Global Talent Directory

Comedians from Germany

The comedian directory of Germany — profiles, bios, photos, and social links for comedians from Germany.

188 comedians

Al Shean

Al Shean, born Abraham Elieser Adolph Schönberg on May 12, 1868, in Dornum, Kingdom of Prussia, was a German-American comedian and actor. He also went by the names Adolf, Albert, or Alfred Schönberg. His parents were Fanny and Levi or Louis Schönberg, and his sister, Minnie, was the mother of the Marx Brothers: Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, and Zeppo. Shean’s father was a magician, which may have influenced his later career. He emigrated from Germany to New York with his sister, laying the groundwork for a Broadway career. Shean gained recognition in vaudeville theaters, often performing alongside his sister Minnie. In 1912, he partnered with Edward Gallagher to form the comedy duo Gallagher and Shean, who first performed together during a tour of The Rose Maid . The duo's performance achieved significant popularity, highlighted by the song “Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean,” a notable success within the 1922 Ziegfeld Follies. However, the partners reportedly disliked each other, and they separated in 1914 after a disagreement. Minnie Marx helped reunite them in 1920, and their partnership from 1920 to 1925 brought them significant fame before concluding in 1925. Shean reputedly wrote the Marx Brothers’ first successful vaudeville sketch, and he assisted in launching their careers, including performing with them in an act called ‘Fun in Hi Skule’ around 1911 or 1912; Groucho played a German teacher, Harpo represented the Irish with a red wig, and Gummo had a Yiddish accent. Following the dissolution of Gallagher and Shean, Shean performed solo in eight Broadway shows. He appeared in approximately three dozen films, including San Francisco (1936) as ‘The Professor’, The Blue Bird (1940) as a grandfather, and Hitler's Madman (1943) as a priest. Other film appearances included Music in the Air (1934), It’s in the Air (1935), Page Miss Glory (1935), Traveling Saleslady (1935), The King Steps Out (1936), The Law in Her Hands (1936), It Could Happen to You (1937), Live, Love and Learn (1937), The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), The Road Back (1937), Rosalie (1937), 52nd Street (1937), The Great Waltz (1938), Hollywood Hotel (1938), Too Hot to Handle (1938), Broadway Serenade (1939), Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President (1939), Tish (1942), Crime Doctor (1943), Atlantic City (1944), and The Golden Twenties (1950). He portrayed the lead role in 'Father Malachy's Miracle'. Al Shean died on August 12, 1949, in New York City.

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Germany

Anke Engelke

Anke Christina Fischer, known professionally as Anke Engelke, is a German comedian, actress, entertainer, and voice actress. Born on December 21, 1965, in Montreal, Canada, she holds both German and Canadian citizenship. Her family moved to Rösrath near Cologne, Germany in 1971, where she attended Freiherr-vom-Stein-Gymnasium and participated in the school choir, Sonntagskinder, even appearing in a Heino music video with them in 1974. Engelke began her performing career as a teenager, gaining early experience with Radio Luxembourg. Engelke’s early career involved presenting children's television shows from 1979 to 1986, including daily programs at the Berlin Funkausstellung for ZDF and hosting 'Moment mal' on RTL between 1978 and 1980. She also hosted 'Moment mal' on Radio Luxembourg from 1978 to 1980, and briefly sang with Manuel & Pony in 1979, performing 'Das Lied von Manuel' on ZDF-Hitparade. From 1985 to 1986, she moderated 'Schule aus, Radio an' on Radio Gong 96.3. She studied English, Romance languages, and pedagogy in Cologne but did not complete her degree. From 1986 to 1998, she held roles as both editor and presenter at SWF3, where she also hosted the Pop Shop program; additionally, she has been a member of Fred Kellner und die famosen Soul Sisters since 1989. Engelke gained nationwide recognition in the 1990s through her involvement with the SWF3-Comedy-Ensemble Gagtory since 1993 and appearances on 'Die Wochenshow' from 1996 to 2000. In 2003, she provided the German voice for Dory in 'Finding Nemo,' and she voiced Jane Porter in the German version of 'Tarzan.' Furthermore, beginning in 2006, she has been the German voice actor for Marge Simpson on 'The Simpsons'. Engelke has received numerous awards, including multiple Grimme Prizes, a German Television Award, and a German Comedy Award. She hosted the European Film Awards ceremony from 2009 to 2012 and co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 with Stefan Raab and Judith Rakers, also serving as Germany's spokesperson that year. Engelke continues to work in film and television, appearing in productions like "Chabos" (2025) and "Dann passiert das Leben" (2025), and is set to star in the new series "Maria und Ralf" premiering on Prime Video in 2027.

