Volker Bruch

{{short description|German television and film actor|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Volker Bruch

| image = Volker Bruch, Hin und weg Kinotour.JPG

| imagesize =

| caption = Bruch in 2014

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1980}}

| birth_place = Munich, West Germany

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = German

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 2002–present

| partner = Miriam Stein (2009–present)

| children = 1

}}

Volker Bruch ({{IPA|de|ˈfɔlkɐ ˈbʁʊx|lang}}; born 1980) is a German television and film actor. He is best known internationally for his leading roles as Wilhelm Winter in the television drama Generation War (2013) and as Inspector Gereon Rath in the neo-noir series Babylon Berlin (2017–present); for the latter, he was awarded the 2018 Grimme-Preis, Germany's most prestigious television award. In film, he was part of the ensemble cast of two films nominated for Academy Awards in 2009: The Reader (Best Picture) and The Baader Meinhof Complex (Best Foreign Language Film); more recently, he appeared in the thriller The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018) and Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia (2024).

Early life and education

Volker Bruch was born in 1980 in West Germany to a German father and Austrian mother.{{Cite web|url=https://www.schauspielervideos.de/fullprofile/schauspieler-volker-bruch.html|title=Volker Bruch - Schauspieler|website=www.schauspielervideos.de|language=de|access-date=5 February 2019}} He grew up in Munich with five siblings.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newsflex.de/stars/star_portrait180332.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415180658/http://www.newsflex.de/stars/star_portrait180332.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 April 2008|title=Volker Bruch - Portrait, Interview|date=15 April 2008|access-date=5 February 2019}}

He began acting during his years at gymnasium (high school) and was involved with student acting groups.{{Cite web|url=http://www.planet-interview.de/interviews/volker-bruch/48892/|title=Volker Bruch im Interview: "Viele wussten nicht, was ich auf dem roten Teppich zu suchen habe."|website=Planet Interview|date=27 May 2016 |language=de-DE|access-date=5 January 2020}} After completing his university-entrance diploma, he studied performing arts at the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna, Austria.{{Cite book|url=http://www.unitel.de/media/files/produktpdf/a6f80034fe_p_3095.pdf|title=Beta Cinema presents Westwind|publisher=Beta Cinema|year=2011|location=Germany|pages=10}} Bruch made a deliberate choice while studying to commit himself to acting for television and film, as opposed to theater.{{Cite web|url=https://032c.com/volker-bruch-anti-heartthrob/|title=Volker Bruch, ANTI-HEARTTHROB - 032c|website=032c.com|language=en|access-date=5 February 2019}} During this time, he made some of his first television appearances. He graduated in 2005.{{Cite web |url=https://www.maxreinhardtseminar.at/bis-2013/|title=1998 - 2017 {{!}} Max Reinhardt Seminar|website=www.maxreinhardtseminar.at|access-date=5 January 2020}}

Career

Bruch spent the beginning of his career primarily playing small roles in German television and TV movie productions. His first noteworthy role was as Axi in the 2005 German television movie Rose, for which he won a German Television Award for Best Supporting Actor.{{Cite web|url=https://players.de/actors/volker-bruch/|title=Volker Bruch - Actor|website=Agentur Players Berlin|language=de-DE|access-date=5 January 2020}} The year 2008 was notable for Bruch's career as he acted in a number of movies including the French film Female Agents, the English-language German biopic The Red Baron as Oberleutnant Lothar Freiherr von Richthofen, the Oscar-nominated German film The Baader Meinhof Complex as Stefan Aust, as well as the Oscar-winning American film The Reader.

Bruch had a few small supporting roles after this period before his breakout role in the popular 2013 German miniseries Generation War in which he played one of the five protagonists. Bruch was nominated for a German Television Award for his performance and received a special award for Ensemble Cast at the 2013 Bavarian TV Awards.

After Generation War, Bruch starred in a variety of film and television productions of varying scopes until 2016 when he was cast in Babylon Berlin. In Babylon Berlin, Bruch stars as the main character, police inspector Gereon Rath, who investigates a series of crimes in Weimar Republic-era Berlin. The first two series of the show were filmed over eight months beginning in May 2016 and released consecutively in the fall of 2017. Babylon Berlin has been very popular in Germany as well as with international audiences and has elevated Bruch to international prominence; Bruch is considered one of Germany's upcoming stars.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/festivals/berlin-2018-facetime-actor-volker-bruch-of-babylon-berlin-1202704699/|title=Actor Volker Bruch on 'Babylon Berlin,' His Biggest Challenge as an Actor|last=Meza|first=Ed|date=20 February 2018|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=5 February 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/global/babylon-berlin-netflix-dark-stars-highlight-german-cinema-1202394690/|title=Stars of 'Babylon Berlin,' Netflix's 'Dark' Join Effort to Highlight German Cinema (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Mitchell|first=Robert|date=26 April 2017|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=5 February 2019}} For his portrayal, Bruch received a 2018 Golden Camera Award and shares an Adolf Grimme Award with the Babylon Berlin team.

