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Ulrich Mühe

Ulrich Mühe

Actor · Died July 22, 2007, aged 54 · Grimma, Germany

Friedrich Hans Ulrich Mühe (20 June 1953 – 22 July 2007) was a German film, television and theatre actor. He played the role of Hauptmann (Captain) Gerd Wiesler in the Oscar-winning film Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others, 2006), for which he received the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Gold, at Germany's most prestigious film awards, the Deutscher Filmpreis (German Film Awards); and the Best Actor Award at the 2006 European Film Awards. Curiously, events in Mühe's life were mirrored by the plot of the film, as he allegedly discovered in a Stasi file compiled on him that he had been under surveillance by his second wife, Jenny Gröllmann. Gröllmann denied this, and after an acrimonious and highly-publicized court case she succeeded in obtaining an injunction to prevent Mühe from repeating the allegation in a book. After leaving school, Mühe was employed as a construction worker and a border guard at the Berlin Wall. He then turned to acting, and from the late 1970s into the 1980s appeared in numerous plays, becoming a star of the Deutsches Theater in East Berlin. He was active in politics and denounced Communist rule in East Germany in a memorable address at the Alexanderplatz demonstration on 4 November 1989 shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall. After German reunification he continued to appear in a large number of films, television programmes and theatre productions. In Germany he was particularly known for playing the lead role of Dr. Robert Kolmaar in the long-running forensic crime series Der letzte Zeuge (The Last Witness, 1998–2007). Description above from the Wikipedia article Ulrich Mühe, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 20, 1953
Died
July 22, 2007 (aged 54)
From
Grimma, Germany
Works as
Actor
Titles
9 on MovieCove · 67 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 35% in 30 days

What are Ulrich Mühe's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
31%
Survival
15%
Ideas
15%
Power
12%
Self
10%
Bonds
9%
Society
9%
Duty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 2 · Dark 5

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 2 · Intense 4

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 0 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 2

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 5

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 4 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 7 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 7
Shadow
2 of 7
Threshold guardian
1 of 7
Ally
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Dread
3
Melancholic
3
Cold
3
Contemplative
2
Other
2

How their films linger

Thought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ulrich Mühe's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 9 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ulrich Mühe's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

67 credits, 9 with a MovieCove page; 14 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Jedermann Remixed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Devil (archive footage)

  • Nemesis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Robert

  • My Führer(2007)

    as Prof. Adolf Israel Grünbaum

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Peer Gynt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Der Knopfgiesser

  • Das Geheimnis von St. Ambrose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Nicolas Cramer

  • The Lives of Others(2006)

    as Gerd Wiesler

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Snowland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Knövel

  • Der Ausländer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Hunger auf Leben (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Jochen Hensel

  • Der Auftrag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • Alles Samba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Gerd Wegener

  • In the Shadow of Power (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · as Günther Gaus

  • Hamlet_X (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Claudius Müller

  • Spy Sorge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Eugen Ott

  • Amen.(2002)

    as The Doctor

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Goebbels und Geduldig (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Goebbels bzw. Geduldig

  • Dreimal Leben (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Henri

  • Einfach raus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Manfred Reimann

  • Straight Shooter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Markus Paufler

  • Todesengel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Dr. Leon Stein

  • Siska (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Erich Branner

  • 36 Stunden Angst - Ein Vater kämpft um sein Kind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Rudolph

  • Rider of the Flames (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Jacob Gontard

  • Night Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Eschbach

  • Der letzte Zeuge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 73 episodes · as Robert Kolmaar

  • Funny Games(1997)

    as Georg

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Castle(1997)

    as K

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Little Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Commissioner

  • Deadly Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Christian Plache

  • Sterben ist gesünder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Hugo Wallner

  • Nadja – Heimkehr in die Fremde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sergej

  • Peanuts - Die Bank zahlt alles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Dr. Jochen Schuster

  • Nikolaikirche (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Pfarrer Ohlbaum

  • Geschäfte (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Sturm

  • … nächste Woche ist Frieden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Dr. Herbert Pieritz

  • Nadja – Heimkehr in die Fremde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Sergej

  • Rudy, the Racing Pig (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Dr. Heinrich Gützkow

  • Rosa Roth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Blue One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Karl 'Kalle' Kaminski

  • Das tödliche Auge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Stefan Phillis

  • The Last U-Boat(1993)

    as Gerber - Kommandant

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Benny's Video(1992)

    as Georg, Benny's Father

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Schtonk! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Dr. Wieland

  • Jugend ohne Gott (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Lehrer

  • End of Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as Julian Green

  • Der kleine Herr Friedemann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Johannes Friedemann

  • Hard Days, Hard Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Flimmer

  • Longing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Sieghart

  • Die Zeit ist aus den Fugen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Nathan der Weise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Patriarch

  • Die gläserne Fackel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 7 episodes · as Maximilian Steinhüter

  • Spider's Web (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Theodor Lohse

  • Späte Ankunft (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Raoul Fürstenau

  • Imago (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Nadine, meine Liebe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Oberleutnant Stein

  • Sansibar oder Der letzte Grund (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Dr. Grote

  • Die erste Reihe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Rudolf Schwarz

  • Das Buschgespenst (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Siegfried Strauch

  • Die dritte Frau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Hälfte des Lebens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Friedrich Hölderlin

  • The Woman and the Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Revolutionär

  • Die Poggenpuhls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Sohn Leutnant Leo

  • Olle Henry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Junger Mann

  • Gespenster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Osvald

  • Der Mann und sein Name (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Retzlow

  • Police Call 110(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Kegel

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Tatort(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Friedel Hebbel · as Peter Fuchs

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 67 titles from 1970 to 2011; peak year 2007.

Biggest box office

The Lives of Others (2006)

$78M worldwide

Highest rated

The Lives of Others (2006)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19702011

Peak 2007 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting66 of 67: 66 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60thDirecting1 of 67: 1 only directing, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s2 · acting1980s15 · acting1990s33 · acting2000s15 · 14 acting · 1 crew2010s2 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 14% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Ulrich Mühe's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 82nd percentile, the median of all 7; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 78th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 9 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th1
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 9 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed3

Most loved · actor

The Lives of Others (2006)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 75/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 55. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ulrich Mühe's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 81 · severeMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 25 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 41 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 85 · severeMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Ulrich Mühe work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ulrich Mühe's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Haneke shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Editors

Producers