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Germany

Barbara Schöneberger

Barbara Schöneberger works as a presenter for television and radio in Germany, as well as an entertainer, actress and singer. Size conducts both television shows and awards ceremonies including the German Television Award, the Bambi and The Romy.

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Germany

Bülent Ceylan

Bülent Ceylan is a German comedian and Kabarett artist, born on January 4, 1976, in Mannheim. His mother, Hilde, is of Hungarian-German descent, while his father, Ahmet Ceylan (d. 2012), was a Turkish entrepreneur who arrived in Germany as a guest worker in 1958. In Mannheim, he received his primary education at the Friedrich-Ebert elementary school and continued his secondary schooling at the Ludwig-Frank-Gymnasium. Ceylan’s childhood involved using humor to alleviate his family's financial worries and bring joy to others. After completing his Abitur in 1995, Ceylan briefly interned at VIVA and RPR1 radio stations. He initially pursued higher education, studying philosophy and political science from 1998, but left university to focus on comedy. Early in his career, he began performing on small stages and developed the show 'Produzier’ mich net!' with Roland Junghans in 1998. Subsequent programs included ‘Nou Mässitsch!’ (November 1999) before achieving wider recognition with 'Döner for one' in November 2002. Ceylan’s comedy often centers on the experiences of Germans with Turkish family backgrounds and people from Mannheim, frequently incorporating the Mannheim dialect. He has developed numerous successful programs, including 'Halb getürkt' (October 2005), 'Kebabbel net', 'Ganz schön turbülent' (2010), and 'Luschtobjekt' (January 2020). His work has earned him several awards, including the German Comedy Award (Newcomer) in 2009, the CIVIS-Medienpreis in 2009, the German Comedy Award (Best Comedian) in 2010, and the Kleinkunstpreis des Landes Baden-Württemberg in 2002. He has appeared in television shows like 'Quatsch Comedy Club' and acted in episodes of 'Hausmeister Krause' and 'Bewegte Männer'. Beyond comedy, he starred in the film 'Verpiss dich, Schneewittchen' (March 2018) and participated in Stefan Raabs 'Autoball' championship in 2008. He has also performed at metal festivals such as Summer Breeze (2010) and Wacken Open Air (2011, 2014). In 2019, he competed on 'The Masked Singer', finishing third as the Engel (Angel), and in December 2024, he won 'Schlag den Star'. Ceylan is married and has four children, residing in Weinheim. He has published his autobiography 'Ankommen. Aber wo war ich eigentlich?' (September 2021), which became a Spiegel-Bestseller. He released his debut album 'Ich liebe Menschen' in 2023 and tours with his band, bringing together diverse groups through music. He is involved with Mannheim Aidshilfe, the Sterntaler children’s hospice, and anti-racism projects, and serves as a reading ambassador for the Stiftung Lesen. He has also launched a foundation to help children in need called 'Bülent Ceylan für Kinder' and written a crime comedy novel titled 'Yallah Mord!' (2024), featuring characters from his shows. Bülent Ceylan is considered one of the most popular entertainers in Germany, known for his distinctive Mannheim dialect and humorous characters.

