List of German actors

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This is a list of notable German actors from 1895, the year of the first public showing of a motion picture by the Lumière brothers, to the present. Actors are listed in the period in which their film careers began and the careers of most spanned more than just one period. The list currently includes actors that appear in German movies, including those of foreign origin. For the periods corresponding to the era when Germany was divided the list is split into two categories: BRD for West German actors and DEFA for East German actors.

Pre-film

Early silent era (1895–1918)

Men
Women

Late silent era (1919–1930)

Men
Women

Early sound era (1928–1935)

Men
Women

Third Reich (1933–1945)

Men
Women

Post-war years and the 1950s

BRD

Men
Women

DEFA

Men
Women

The 1960s

BRD

Men
Women

DEFA

Men
Women

The 1970s

BRD

Men
Women

DEFA

Men
Women

The 1980s

BRD

Men
Women

DEFA

Men
Women

The 1990s

Men
Women

The 2000s

Men
Women

The 2010s

Men
Women

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Schneider, Herbert (2022). "Bernhard Anselm Webers Singspiel Die Wette: Beispiel eines französisch-deutschen Kulturtransfers". Aufklärung. 34. Felix Meiner Verlag GmbH: 145. ISSN 0178-7128. JSTOR 27308198. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Silent films only.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 With DEFA after 1945.
  4. ↑ Initially with DEFA.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Exclusively a television programme actor.

Further reading