Til Schweiger biography, young, height, freundin, wife, age 2025

Til Schweiger's Biography

Til Schweiger stands as German cinema's golden boy – a powerhouse actor, skilled director, savvy producer, and undeniably charismatic leading man. Russian audiences know him best from Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Rabbit Without Ears, Lara Croft, and King Arthur.

Early Years

Til (full name Tilman Valentin Schweiger) was born in Freiburg, Germany to two teachers. The boy spent his early years in Giessen; when he was four years old, his family moved to Heuchelheim.

Til had a typical German childhood – he was bright, energetic, and well-adjusted. He played sports, earned solid grades, and never gave his parents headaches. He loved reading, was fond of history, and planned to follow in his parents' footsteps and become a teacher.

After graduating from school he started his German studies at the Linguistics Faculty. After two years, Til faced reality – teaching wouldn't pay the bills. So he dropped out and switched to medical school, hoping for better financial prospects. After earning his degree, he put in two years with the Netherlands Air Force. When he returned home, he was back to square one – unemployed.

Like so many success stories, a stroke of luck changed everything. Til ran into an old friend who was studying acting in Cologne. She suggested he give acting a shot, and he took her up on it. He enrolled in Der Keller Acting School and spent the following three years studying the basics of acting. To cover tuition, he'd take any work – even dubbing adult films. Til's never been shy about this chapter of his life and openly discusses it in interviews.

The Beginning of Artistic Journey

After receiving his actor's diploma in 1989, Schweiger got a job at the Contra-Kreis Theatre in Bonn. At the same time, he was offered an episodic role in the series Lindenstrasse. The debut paid off – his charisma caught industry attention, landing him the lead in the comedy Manta, Manta (1991). Til snagged a prestigious German film award, earning serious respect in acting circles.

Til Schweiger in the comedy Manta, Manta

In 1994 another comedy starring Til - The Most Desired Man - was released, which made him famous in his country. From that point on, he didn't need to prove himself or chase down opportunities. Directors were eager to cast this charismatic heartthrob in their films. In the course of three years, action movies, dramas and comedies starring Til (A Girl Called Rosemary, The Super Wife, Adrenalin, Bastard) came out, where Schweiger typically landed the macho lead or charming playboy roles.

Til Schweiger in the comedy The Most Desired Man

Big Break

This looked like the ultimate breakthrough for a young actor who'd started out dubbing adult films. But Til didn't stop there—he decided to explore new territory. He changed roles and became the co-author and producer of the movie Knockin' on Heaven's Door (1997), which started a new stage in his career.

Til Schweiger in the movie Knockin' on Heaven's Door

The film follows two friends who discover they're terminally ill and decide to live out their wildest dreams. The film became a massive worldwide hit, establishing Schweiger as a powerhouse dramatic actor. This movie received a lot of prestigious film awards, including the top prize of the Moscow International Film Festival.

Til Schweiger in romantic scenes

Hollywood took notice of the rising star and rolled out the red carpet for the German actor. In the late '90s, Schweiger relocated to the United States, where compelling offers started pouring in. Among the offers were frequent roles as German Nazi officers, which he consistently turned down regardless of the paycheck.

Til Schweiger flatly refused all roles portraying Nazi officers

Schweiger broke his own rule just once, appearing in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (2009). Schweiger was drawn to the fact that Tarantino had him in mind from the start, with the role written specifically for him. Moreover, Schweiger's character is a German sergeant who genuinely hates Nazis.

Inglourious Basterds - Trailer

Steven Spielberg, however, couldn't convince the actor to join his acclaimed Saving Private Ryan. Schweiger flatly refused to kill Tom Hanks, citing his unwavering stance against playing Nazis.

Directing Career

Inspired by the success of Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Til decided to take up directing. The first movie he directed was the action thriller The Polar Bear (1998), where he played the lead role. The film was well-received by both audiences and critics, launching a new chapter in Schweiger's career. It was followed by the comedy Auf Herz und Nieren (2001) where Til surprisingly stepped aside from the lead role, giving it to Steffen Wink instead.