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Germany

Cordula Stratmann

As a German, Cordula Stratmann works as a comedian, actress, author, and also practices as a systemic family therapist. Born in Düsseldorf on November 10, 1963, she grew up as the daughter of a teacher. She attended St.-Ursula-Gymnasium in Düsseldorf and completed her Abitur in the early 1980s. Stratmann first gained prominence in the late 1990s portraying Annemie Hülchrath on Zimmer frei! (1998-2008). After graduating from high school, Stratmann studied social work at the Katholischen Hochschule Nordrhein-Westfalen in Cologne and earned a Diplom-Sozialarbeiterin degree. She also received additional training in systemic family therapy while working at a family counseling center, working as a therapist for eight years (1988-1996). Before pursuing comedy, she co-founded the cabaret group Fatal Banal in 1990 and discovered comedy in 1990. She created the character Annemie Hülchrath for a carnival session in 1992. Stratmann’s career transitioned to television in 1996, leaving her job in family counseling. Stratmann’s television debut involved hosting the comedy programs Manngold and Sonst gerne on tm3 and ZDF, where she originally performed the role of Melanie. She acted in the film Zimmer frei! as ‘Annemie Hülchrath’ in 1998, with spin-offs including Annemie auf Hausbesuch (2000-2002) and Annemie Hülchrath – Der Talk (2002-2004). Her first stage program, Andererseits wiederum …, debuted in 2001, earning her a German Comedy Award nomination. She hosted the show Annemie Hülchrath – Der Talk on WDR from 2002 to 2004. Starting in September 2004, she starred in the improvisation comedy show Schillerstraße, which ran until April 2007 and earned her several awards including the German Comedy Award in 2005 and the German Television Award. She was also nominated for a German Comedy Award in October 2001 and October 2002. Stratmann’s personal life has occasionally been incorporated into her work; she was pregnant in November 2005, which was reflected in the Schillerstraße storyline, and gave birth to a son named Emil on March 31, 2006. She is married to Rainer Osnowski, a co-founder of lit.Cologne, and they reside in Cologne with their son. She has authored several books including Ist dieses Buch ansteckend? (2008), Sie da oben (2011), and Wo war ich stehengeblieben? (2024). She continues to practice as a family therapist part-time in her own practice in Cologne, and has appeared in various television series and films including Danni Lowinski (2013), Kroymann (2017-2019), Rocca verändert die Welt (2019) and SMS für Dich (2016). She recently participated in the fourth season of 'LOL: Last One Laughing' (starting April 6, 2023).

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Germany

Dirk Bach

A German actor, comedian, and television presenter, Dirk Bach was born in Cologne on April 23, 1961. At the age of 51, Dirk Bach passed away in Berlin on October 1, 2012; heart failure is suspected as the cause. His parents, Willi and Trude Bach, both worked for WDR and were involved in local history research. He began his career in independent theater in Cologne without formal training. Bach’s early career included work in theatres in Amsterdam, Brussels, London, New York, Utrecht, and Vienna after completing his schooling in 1980. He received his first theatre role in 1978 in Heiner Müller's Prometheus . From 1992 to 1996, he was a permanent member of the Schauspiel Köln ensemble. He gained wider recognition in 1992 with The Dirk Bach Show , broadcast on RTL and later Super RTL. He starred in television series such as Lukas (1996–2001) and Der kleine Mönch (2002), and played Pepe on Sesamstraße from 2000 to 2007. Bach achieved national recognition for his role as a single dad in the sitcom Lukas , which ran for five seasons. From 2004 until 2012, he gained significant recognition for co-hosting Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! with Sonja Zietlow. He received several awards during his career, including the Telestar award in 1996, the German Comedy Award in 1999, and the Goldene Kamera in 2001. Bach was an LGBT activist and a member of the LSVD organization, actively fundraised for AIDS charities, and supported Amnesty International and PETA.

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Germany

Eddi Arent

Gebhardt Georg “Eddi” Arent, known professionally as Eddi Arent, was a German actor, cabaret artist, and comedian. Born on May 5, 1925, in Danzig-Langfuhr (now part of Gdańsk, Poland), he shared a birthplace with film colleague Wolfgang Völz. His father directed the Danzig waterworks. After attending a humanist gymnasium and earning his Abitur, Arent was drafted into the German army in 1939 following the annexation of Free City of Danzig. He later studied acting after World War II. Arent began his artistic career in Blumberg as a cabaret performer after the war. From 1948 to 1950, he participated in Jürgen Henckell's literary cabaret 'Der Widerspiegel,' appearing at Werner Finck’s ‘Mausefalle’ and 'Die Zwiebel' as well. He was discovered for film in 1955 while working at 'Die Zwiebel' in Munich. His first significant film role came in 1958 in 'The Doctor from Stalingrad,' where his gaunt appearance secured the part. He quickly gained recognition, appearing in over 104 films between 1956 and 2002, and achieving major screen fame in the 1960s. He became known for playing butler roles, police photographer, and criminal assistant in Horst Wendlandt's Edgar Wallace adaptations (1959-1966), appearing in approximately twenty of these detective films and portraying a villain four times. Critics praised his slapstick and dry wit as the “sparkling powder” of the series, which attracted approximately 60 million viewers between 1959 and 1972. Arent also starred in three Karl May films: 'The Treasure of Silver Lake' (1962), 'Winnetou 2' (1964), and 'Winnetou and Shatterhand in the Valley of Death' (1968) as Lord Castlepool. He appeared in the television comedy 'Räuber und Gendarm' (1978) and found considerable success with the sketch series 'Es ist angerichtet' (from 1982), which he considered his best work. Later, he collaborated with Harald Juhnke in the sketch television series 'Harald und Eddi' (late 1980s). He received the Scharlih award in 1997, a Karl May award, and the Golden Honorary Prize of the Edgar Wallace Meeting in 1999. Arent married Franziska Ganslmeier in 1959; they had one son and ran the 'Neustädter Hof' hotel in Titisee until it declared bankruptcy in 2005. He was diagnosed with dementia, and his health declined; he passed away at the age of 88 on May 28, 2013, in Munich, Germany, due to Alzheimer's disease.

