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.
88 movies · 47 shows
The Hero of Friedrichstrasse Station
2025·6.6
Miss Merkel - Ein Kreuzfahrt-Krimi
2025·4.5
The Policeman's Niece
2025·7.0
Cicadas
2025·6.2
Bach - A Christmas Miracle
2024·6.5
From Hilde, with Love
2024·7.0
Der Fall Marianne Voss
2024·6.7
Miss Merkel - Mord auf dem Friedhof
2024·5.4
Roxy
2024·10.0
Night to be Gone
2024·10.0
Der zweite Kurzschluss
2023·5.2
Kleine Eheverbrechen
2023·5.0
Miss Merkel - Ein Uckermark-Krimi
2023·5.4
What You Can See from Here
2022·6.4
Hunting Season
2022·5.6
Alfons Jitterbit – Class Trip Chaos!
2022·6.1
Locked in Society
2022·6.4
Eine riskante Entscheidung
2022·5.5
Sprachlos in Irland
2021·3.7
Curveball
2021·7.2
In Berlin wächst kein Orangenbaum
2020·5.8
Exit
2020·6.2
Nothing More Perfect
2020·4.0
Knorx
2019·0.0
The Audition
2019·5.9
Der vierte Mann
2019·3.3
Good Girl Gone Bad
2019·5.2
Alfons Zitterbacke
2019·5.5
Atlas
2018·6.4
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
2018·7.5
Donbass
2018·6.8
Gundermann
2018·7.2
Rübezahls Schatz
2017·5.7
Hit Mom – Mörderische Weihnachten
2017·5.0
Das Nebelhaus
2017·6.2
Brothers
2017·5.6
Tiger Milk
2017·6.3
In Times of Fading Light
2017·6.6
The Last Pig
2016·5.7
Alki Alki
2015·6.9
Heil
2015·5.0
Foreign Body
2015·6.0
Naked Among Wolves
2015·7.3
Einschnitt
2015·0.0
Rough Road Ahead
2015·5.1
Open the Wall
2014·7.3
We Are Young. We Are Strong.
2014·6.8
Willkommen bei Habib
2014·4.2
Der Rücktritt
2014·5.5
The Golden Goose
2013·5.5
Der zweite Mann
2013·3.0
Sunny
2013·5.0
Silvi - Maybe Love
2013·7.2
Kohlhaas or the Proportionality of Means
2013·6.9
Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot
2012·5.3
Sushi in Suhl
2012·5.9
Ruhm
2012·6.4
Stopped on Track
2011·6.9
Inklusion - gemeinsam anders
2011·0.0
Augen zu
2011·5.0
Arschkalt
2011·5.1
Weisst du eigentlich dass ganz viele Blumen blühen im Park
2011·0.0
Empathie
2010·6.0
Haltet die Welt an
2010·6.0
Gravity
2010·5.8
Auf Doktor komm raus
2010·5.0
Frösche petzen nicht
2010·8.0
I've Never Been Happier
2009·6.6
November Child
2008·5.4
Underdogs
2008·6.8
Remarque - Sein Weg zum Ruhm
2008·8.0
Vom Atmen unter Wasser
2008·7.0
Sooner or Later
2007·6.0
Meer is nich
2007·5.5
Die Frau am Ende der Straße
2007·1.0
Lunik
2007·2.7
Die Weihnachtswette
2006·4.1
Four Windows
2006·4.7
The Elementary Particles
2006·6.1
In Liebe eine Eins
2005·6.3
Wahrheit oder Pflicht
2005·7.0
Operation Valkyrie
2004·6.0
Transport
2004·9.0
Charlotte
2004·3.0
Gun-shy
2003·5.6
Grill Point
2002·6.6
Up – Down
1994·8.0
Silent Country
1992·5.8