Sebastian Rudolph
Biography
Sebastian Rudolph is a German actor born on 21 October 1968 in Berlin. He is the son of actress Hildegard Schmahl and director Niels‑Peter Rudolph and received his acting training in Hamburg. Rudolph is widely recognized for his role as Michael Kahnwald in the Netflix series Dark, which aired from 2017 to 2020. His film work includes appearances in The English Patient (1996), Stalingrad (1993) and Never Look Away (2018). In addition to screen work, he has performed in a range of German theatre, television and radio productions and was a long‑time ensemble member of the Thalia Theatre in Hamburg.
Career overview
Sebastian Rudolph is a German actor born on 21 October 1968 in Berlin. He is the son of actress Hildegard Schmahl and director Niels‑Peter Rudolph, and he completed his acting training in Hamburg. Rudolph’s screen work includes a role in the 1993 film Stalingrad and a part in the 1996 production The English Patient. He later appeared in the 2018 film Never Look Away, adding to a career that spans both cinema and television.
From 2017 to 2020 Rudolph portrayed Michael Kahnwald in the Netflix series Dark, a performance that has become one of his most widely recognized credits. In addition to his film and television appearances, he has been active in German theatre, radio and other television projects, maintaining a presence across multiple media formats. His long‑time affiliation with the Thalia Theatre in Hamburg reflects a sustained commitment to stage work, where he served as an ensemble member for an extended period.
Rudolph’s professional trajectory demonstrates a blend of international film roles and domestic German productions, underscored by his training in Hamburg and his ongoing involvement with prominent theatrical institutions. His body of work, documented through a range of credits, illustrates a versatile career that bridges historical drama, contemporary series, and stage performance.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
63 titles- December Evening (2025) as Detlef
- Hallo Spencer - Der Film (2024) as Fred Forthmann
- Piaffe (2023) as Novak
- Munich Games (2022) as Michael Hahn
- MOBY DICK; or, The Whale (2022)
- Pelican Blood (2020) as Dr. Zaruba
- Old Land (2020) as Bernhard
- Hello Again - A Wedding A Day (2020) as Andreas
- The Wall (2020)
- Tödliche Geheimnisse - Das Versprechen (2020) as Hans Remscheid
- Schlingensief – A Voice That Shook the Silence (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Danowski - Blutapfel (2019) as Rüdiger Bressin
- The German Lesson (2019) as Gallery owner
- A Voluntary Year (2019)
- The Captain (2018) as Corporal Paul
- Whatever Happens Next (2018) as Paul Zeise
- Am Ende ist man tot (2018) as Mc Foster
- Dark (2017) as Michael Kahnwald
- In Wahrheit (2017) as Herr Mahn
- Götter in Weiß (2017) as Dr. Andreas Barna
- Original Bliss (2016) as Arzt
- Overgames (2016) as Narrator (voice)
- Deadly Leaks (2016) as Hans Remscheid
- 4 Kings (2015) as Vater Alex
- MDR um 4 (2014) as Self
- Public Enemies (2014) as Rudolf Augstein
- Finn Zehender (2011) as Lars Döbbelin
- Nur für einen Augenblick (2009)
- Die Räuber (2009)
- Remarque - Sein Weg zum Ruhm (2008) as Axel Eggebrecht
- Hamburg Dockland (2007) as Jan König
- Hamburg Dockland (2007) as Mats Kurschmann
- Der Kriminalist (2006) as Peter Aschinger
- Mörderische Erpressung (2006) as Ralph Jansen
- Hamlet: This Is Your Family (2001) as Himself
- Der Millionär und die Stripperin (2001) as Wolfgang
- Three Wishes (2000)
- Duell der Richter (1999) as Horst Lesch
- Downhill City (1999) as Sascha
- Der letzte Zeuge (1998) as Ralph Schwarzkopf
- Die Cleveren (1998) as Heiner Wagner
- Zugriff (1998) as Student
- Der Pirat (1998) as Ludwig
- Alphateam – Die Lebensretter im OP (1997) as Rüdiger Münchhoff
- Sophie – Schlauer als die Polizei erlaubt (1997) as Markus Amman
- Coming In (1997) as Lutz
- Schlosshotel Orth (1996) as Enno Hallberg
- The English Patient (1996) as Officer In Square
- A.S. Gefahr ist sein Geschäft (1995) as Karl Wieland
- Jury Trial (1995) as Christoph Seibel
- Der König (1994) as Dirk Walz
- Stalingrad (1993) as GeGe Müller
- Wolffs Revier (1992) as Bernd Adler
- Wolffs Revier (1992) as Hans
- Zärtliche Erpresserin (1992) as Daniel
- Geboren 1999 (1992) as Karl Meiberg
- Manta - Der Film (1991) as Manfred " Fred " Grabowski
- A Case For Two (1981) as Alexander Hagenbach
- The Old Fox (1977) as Christian Vondrell
- Polizeiruf 110 (1971) as Axel Dietrich
- Scene of the Crime (1970) as André Plötz
- Scene of the Crime (1970) as Heinrich Vogel
- Oasis as Thomas Lang
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Sebastian Rudolph best known for?
Sebastian Rudolph is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Captain (2018), Dark (2017), MDR um 4 (2014), Hamburg Dockland (2007).
When and where was Sebastian Rudolph born?
Sebastian Rudolph was born on October 21, 1968 in Berlin, Germany.
How many credits does Sebastian Rudolph have?
Sebastian Rudolph has accumulated over 63 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1970 to 2025.
What is Sebastian Rudolph's background in cinema and television?
Sebastian Rudolph is a German actor born on 21 October 1968 in Berlin. He is the son of actress Hildegard Schmahl and director Niels‑Peter Rudolph and received his acting training in Hamburg. Rudolph is widely recognized for his role as Michael Kahnwald in the Netflix series Dark, which aired from 2017 to 2020. His fil...
Sebastian Rudolph by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Dark (2017) as Michael Kahnwald — aged about 48
- Die Cleveren (1998) as Heiner Wagner — aged about 29
- Stalingrad (1993) as GeGe Müller — aged about 24
- The Captain (2018) as Corporal Paul — aged about 49
- The English Patient (1996) as Officer In Square — aged about 27
- The Old Fox (1977) as Christian Vondrell — aged about 8
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