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Germany

Esther Schweins

Esther Schweins, born April 18, 1970, in Oberhausen, is a German actress, comedian, and director. She grew up in Viernheim with her brother, the son of a carpet dealer and a photographer. Her career began in the 1990s as a comedian on the TV show RTL Samstag Nacht. Schweins gained prominence through her appearances on RTL Samstag Nacht, where she is also considered a founding member. She became known for her parody of MTV host Kristiane Backer as Kristiane Kacker. Her work on the show earned her recognition, including a Bayerischer Fernsehpreis in 1994 and a Bambi award that same year, shared with the entire ensemble. She has appeared in over 70 film and television productions since 1994, including roles in The Superwife (1996), Sisters from Hell (1997), Klassentreffen – Mordfall unter Freunden (2001), and Whispers of the Desert (2012). She also portrayed Emmeline Pankhurst in the docudrama We are half the World in 2018. Beyond acting, Schweins has worked as a theater director, staging the German version of 'Caveman' in 2000 and directing 'Hi Dad!' in 2009. She is also a voice actress, notably voicing Princess Fiona in the German dubs of the Shrek films. In 2004, she and her mother survived being swept away by a tsunami wave in Sri Lanka, an event that led her to reduce her possessions and become involved in helping tsunami victims. Since 2021, she has co-hosted the podcast 'Unglaublich krank' with physician Martin Mücke. Currently, she plays a recurring role in Die Kanzlei (since 2024) and was part of the main cast of Blutige Anfänger (2020 to 2024).

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Germany

Helge Schneider

Helge Schneider ist ein deutscher Vielseitigkeitskünstler: Komiker, Musiker, Komponist, Schriftsteller, Regisseur für Film und Bühne, Schauspieler sowie Drehbuchautor. Er ist häufig im deutschen Fernsehen zu sehen und wurde vor allem durch das schräge Lied „Katzeklo, Katzeklo, ja das macht die Katze froh“ bekannt, das 1994 insgesamt 17 Wochen in den deutschen Charts verblieb und dort den 13. Platz belegte.

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Germany

Herman Bing

Herman Bing, born March 30, 1889, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, was a German-American character actor and comedian. His father, Max Bing, was an opera baritone, and he had two brothers who were also actors, Gus Bing and Rudolf Bing. Bing’s early career began at age 16, performing in circuses and vaudeville theaters, demonstrating comedic talent. He received musical education in Germany and worked as a circus clown. Before moving to America, he served as production chief for several German films, working as a line producer and also as a scripter and assistant director. Bing emigrated to America in 1923 and was brought to Hollywood in 1926 by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau as part of a delegation. He collaborated closely with Murnau, serving as an interpreter and assistant director on films like 'Sunrise' (1927). Following Murnau’s death, Bing increasingly began acting in films, appearing in over one hundred films in Hollywood from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s. He worked under directors John Ford and Frank Borzage. His film debut was in 1921 with "Ciska Barna, die Zigeunerin," and he appeared in numerous other films, often without credit, totaling over 120 appearances. Notable roles included supporting parts in films such as 'The Call of the Wild' (1935), 'Redheads on Parade' (1935), 'Bluebeard's Eighth Wife' (1938), 'The Great Waltz' (1938), 'Bitter Sweet' (1940) and 'Where Do We Go from Here?' (1945). Bing became known for his wild-eyed facial expressions and thick German accent, particularly his rolled ‘r,’ which made him a popular character actor. He was often cast in comedies as a foreigner, similar to Fritz Feld. In 1941, he voiced the Ringmaster in Disney's "Dumbo." However, his career suffered significantly after 1941 due to the unpopularity of things German following World War II; engagements decreased due to a lack of demand for comedic portrayals of Germans. He struggled to find work in Hollywood in the mid-1940s and became increasingly depressed. Bing died by suicide on January 9, 1947, in Hollywood, California, from a self-inflicted gunshot. There was speculation that a lack of opportunities contributed to his death.