The show went on a yearlong production hiatus during which Bruch filmed two movies; in 2018, he played a role in the wide-release American film The Girl in the Spider's Web and filmed the German production Rocca Changes the World. In late 2018, Bruch began the six-month shoot for the third series of Babylon Berlin which premiered in Germany in January 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/sky-confirms-third-season-babylon-berlin-1202432386/|title='Babylon Berlin' Confirmed For Third Season, Plot & Shoot Details Revealed|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|date=24 July 2018|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=14 August 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/babylon-berlin-3-sells-35-countries-netflix-north-america-1203183271/|title='Babylon Berlin 3' Sells to More Than 35 Countries, Including Netflix for U.S. (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Meza|first=Ed|date=9 April 2019|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=14 August 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BxRkqk-HaOy/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/volker.bruch/2040573361764803506 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Volker Bruch on Instagram: "That's a wrap! Thank you for the last 6 month! 🙏🍾🥂🤗😓🕺🏻#champagneinthemembrane #season3 #keepdancing"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=14 August 2019}}{{cbignore}} A fourth series starring Bruch was produced mid-2021 and was released in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Roxborough |first=Scott |date=2021-09-17 |title='Babylon Berlin': Hit German Drama Releases First Look at Season 4 (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/babylon-berlin-season-4-first-look-photo-1235015119/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

In 2022, he was cast as German rally driver Walter Röhrl in the English-language film Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia, formerly known as 2 Win. Starring opposite Daniel Brühl and Riccardo Scamarcio, the film depicts the 1983 World Rally Championship and will be released January 2024.{{Cite web |last=Ritman |first=Alex |date=2022-05-06 |title=Cannes: Daniel Bruhl, Riccardo Scamarcio, Volker Bruch Team for Rally Car Drama '2 Win' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/daniel-bruhl-riccardo-scamarcio-volker-bruch-2-win-wrc-1235141912/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Bruch lives in Berlin with his girlfriend, actress Miriam Stein. They had a child together in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.de/lifestyle/artikel/vogue-gespraech-babylon-berlin|title="Babylon Berlin": Tom Tykwer, Liv Lisa Fries und Volker Bruch im Vogue-Gespräch|website=Vogue Germany|date=21 September 2018 |language=de|access-date=5 February 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.de/news/promi-und-show/schauspielerin-verraet-s-ploetzlich-mama--miriam-stein-hielt-ihr-baby-geheim-26178532|title=Schauspielerin verrät's: Plötzlich Mama! Miriam Stein hielt ihr Baby geheim|last=Peters|first=Bernd|date=10 March 2017|website=Express.de|language=de-DE|access-date=5 February 2019}} Bruch met Stein in 2009 on the set of the film Young Goethe in Love.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tz.de/tv/miriam-stein-volker-bruch-ueber-ihre-liebe-neuen-film-4879026.html|title=Traumpaar vor und hinter der Kamera|date=4 April 2015|website=tz.de|language=de|access-date=5 January 2020}} Notably, they later starred together in 2013's Generation War, 2014's Tour de Force, and 2015's Das goldene Ufer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.focus.de/kultur/kino_tv/miriam-stein-und-volker-bruch-unsere-muetter-unsere-vaeter-stars-sind-ein-paar_aid_944811.html|title="Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter"-Stars sind ein Paar|website=FOCUS Online|language=de|access-date=5 February 2019}}

Bruch speaks English fluently,{{cite web |title=Profile Series – Cannes 70th – One on One | website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zBqhenr_p0}}(unscripted English interview from the 2017 Cannes Film Festival) and has acted in English.{{cite web |title=The Reader (2008): 'Dieter' (lecture theatre scene) | website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10wxDtlzQrg}}{{cite web |title=IMDb: Volker Bruch in The Reader (2008) |website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976051/mediaviewer/rm1827930368}}

