Christian Berkel

Christian Berkel (born 28 October 1957) is a German actor. He is known for his appearances in Downfall, Valkyrie (2008), Inglourious Basterds (2009) and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015).

Life and career Berkel was born on 28 October 1957 in Berlin.

His father had been a military doctor in World War II. His Jewish mother fled to Argentina and returned to Germany after the end of the war.

From the age of 14 Berkel lived in Paris where he took drama lessons with Jean-Louis Barrault and Pierre Berlin. He then trained at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin and appeared on stage in Augsburg, Düsseldorf, Munich, Vienna and at the Schiller Theater.

Berkel has appeared in many German television productions before starring in the Academy Award-nominated film Downfall (2004) as Dr. Ernst-Günther Schenck. He has followed this with roles in Paul Verhoeven's film Black Book (2006) and the American films Flightplan (2005), Valkyrie (2008) and Inglourious Basterds (2009).

Personal life In addition to his native German, Berkel speaks English and French.

Berkel met actress Andrea Sawatzki in 1998. The couple have two sons. The family live in Berlin.

Filmography

1977: - Karol Djudko 1977: The Serpent's Egg - Student 1978: Tatort - Rot, rot, tot (TV) - Doc Decker / Dr. Alfred Waller / Erik Steinbeck / Rainer Wenisch / Uwe Pfandler 1982: Frau Jenny Treibel (TV) - Leopold Treibel 1983: Derrick - Season 10, Episode 06: "Tödliches Rendezvous" - Manfred Kessler 1989: Der Bastard (TV series) - Felix Dennison 1991: - Man #2 (voice) 1993: Das Schicksal der Lilian H. (TV) - Josef 1993: Ein unvergeßliches Wochenende ... in Salzburg (TV) 1996: Der Mann ohne Schatten (TV series) - Bruno Kuhlin 1996: Lautlose Schritte (TV) - Simon Sundermann 1997: - Weich 1997: Umarmung mit dem Tod (TV) - Lefevre 1998: Vicky's Nightmare (TV) - John Nadolny 1998: (TV) - Rolf Spiekermann 1999: Sweet Little Sixteen (TV) - Thomas Reiner 2000: Verzweiflung 2000: Blondine sucht Millionär fürs Leben (TV) - Dietrich 2001: Das Experiment (The Experiment) - Robert Steinhoff Nr. 38 2002: Safe Conduct - Dr. Greven 2002: Die Affäre Semmeling (TV series) - Fred Kiefer 2002: Der Unbestechliche - Harald Kittler 2003: Erste Liebe (TV) 2004: Soundless - Lang 2004: Der Untergang (Downfall) - Prof. Ernst-Günther Schenck 2004: Männer wie wir (Guys and Balls) - Rudolf 2005: (TV) - Dr. Klaus Merbold 2005: Tatort - Leerstand (TV) - Doc Decker 2005: Flightplan (film) - Mortuary Director 2006: (TV) - Innensenator Helmut Schmidt 2006: Eine Frage des Gewissens (A Question Of The Conscience) (TV) - Martin Beltz 2006: Black Book - General Käutner 2006: Der Kriminalist (TV) - Kriminalhauptkommissar Bruno Schumann 2007: The Other Boy - Jakob Wagner 2008: Flame & Citron (film) - Hoffmann 2008: Mogadischu (film) - Chancellor Helmut Schmidt 2008: Haber (film) - Fritz Shimon Haber 2008: Miracle at St. Anna (film) - Captain Eichholz 2008: Valkyrie (film) - Colonel Albrecht Mertz von Quirnheim 2009: Inglourious Basterds (film) - Proprietor Eric 2009: Attack on Leningrad (film) - Vinkelmayer 2010: - David Böttcher 2011: - Heinrich Bockelmann 2013: Buddy (film) - Martin 2014: (TV) - Ernst Udet 2015: Traumfrauen - Herr Hegemann 2015: Anti-Social - Philip 2015: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (film) - Dr. Udo Teller 2015: Trumbo (film) - Otto Preminger 2016: Elle (film) - Robert 2016: The Jungle Book - King Louie (German dubbing, originally performed by Christopher Walken) 2020: The Magic Kids: Three Unlikely Heroes - Louis Ziffer 2020: Enfant Terrible