Moritz Bleibtreu

Moritz Bleibtreu — Biography

Moritz Johann Bleibtreu was born on August 13, 1971, in Munich into a family with deep roots in the performing arts; his mother was Austrian actress Monica Bleibtreu and his father was German-Austrian actor Hans Brenner. He rose to prominence in 1997 playing the gangster Abdul in the road movie Knockin' on Heaven's Door.

That breakthrough launched one of German cinema's most recognizable careers, spanning more than 90 film and television productions. His performances in films such as The Experiment (2001), Solino (2002), Agnes and His Brothers (2004), Atomised (2006), and especially his portrayal of Andreas Baader in The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008), earned him honors including a Romy and a Silver Bear for Best Actor; he has also worked occasionally as a director and screenwriter.

Bleibtreu has continued to take on international projects, including Bye Bye Germany (2017) and The Confessions (2016), and is regarded today as one of German cinema's most respected character actors.