= Advocacy =

Bruch is an environmentalist and, with his partner Stein, has supported the climate action group Extinction Rebellion as well as the Joint Declaration made by the German government and media industry "for the sustainable production of films and television series."{{Cite web|url=https://extinctionrebellion.de/offenerbrief/|title=Offener Brief an die Regierung|website=Extinction Rebellion Deutschland|language=de|access-date=3 March 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/bundesregierung/staatsministerin-fuer-kultur-und-medien/deutschlands-filme-werden-gruener-1722698|title=Deutschlands Filme werden grüner|website=Startseite|date=19 February 2020 |language=de|access-date=3 March 2020}}

In 2019, Bruch, along with other German actors and artists like Daniel Brühl, signed a petition advocating against the election of a far-right Alternative for Germany mayoral candidate in Görlitz, Germany, an oft-used filming location in Europe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.de/20190607/german-stars-lead-call-to-shun-far-right-in-grliwood-goerlitz|title=German stars call on voters to shun far-right AfD in 'Görliwood'|date=7 June 2019|website=www.thelocal.de|language=en-GB|access-date=5 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190607-german-stars-lead-call-shun-far-right-goerliwood|title=German stars lead call to shun far-right in 'Goerliwood'|date=7 June 2019|website=France 24|language=en|access-date=5 January 2020}}

In June 2020, Bruch took part in the video "Was sie mitgenommen haben" for the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR).{{Cite web|title=Was Sie Mitgenommen Haben - UNHCR Deutschland|url=https://www.unhcr.org/dach/de/was-sie-mitgenommen-haben|access-date=13 July 2020|website=UNHCR|language=de-DE}}

Bruch is a vocal opponent of the restrictions introduced in Germany to curb the spread of COVID-19. In May 2021, it was reported that Bruch had applied to join the Grassroots Democratic Party of Germany, an anti-lockdown fringe party.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/babylon-berlin-star-volker-bruchs-links-to-covid-skeptics-polarizes/a-57421576|title='Babylon Berlin' star Volker Bruch's links to COVID skeptics polarizes|last=Greiner|first=Elizabeth|publisher=Deutsche Welle|language=en|date=4 May 2021|access-date=8 May 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellschaft/das-steckt-hinter-der-querdenker-partei-der-volker-bruch-beitreten-will-a-303e45a9-bc8a-4a91-aa8c-b30454c9d28b|title= Das steckt hinter der »Querdenker«-Partei, der Volker Bruch beitreten will|last=Schrader|first=Hannes|publisher=Der Spiegel|date=4 May 2021|access-date=8 May 2021}}

Filmography

= Television =

class="wikitable"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
2002 \|Vater wider Willen \| Sammy \| Episode: "Große Kinder - Kleine Kinder"
2003 \|SK Kölsch \| Bert Wunderlich \| Episode: "CSD"
2004 \|SOKO Kitzbühel \| Julian Schweiger \| Episode: "Tödliches Dreieck"
2004 \|Inspector Rex \| Max König \| Episode: "Nina um Mitternacht"
2004 \|Baal (de) \| Johannes \|Television film
2004–2013 \|Tatort \| various \| 4 episodes
2004 \|Die Verbrechen des Professor Capellari \| Bernd Geissler \| Episode: "Ein Toter kehrt zurück"
2005 \|Leipzig Homicide \| Marco Hoss \| Episode: "Die Polizistin"
2005 \|Unter weißen Segeln \| Florian \| Episode: "Abschiedsvorstellung"
2005 \|Hengstparade (de) \| Markus Lex \| Television movie
2005 \|Der Untergang der Pamir (de) \| Bernd Russek \| Television movie
2007 \|Der Staatsanwalt \| Bastian Tressen \| Episode: "Glückskinder"
2007 \| Ein starkes Team \| Tim König \| Episode: "Stumme Wut"
2007 \|Nichts ist vergessen (de) \| Olaf Stahmann \| Television movie Nominated – German Television Award
2008 \|Machen wir's auf Finnisch (de) \| Matti \| Television movie
2008 \|Einer bleibt sitzen (de) \| Michel \| Television movie
2011 \|{{ill\|Treasure Guards\|de\|Treasure Guards – Das Vermächtnis des Salomon}} \| Luca \| Television movie; English language
2013 \|Generation War \| Wilhelm Winter \|Miniseries; 3 episodes Nominated – German Television Award Won – Bavarian TV Awards
2013 \|München Mord (de) \| Toni Bernlocher \| Television movie
2014 \| Die Pilgerin \| Otfried Willinger \| Miniseries; 2 episodes
2015 \|Das goldene Ufer \| Walther Fichtner \| Television movie
2016 \|Ein Teil von uns (de) \| Micki \| Television movie
2017–present \| Babylon Berlin \| Gereon Rath \| 28 episodes Won – Golden Camera Award Won – Grimme Award
2019 \|Jerks (de) \| Volker \| Episode: "Volker"

class="wikitable"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

2002

|Vater wider Willen

| Sammy

| Episode: "Große Kinder - Kleine Kinder"

