (2001), Barfuss (2005), Keinohrhasen (2007), 1½ Knights – In Search of the Ravishing Princess Herzelinde (2008) and Zweiohrküken (2009). The whole run is set out in the catalogue below.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1963–2014
The full dated record · 4 entries
1963
Til Schweiger born at Freiburg im Breisgau.
2010
Receives Berliner Bär.
2013
Receives Order of Karl Valentin.
2014
Receives Herbert Strate Award.
Catalogued output
Films and moving-image works, 1998–2023
These entries are catalogued as moving-image works. The 2010s are the densest part of the run, with 9 titles, and that concentration is a fact about what the registers have catalogued rather than a judgement on the work itself. They belong to a run of 20 titles in all, from 1998 to 2023.
19 films carry dates between 1998 and 2023
The run opens with The Polar Bear and closes with Manta, Manta: Legacy
The Polar Bear
1998
Auf Herz und Nieren
2001
Barfuss
2005
Keinohrhasen
2007
1½ Knights – In Search of the Ravishing Princess Herzelinde
2008
Zweiohrküken
2009
Kokowääh
2011
Schutzengel
2012
Kokowääh 2
2013
Rabbit Without Ears and Two-Eared Chick
2013
The complete catalogue · 21
19 films carry dates between 1998 and 2023
The run opens with The Polar Bear and closes with Manta, Manta: Legacy
The Polar Bear
1998
Auf Herz und Nieren
2001
Barfuss
2005
Keinohrhasen
2007
1½ Knights – In Search of the Ravishing Princess Herzelinde
2008
Zweiohrküken
2009
Kokowääh
2011
Schutzengel
2012
Kokowääh 2
2013
Rabbit Without Ears and Two-Eared Chick
2013
Honig im Kopf
2014
Conni und Co 2 - Das Geheimnis des T-Rex
2017
Head Full of Honey
2018
Klassentreffen
2018
Berlin, I Love You
2019
The Wedding
2020
The Salvation of The World as We Know It
2021
Lieber Kurt
2022
Manta, Manta: Legacy
2023
Film
Film
• Year — Film — Role — Language — Director — Notes • 1991 — Manta, Manta — Bertie — German — Wolfgang Büld — First film in which he was the lead actor • 1993 — Ebbie's Bluff — Rudy — German — Claude-Oliver Rudolph — Max-Ophüls-Preis Best Actor Newcomer Award • 1994 — Der bewegte Mann — Axel Feldheim — German — Sönke Wortmann — Bambi • 1995 — Bunte Hunde — Pepe Brenner — German — Lars Becker • 1996 — Jailbirds — Steinbock — German — Detlev Buck — Bambi; DIVA-Award • The Superwife — Hajo Heiermann — German — Sönke Wortmann • 1997 — Knockin' on Heaven's Door — Martin Brest — German — Thomas Jahn — Also writer and producer 20th Moscow International Film Festival – Best Actor; Jupiter Best Actor; Goldene Kamera Best Actor • Hercules — Hercules — English — John Musker Ron Clements — Voice (German version, dubbed) • Bastard — Brute — English — Maciej Dejczer — Polish Film Festival (Polish Oscar) Best Actor; Bravo Otto Best Actor • 1998 — The Replacement Killers — Ryker — English — Antoine Fuqua • Judas Kiss — Ruben Rubenbauer — English — Sebastian Gutierrez • SLC Punk! — Mark — English — James Merendino • The Polar Bear — Leo — German — Til Schweiger — Also producer • 1999 — The Devil and Ms. D — Stanislaus Nagy — German — Bernd Eichinger • 2000 — Magicians — Max — English — James Merendino • 2001 — Driven — Beau Brandenburg — English — Renny Harlin • Investigating Sex — Monty — English — Alan Rudolph • What to Do in Case of Fire? — Tim — German — Gregor Schnitzler • 2002 — Joe and Max — Max Schmeling — English — Steve James • 2003 — Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life — Sean — English — Jan de Bont • 2004 — In Enemy Hands — Captain Jonas Herdt — English — Tony Giglio • King Arthur — Cynric — English — Antoine Fuqua • Traumschiff Surprise – Periode 1 — Rock Fertig Aus — German — Michael Herbig — Bambi Best Actor • Les Dalton — Lucky Luke — French — Philippe Haïm • 2005 — Barefoot — Nick Keller — German — Til Schweiger — Also writer and producer Bambi Best Film • Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo — Heinz Hummer the Gigolo with the most below — English — Mike Bigelow • 2006 — Bye Bye Harry! — Gantcho — English — Robert Young • The Trip to Panama — Kleiner Tiger — German — Martin Otevrel — Voice • One Way — Eddie Schneider — English — Reto Salimbeni — Also producer • Where Is Fred? — Fred Krüppers — German — Anno Saul — Jupiter Best Actor • 2007 — Body Armour — John Ridley — English — Gerry Lively • Rabbit Without Ears — Ludo Decker — German — Til Schweiger — Also writer and producer Ernst-Lubitsch-Preis Best Comedy; Bambi Best Film; Deutscher Comedypreis Best Comedy; Jupiter Best Film; 2x DIVA-Award Best Film • Already Dead — The Man — English — Joe Otting • 2008 — The Red Baron — Werner Voss — English — Nikolai Müllerschön — Bravo Otto • Far Cry — Jack Carver — English — Uwe Boll • 1½ Knights – In Search of the Ravishing Princess Herzelinde — Ritter Lanze — German — Til Schweiger — Also producer • 2009 — Phantom Pain — Marc — German — Matthias Emcke • Inglourious Basterds — Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz — English French German — Quentin Tarantino — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture • Men in the City — Jerome Ades — German — Simon Verhoeven • Rabbit Without Ears 2 — Ludo Decker — German — Til Schweiger — Also writer and producer Deutscher Comedypreis Best Comedy • 2011 — Kokowääh — Henry — German — Til Schweiger — Also writer and producer • The Three Musketeers — Cagliostro — English — Paul W. S. Anderson • Men in the City 2 — Jerome — German — Simon Verhoeven • New Year's Eve — James Schwab — English — Garry Marshall • 2012 — This Means War — Heinrich — English — McG • |The Courier — FBI agent — English — Hany Abu-Assad • Guardians — Max — German — Til Schweiger — Also producer • 2013 — Charlie Countryman — Darko — English — Fredrik Bond • Kokowääh 2 — Henry — German — Til Schweiger — Also writer and producer • No-Eared Bunny and Two-Eared Chick — No-Eared Bunny — German — Til Schweiger — Also writer and producer • 2014 — Muppets Most Wanted — German Cop — English — James Bobin • Head Full of Honey — Niko Rosenbach — German — Til Schweiger • 2016 — Tschiller: Off Duty — Nick Tschiller — German — Christian Alvart • Vier gegen die Bank — Chris — German — Wolfgang Petersen • |2017 — Atomic Blonde — The Watchmaker — English — David Leitch • 2018 — Hot Dog — Luke Steiner — German — Torsten Künstler • Klassentreffen 1.0 — Thomas — German — Til Schweiger — Remake of The Reunion • Head Full of Honey — London Restaurant Waiter — English — Til Schweiger — English-language remake • 2020 — The Wedding — Thomas — German — Til Schweiger — Also writer and producer • 2021 — The Salvation of The World as We Know It — Hardy — German — Til Schweiger — Also writer and producer • 2022 — Medieval — Henry III of Rosenberg — English — Petr Jákl • 2023 — Manta, Manta: Legacy — Bertie — German — Til Schweiger • Das Beste Kommt Noch! — Felix — German — Til Schweiger • 2024 — The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare — Heinrich Luhr — English — Guy Ritchie
Films and moving-image works without a settled date
Catalogued output
Films and moving-image works without a settled date
1 further film are catalogued under Schweiger's name without a date the collections agree on, which is why they are set apart from the dated run rather than placed in it.
Primary material
Documents and archives
scholarly publication
- Schweiger, Til (Tilman Valentin Schweiger) (1963–), Journeys of Desire, 2006
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2006
reference work
- “Til Schweiger”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q57391: Til Schweiger
Unverified · Wikidata
Awards
Awards
• 1994: Bambi for Der bewegte Mann • 1995: Bambi for Jailbirds • 1997: Preis des Gdynia Film Festival for Bastard as Best Actor • 1998: Bravo Otto as Best Actor • 1998: Goldene Kamera for Knockin' on Heaven's Door as Best Actor • 2003: Hessischer Kulturpreis • 2008: Jupiter for Wo ist Fred? as Best German Actor • 2008: Ehren-Bravo Otto • 2008: Bambi for Keinohrhasen as Best National Film • 2008: Deutscher Comedypreis for Keinohrhasen as Best Theatrical Comedy Film • 2009: Jupiter for Keinohrhasen • 2009: 2x DIVA-Award for Keinohrhasen • 2010: Deutscher Comedypreis for Zweiohrküken as Best Theatrical Comedy Film • 2011: Deutscher Comedypreis for the Most Successful German Comedy Film: Kokowääh • 2011: Querdenker-Award • 2012: Jupiter for Kokowääh as Best Actor • 2013: Deutscher Comedypreis for the Most Successful German Comedy Film: Kokowääh 2 • 2015: Romy in the categories Best Direction and Best Production in a Theatrical Film for Honig im Kopf • 2015: Deutscher Filmpreis in the category Most Popular Film for Honig im Kopf • 2015: CIVIS-Publikumspreis for Honig im Kopf • 2015: Deutscher Comedypreis for the Most Successful German Comedy Film: Honig im Kopf • 2015: Bambi for Honig im Kopf in the category Ehrenpreis der Jury • 2020: Golden Eye Award of the Zurich Film Festival
Honours and awards
Where the work is held
Honours and awards
They run from 2010 to 2014.
4 honours stand against the name
Berliner Bär
2010
Order of Karl Valentin
2013
Herbert Strate Award
2014
Authority records
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
Verifiedreference work
Partially resolvedauthority record
Unverified
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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