Thorsten Merten

Actor

Thorsten Merten, born in December 1963 in Ruhla, Thuringia, is a distinguished German actor with extensive experience in film, theater, and television. After studying acting at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin from 1986 to 1990, he began his film career with Andreas Dresen's Stilles Land (1992, directed by Andreas Dresen). He made his breakthrough in 2001 with the tragicomedy Halbe Treppe (directed by Andreas Dresen), in which he played the role of radio presenter Chris – a performance that earned him a Silver Bear at the Chicago Film Festival and the German Film Award for Best Actor. In the experimental neo-noir drama NIGHT TO BE GONE (2023, directed by Loren David Marsh), Thorsten Merten plays Dieter, a man in a smoky Berlin billiard hall who gets involved in a dangerous game between refugee Omer and his partner Carine – a small but atmospherically dense role in an evocative black-and-white film. His well-known television work includes long-standing investigative roles in Spreewaldkrimi (since 2009) as Chief Inspector Martin Fichte, guest appearances in formats such as Wilsberg (2005), Vier Fenster (2006), and the thriller Halt auf freier Strecke (2011). In 2020, he took on the role of Andreas Borowski in the Netflix series Das letzte Wort, which he also co-developed. Thorsten Merten impresses with his calm presence, nuanced acting, and ability to portray characters with quiet intensity – whether in arthouse cinema or in long-running TV roles.

Films on Sooner

Atlas

2018

99 mins

Crime, Drama

A simple worker gets caught up in the maelstrom of real estate sharks, evictions and clan crime, where humanity often gives way to greed.

Night to be Gone

2024

91 mins

Crime, Drama

In the heart of Berlin, a film noir billiard thriller unfolds with deceit, ambition, and suspense.