2003

|SK Kölsch

| Bert Wunderlich

| Episode: "CSD"

2004

|SOKO Kitzbühel

| Julian Schweiger

| Episode: "Tödliches Dreieck"

2004

|Inspector Rex

| Max König

| Episode: "Nina um Mitternacht"

2004

|Baal (de)

| Johannes

|Television film

2004–2013

|Tatort

| various

| 4 episodes

2004

|Die Verbrechen des Professor Capellari

| Bernd Geissler

| Episode: "Ein Toter kehrt zurück"

2005

|Leipzig Homicide

| Marco Hoss

| Episode: "Die Polizistin"

2005

|Unter weißen Segeln

| Florian

| Episode: "Abschiedsvorstellung"

2005

|Hengstparade (de)

| Markus Lex

| Television movie

2005

|Der Untergang der Pamir (de)

| Bernd Russek

| Television movie

2007

|Der Staatsanwalt

| Bastian Tressen

| Episode: "Glückskinder"

2007

| Ein starkes Team

| Tim König

| Episode: "Stumme Wut"

2007

|Nichts ist vergessen (de)

| Olaf Stahmann

| Television movie

Nominated – German Television Award

2008

|Machen wir's auf Finnisch (de)

| Matti

| Television movie

2008

|Einer bleibt sitzen (de)

| Michel

| Television movie

2011

|{{ill|Treasure Guards|de|Treasure Guards – Das Vermächtnis des Salomon}}

| Luca

| Television movie; English language

2013

|Generation War

| Wilhelm Winter

|Miniseries; 3 episodes

Nominated – German Television Award
Won – Bavarian TV Awards

2013

|München Mord (de)

| Toni Bernlocher

| Television movie

2014

| Die Pilgerin

| Otfried Willinger

| Miniseries; 2 episodes

2015

|Das goldene Ufer

| Walther Fichtner

| Television movie

2016

|Ein Teil von uns (de)

| Micki

| Television movie

2017–present

| Babylon Berlin

| Gereon Rath

| 28 episodes

Won – Golden Camera Award
Won – Grimme Award

2019

|Jerks (de)

| Volker

| Episode: "Volker"

= Film =

class="wikitable"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
2003 \|Getting a Life (Raus ins Leben) \| \|
2005 \|Rose (de) \| Axi \|Nominated – German Television Award
2006 \|Life Actually (de) \| Charles Spatz \|
2007 \|Good Times (de) \| Priglmeier Toni \|
2008 \|The Best Place to Be (de) \| Toni \|
2008 \| {{ill\|Female Agents\|fr\|Les Femmes de l'ombre\|de\|Female Agents – Geheimkommando Phoenix\|display=1}} \| Lieutenant Becker \| French language
2008 \| {{ill\|The Red Baron (2008 film)\|lt=The Red Baron\|de\|Der Rote Baron (Film)\|display=1}} \| Oberleutnant Lothar von Richthofen \|
2008 \| {{ill\|Little Paris (film)\|lt=Little Paris\|de\|Little Paris\|display=1}} \| Stefan \|
2008 \| {{ill\|The Baader Meinhof Complex\|de\|Der Baader Meinhof Komplex\|display=1}} \| Stefan Aust \| Nominated – Undine Award (de)
2008 \| {{ill\|The Reader (2008 film)\|lt=The Reader\|de\|Der Vorleser (Film)\|display=1}} \| Dieter \| English language
2009 \|The Murder Farm (de) \| Johann Hauer \|
2010 \| {{ill\|Nanga Parbat (film)\|lt=Nanga Parbat\|de\|Nanga Parbat (2010)\|display=1}} \| Gerd Bauer \|
2010 \| {{ill\|Young Goethe in Love\|de\|Goethe!\|display=1}} \| Wilhelm Jerusalem \|
2011 \| {{ill\|Westwind (film)\|lt=Westwind\|de\|Westwind (Film)\|display=1}} \| Nico \|
2012 \| {{ill\|Confession of a Child of the Century\|fr\|Confession d'un enfant du siècle (film)\|de\|Confession (2012)\|display=1}} \| Henri Smith \| English language
2013 \| {{ill\|Stefan Ruzowitzky\|lt=Radical Evil\|de\|Das radikal Böse\|display=1}} \| Narrator \|
2014 \|Beste Chance (de) \| Toni \|
2012 \| {{ill\|Tour de Force (film)\|lt=Tour de Force\|de\|Hin und weg\|display=1}} \| Finn \|
2015 \|Outside the Box \| Frederick Schopner \|
2015 \|{{ill\|Fack ju Göhte 2\|lt=Suck Me Shakespeer 2\|de\|Fack ju Göhte 2\|display=1}} \| Hauke Wölki \|
2017 \|{{ill\|The Man with the Iron Heart (film)\|lt=The Man with the Iron Heart\|fr\|HHhH (film)\|display=1}} \| Walter Schellenberg \| English language
2018 \|The Girl in the Spider's Web \| Peter Ahlgren \| English language
2019 \| Rocca Changes the World (de) \| Henning \|
2022 \| The Path (de) \| Ludwig \|
2024 \| Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia \| Walter Röhrl \| English language

