Harald Schmidt
Born: 1957-08-18 in Neu-Ulm, Bavaria, West Germany [now Germany]
Known For: Acting
Biography
Harald Franz Schmidt is a German actor, comedian, television presenter, and author, best known as the host of two popular German late-night shows. The son of refugees who fled the Sudetenland (now the Czech Republic) in 1945, Schmidt spent his youth in the Swabian town of Nürtingen. Due to his strict Catholic upbringing, he became actively involved in the Roman Catholic Church, serving as a choirmaster and playing the organ. At the age of 21, Schmidt moved to Stuttgart, where he attended drama school for three years. Subsequently, he gained stage experience at the *Städtische Bühne* (Municipal Theater) in Augsburg. His first role was that of the Second Mamluk in Lessing’s *Nathan the Wise*. In 1984, Schmidt became a lyricist for the cabaret ensemble *Kom(m)ödchen* in Düsseldorf, and in 1986, he was named "Best Up-and-Coming Cabaret Artist." That same year, he toured Germany with his own solo show. Television soon took notice of the talented young comedian, and in 1988, Schmidt hosted his first TV program, *MAZ ab*. This was followed by shows such as *Psst!* and *Schmidteinander*. He experienced the greatest boost of his career in 1992, when he took over as host of the popular Saturday-night show *Verstehen Sie Spaß?*. Schmidt was awarded the Adolf Grimme Prize—Germany’s most prestigious television award—the first of many such honors to follow. Just one year later, he was named "Entertainer of the Year" and received both the Bambi and the *Goldene Kamera* awards.
Filmography
2025
- Gruschel mich! Die studiVZ-Story as Self (archive footage)
2024
- Beckenbauer as Self - Interviewee
2022
- One Mic Stand as Self - Coach
2020
- Kurzstrecke mit Pierre M. Krause as Self
- Sträter as Self - Guest
2018
- Labaule & Erben ... (Creator)
2017
- The Legend of Timm Thaler: or The Boy Who Sold His Laughter as Racecourse speaker
2016
- Ringlstetter as Self
- Schreckenstein Castle as Graf Schreckenstein
- Rosamunde Pilcher: Ein Doktor und drei Frauen as lord Hurrleton
2015
2014
- Der Meisterfälscher as Self
2012
- Zettl as Conny Scheffer
2011
- Schawinski as Self
- Stopped on Track as Himself
2010
- Erlesen as self
- Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten as Rooster (voice)
2009
- SOKO Stuttgart as Prof. Dr. Lukas Gotthardt
- Nuhr im Ersten as Self
2008
- Ein Abend für.. as Self
2007
- Der Sonntags-Stammtisch as Self
- Schmidt & Pocher as Self - Host
- WegGefährten as self
- Frei:Gespielt - Mehmet Scholl - Über das Spiel hinaus as Himself
2005
- About the Looking for and the Finding of Love as Psychotherapeut
2004
- Kulturplatz as Self
- 7 Zwerge - Männer allein im Wald as Jester Candidate
2003
- Menschen bei Maischberger as Self
- Lesen! Mit Elke Heidenreich as Self
- Was liest du? as Self
2000
1999
- Volle Kanne as Self
- Beckmann as Self
- German Television Award as Self
- Ottis Schlachthof as himself
- Late Show as Conrad 'Conny' Scheffer
- Kuli & Co. as Self
- Gisbert
- Die Musterknaben 2 as Himself
1998
- Sabine Christiansen as Self
- Das McSchmidt-Studio as Self
- Die Samsas
1997
- Leute heute as Self
- Talk 2000 as Self
1995
- Die Harald Schmidt Show as Host
- Lebens-Künstler as Self
- Prix Pantheon as himself
- Nich' mit Leo as Bishop
- Schmidteinander - Das Beste
1994
- alfredissimo! Kochen mit Bio as Self
1991
- DAS!
- Boulevard Bio as Self
- Die Mike Krüger Show as Self
1990
- Romy Award as Self
- Pssst ... as Self - Host
- Schmidteinander as Moderator
1989
- Blauer Panther as Self
1988
- Mitternachtsspitzen as Self
- Alles Nichts Oder?! as Self
1987
- Nachtcafé as Self
- Klassentreffen as Self
1984
- Goldene Kamera as Self
1983
- Telestar as Self
1982
- Menschen as Self
1981
- Wetten, dass..? as Self
- Das Traumschiff as Oskar de Navetta
- Musikantenstadl as Self
1980
- Verstehen Sie Spaß? as Self - Host
1979
- Die Pyramide as Self
1964
- Grimme Award as Self
1963
- Zur Person as Self
1948
- Bambi as Self