Thorsten Merten
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.
Filmography (142 Appearances)
Bibi Blocksberg - Die total verhexte Zeitreise
Der große Zusammenbruch
Die Verteidigerin - Tötungsabsicht
Gespensterwald
Schwarzer Sommer
Triptych
A Stroll to Syracuse
Berlin Hero
Miss Merkel - Ein Kreuzfahrt-Krimi
The Policeman's Niece
Cicadas
Other People's Money
The Next Level
Bach - A Christmas Miracle
From Hilde, with Love
Der Fall Marianne Voss
Miss Merkel - Mord auf dem Friedhof
Pumpen
Roxy
Night to be Gone
Der zweite Kurzschluss
Berlin Bad Trip
The Gryphon
German Genius
Kleine Eheverbrechen
Sam: A Saxon
Miss Merkel - Ein Uckermark-Krimi
What You Can See from Here
Hunting Season
Alfons Jitterbit – Class Trip Chaos!
Locked in Society
Divided We Stand
Eine riskante Entscheidung
Befriending the Grouch
Sprachlos in Irland
Curveball
In Berlin wächst kein Orangenbaum
The Last Word
Exit
Deutscher
Nothing More Perfect
Knorx
The Audition
Der vierte Mann
Good Girl Gone Bad
Alfons Zitterbacke
Atlas
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
Donbass
Gundermann
The Institute - Oasis of Failure
Rübezahls Schatz
Hit Mom – Mörderische Weihnachten
Das Nebelhaus
Brothers
Bruder - Schwarze Macht
Babylon Berlin
Tiger Milk
In Times of Fading Light
The Last Pig
Die Pfeiler der Macht
Alki Alki
Die Kanzlei
Sedwitz
Heil
Foreign Body
Naked Among Wolves
Einschnitt
Rough Road Ahead
Open the Wall
We Are Young. We Are Strong.
Willkommen bei Habib
Helen Dorn
Der Rücktritt
The Golden Goose
Der zweite Mann
Sunny
Silvi - Maybe Love
Kohlhaas or the Proportionality of Means
Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot
Sushi in Suhl
Letzte Spur Berlin
Ruhm
Kommissar Marthaler
Die Chefin
Stopped on Track
Inklusion - gemeinsam anders
Augen zu
Arschkalt
Weisst du eigentlich dass ganz viele Blumen blühen im Park
Empathie
Haltet die Welt an
Gravity
Auf Doktor komm raus
Frösche petzen nicht
Flemming
I've Never Been Happier
November Child
Underdogs
Remarque - Sein Weg zum Ruhm
Vom Atmen unter Wasser
Sooner or Later
Meer is nich
Die Frau am Ende der Straße
Lunik
KDD - Kriminaldauerdienst
Hamburg Dockland
Die Weihnachtswette
Der Kriminalist
Spreewaldkrimi
Kommissar Stolberg
Unter anderen Umständen
Four Windows
The Elementary Particles
In Liebe eine Eins
Vienna Crime Squad
Wahrheit oder Pflicht
Der Staatsanwalt
Operation Valkyrie
Transport
Charlotte
Solo für Schwarz
SOKO Köln
K3 – Kripo Hamburg
Gun-shy
Bloch
Grill Point
Murder in the Mountains
SOKO Leipzig
Donna Leon
Küstenwache
Stubbe – Von Fall zu Fall
Wilsberg
Im Namen des Gesetzes
Ein starkes Team
Up – Down
Bella Block
Wolffs Revier
Silent Country
Riverboat
Polizeiruf 110
Scene of the Crime