class="wikitable"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

2003

|Getting a Life (Raus ins Leben)

2005

|Rose (de)

| Axi

|Nominated – German Television Award

2006

|Life Actually (de)

| Charles Spatz

2007

|Good Times (de)

| Priglmeier Toni

2008

|The Best Place to Be (de)

| Toni

2008

| {{ill|Female Agents|fr|Les Femmes de l'ombre|de|Female Agents – Geheimkommando Phoenix|display=1}}

| Lieutenant Becker

| French language

2008

| {{ill|The Red Baron (2008 film)|lt=The Red Baron|de|Der Rote Baron (Film)|display=1}}

| Oberleutnant Lothar von Richthofen

2008

| {{ill|Little Paris (film)|lt=Little Paris|de|Little Paris|display=1}}

| Stefan

2008

| {{ill|The Baader Meinhof Complex|de|Der Baader Meinhof Komplex|display=1}}

| Stefan Aust

| Nominated – Undine Award (de)

2008

| {{ill|The Reader (2008 film)|lt=The Reader|de|Der Vorleser (Film)|display=1}}

| Dieter

| English language

2009

|The Murder Farm (de)

| Johann Hauer

2010

| {{ill|Nanga Parbat (film)|lt=Nanga Parbat|de|Nanga Parbat (2010)|display=1}}

| Gerd Bauer

2010

| {{ill|Young Goethe in Love|de|Goethe!|display=1}}

| Wilhelm Jerusalem

2011

| {{ill|Westwind (film)|lt=Westwind|de|Westwind (Film)|display=1}}

| Nico

2012

| {{ill|Confession of a Child of the Century|fr|Confession d'un enfant du siècle (film)|de|Confession (2012)|display=1}}

| Henri Smith

| English language

2013

| {{ill|Stefan Ruzowitzky|lt=Radical Evil|de|Das radikal Böse|display=1}}

| Narrator

2014

|Beste Chance (de)

| Toni

2012

| {{ill|Tour de Force (film)|lt=Tour de Force|de|Hin und weg|display=1}}

| Finn

2015

|Outside the Box

| Frederick Schopner

2015

|{{ill|Fack ju Göhte 2|lt=Suck Me Shakespeer 2|de|Fack ju Göhte 2|display=1}}

| Hauke Wölki

2017

|{{ill|The Man with the Iron Heart (film)|lt=The Man with the Iron Heart|fr|HHhH (film)|display=1}}

| Walter Schellenberg

| English language

2018

|The Girl in the Spider's Web

| Peter Ahlgren

| English language

2019

| Rocca Changes the World (de)

| Henning

2022

| The Path (de)

| Ludwig

2024

| Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia

| Walter Röhrl

| English language

Accolades

class="wikitable"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! Notes
2007 \|German Television Awards \| Best Supporting Actor/Actress (de) \|Nichts ist vergessen / Rose \| {{nom}} \|
2008 \| Undine Awards (de) \| Best Young Supporting Actor - Film \|The Baader Meinhof Complex \| {{nom}} \|
rowspan="2" \|2013 \| German Television Awards \| Best Actor (de) \| rowspan="2" \|Generation War \| {{nom}} \| Shared with Tom Schilling
Bavarian TV Awards \| Special Ensemble Award (de) \| {{won}} \| Shared with Tom Schilling, Katharina Schüttler, Miriam Stein, and Ludwig Trepte
rowspan="2" \|2018 \|Golden Camera \| Best German Actor (de) \| rowspan="2" \|Babylon Berlin \| {{won}} \|
Grimme Awards \| Fiction Award (de) \| {{won}} \| Shared with Babylon Berlin production team and cast

class="wikitable"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Work

! Result

! Notes

2007

|German Television Awards

| Best Supporting Actor/Actress (de)

|Nichts ist vergessen / Rose

| {{nom}}