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Germany

Ina Müller

Ina Müller is a multifaceted German artist, working as a singer-songwriter, comedian, television host, and author. Born on July 25, 1965, in Köhlen, Lower Saxony, she grew up as the fourth of five daughters on her parents' farm. Her early years shaped her perspective, which she frequently incorporates into her comedy and music. She experienced hospitalism until her teenage years, a period that likely influenced her later artistic expression. After graduating school, Müller pursued a practical education, training as a pharmaceutical-technical assistant at the Dr. von Morgenstern Schools in Lüneburg. She subsequently worked in pharmacies in Bremen-Blumenthal, Westerland on Sylt, and Munich. In 1994, she began her career in comedy by forming the cabaret duo Queen Bee with Edda Schnittgard. The duo appeared in the film 'Schöne Frauen' in 2004. Her solo career gained momentum after this period, marked by the release of her debut album, 'Das große Du,' in June 2004, followed by the more successful 'Weiblich, Ledig, 40' in October 2006. Her album 'Liebe macht taub' reached number 6 on the German Album Charts in March 2008. Müller is perhaps best known for hosting the late-night music and variety show Inas Nacht , which originated from a pub in Hamburg and has been broadcast on NDR since 2007. The show, taking place at the “Zum Schellfischposten,” features pointed conversations and "beer coaster questions," providing a platform for both established and emerging artists. She created and presents this influential and successful late-night talk show, which has received numerous awards including the German Television Award, the German Comedy Award, and the Grimme Award. Her work frequently incorporates her North German heritage and promotes the Plattdeutsch language and culture. She combines music with humor in her performances, often telling funny stories and anecdotes. Her eighth studio album, '55,' was released in November 2020, and her ninth studio album, '6.0,' released in November 2025, reached number one on the German Album Charts. She is currently embarking on a "6.0 Tour" from October 2026 to March 2027, featuring classic songs and material from the new album.

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Germany

Martina Hill

Martina Hill is a German actress and comedian, born on July 14, 1974, in Berlin-Wedding. Her parents worked as a nurse and an underground train driver. She grew up in Berlin-Wedding and graduated from high school (Abitur) in 1995. Following her graduation, she attended the Theaterstudio Berlin and studied acting. Hill began her career working as a radio speaker for Radio Eins and Hundert,6 in Berlin from 1998 to 2003. She gained wider recognition in 2007 as a parodist on the ProSieben comedy series Switch reloaded , where she was an ensemble member. She is known for impersonating figures such as Heidi Klum, Angela Merkel, Daniela Katzenberger, Gundula Gause, Amy Winehouse, and Dr. Temperance 'Bones' Brennan. From 2009, she portrayed Tina Hausten and Larissa in the ZDF satirical show heute-show , with Tina Hausten evolving into a series of characters. Martina Hill has starred in several television movies and series, including Schwer verknallt (2003), Der Vater meines Sohnes (2004), Cologne P.D. (2005), Alarm für Cobra 11 – Die Autobahnpolizei (2006-2007), and Putzfrau Undercover (2008). She has also provided voice-over work for films like Cars 2 (2011) and Despicable Me 2 (2013). She starred in her own shows, including Knallerfrauen (2011-2015), which gained popularity even in China, and Die Martina Hill Show (2018-2020). In 2019, she launched the satirical talk show 'Martina-Hill-Schau.' She has received the German Comedy Award multiple times and has also won the German TV Award, Adolf-Grimme-Preis, and Bambi Award. She appeared in Caveman (2023) alongside Moritz Bleibtreu and Laura Tonke, and stars in the sketch comedy HILLarious on Amazon Prime since February 2023. She will appear in 'LOL: Last One Laughing' in 2025 and is working on a second film, 'Die Tollpatsch', where she will star and write the script.

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