Til Schweiger in the thriller The Polar Bear

The drama Barefoot (2005) deserves special attention, which was filmed in the style of Knockin' on Heaven's Door and became Schweiger's first independent work as a director (he had co-worked with other directors before that). True to form, Til kept the lead role for himself and delivered a brilliant performance. The film earned critical acclaim and proved highly profitable for its creators.

The hilarious romance drama Rabbit Without Ears (2007) was Schweiger's next successful movie, in which he was the director and an actor; it became Germany's highest-grossing film of 2007. Til's four children all played in the movie, as well as the famous boxer Vladimir Klitschko.

Rabbit Without Ears - Trailer

Since then, Schweiger has regularly cast his children in his films: Emma played Magdalena in the comedy Kokowääh (2011), Luna Marie played Nina in The Guardians (2012), and the main character's daughter in the Nick Off Duty (2016).

One of Til's latest roles was the one of Luke in the action-comedy Hot Dog (2018). Fall 2018 gave audiences the chance to see Schweiger's directorial skills in his new film, the bubbly comedy Klassentreffen.

Hot Dog - Trailer

Early 2018 brought a film adaptation of the timeless "Crime and Punishment," with Schweiger taking on one of the leading roles. Til was proud and happy to take part in this project, as he read many books by Dostoevsky as a teenager and considers him to be one of the greatest writers of all time.

Til Schweiger's Personal Life

According to Zoomboola.com, the actor's first and only wife so far is the American model and actress Dana Carlsen. The couple got married in the summer of 1995. They have four children: Valentin Florian (born 1995), Luna Marie (born 1997), Lilli (born 1998), and Emma (born 2002).

For almost 10 years they were an idyllic family, but after their youngest daughter was born, the couple's relationship started showing signs of a rift. Dana wasn't happy about her husband's absence; in addition, she repeatedly accused him of cheating on her. Even moving back to Germany from the USA didn't help save their family. They separated in 2005; however, they remain on good terms for the sake of their children.

Til Schweiger with Dana and their children

Til isn't rushing to remarry; he's enjoying dating freely. His most recent romance is with Marlene Shirley; they appeared in public together at the premiere of The Little Prince in Berlin. The couple didn't hide their feelings, embracing openly in front of the cameras. Observers immediately noted that Til's new girlfriend bears a striking resemblance to his ex-wife.

Whether their relationship will lead to marriage remains unclear; however, Marlene doesn't deny such a possibility and has hinted at it in her interviews. Til remains more guarded, avoiding any talk of long-term plans. Before his relationship with Marlene, he had affairs with models Melanie Stolz and Svenja Holtmann, who never managed to become Frau Schweiger.

Til Schweiger Now

Despite regular tempting offers from overseas directors, Til preferred to settle down in his home country. Germany offers more creative freedom, where he primarily works as director and producer while enthusiastically starring in his own films. He's seeking opportunities to explore different creative genres, while Hollywood typically offered him more repetitive roles.

In 2019, the premiere of the film "Berlin, I Love You" took place. Til Schweiger starred in it, and his partners on the set were such famous actors as Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, and Mickey Rourke.

Til Schweiger: latest news and articles

Til Schweiger and his three daughters: will they follow in their father’s footsteps?

24 Mar 2022

Til Schweiger, Michael Fassbender and 7 talented Germans in Hollywood. Who’s the best?

11 Feb 2019

Michael Thompson

Til Schweiger - the name has always been heard, but I really don`t remember any roles for him. Well, I`ll keep in mind

2021-04-20 14:26:36
Michele Thomas

I didn`t even know that he was a father with many children :) It`s charming when a man is an exemplary family man. Respect for Til!

2021-03-27 16:11:59
Deborah Salazar

And I like films with his participation, especially action films suit him

2021-03-23 19:41:29
Kyle Jordan Bryant

I can`t say that Schweiger is a wow actor, but he pulls a four

2021-02-23 21:03:04
Jacqueline Flores

Schweiger can always be recognized by his chin dimple :)

2021-01-15 21:20:12

Photos: Til Schweiger