More Thomas Kretschmann Bios & Profiles
The most recent Thomas Kretschmann biography is published on the main page.
Biography #2 (for Resident Evil: Apocalypse)
Thomas Kretschmann will next be seen in John Duigan's drama Head in the Clouds, starring Charlize Theron, Penélope Cruz and Stuart Townsend. Currently, he is filming the drama Celestine Prophecy for director Amrand Mastroianni with Hector Elizondo and Annabeth Gish. Most recently, he co-starred in the feature films In Enemy Hands with William H. Macy and Lauren Holly, and Roman Polanski's Oscar-winning The Pianist. Kretschmann's additional credits include U-571 with Matthew McConaughey and Harvey Keitel for director Jonathan Mostow, and Blade II, among others. On television, Kretschmann had a recurring role on 24 and was a guest star on Karen Sisco. In addition, he co-starred in the cable movie Esther for TNT. While training as a swimmer in East Germany, Kretschmann decided to purse an acting career and escaped the Communist country via three different countries before being granted political asylum in West Berlin. After three years of studying acting, he was invited to be a member of Schillertheatre, the national theatre of Berlin. 1n 1991, Kretschmann made his film debut in Der Mitwisser, which earned him Germany's prestigious Max Ophüls Prize as Best Up-and-Coming Actor. When he appeared in the World War II epic Stalingrad, his performance launched him into the international limelight. He went on to star in Queen Margot, Marching in the Dark, Dario Argento's The Stendahl Syndrome and Prince Valiant.
Bio courtesy Sony Pictures Entertainment for "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" (16-Sep-2004)
Biography #3 (for The Pianist)
Born in East Germany, Thomas Kretschmann trained to top marks at the country's national swimming school. He was to have competed at the 1980 Olympic Games, but the Communist boycott ensured that he could not. While still a teenager, he resolved to escape to the West.After 18 months of planning, he set off on foot, alone, with 300 Deutschmarks (the equivalent of $100) and a passport. His monthlong trek cost him part of a finger to frostbite. He crossed four borders: into Hungary, Czechoslovakia,
Austria, and finally West Berlin. There, he began to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Within a few years, he was invited to join the Schillertheater Company, West Germany's equivalent of the U.K.'s Royal Shakespeare Company.
In 1989, Kretschmann made his feature debut in Ulrike Dickmann's telefilm Der Mitwisser, which earned the prize at Germany's prestigious Max Ophüls Festival for Best Young Actor. A starring role in Joseph Vilsmaier's World War II epic Stalingrad brought him international attention; and he went on to star in Patrice Chereau's La Reine Margot (a.k.a. Queen Margot), Dario Argento's The Stendhal Syndrome, and Pupi Avati's The Knights of the Quest, among other features.
Now living in Los Angeles, he has been seen in key roles in two worldwide boxoffice hits: Jonathan Mostow's U-571 and Guillermo del Toro's Blade II (as the title character's nemesis, Damaskinos).
Kretschmann has completed filming the lead role in Egidio Eronico's Papa, based on events in the life of the son of Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele (played by Charlton Heston); and is starring in Enki Bilal's Human Trap, which combines CGI and live action in the biggest-budget French action film to date.
Bio courtesy Focus Features for "The Pianist" (01-Jan-2000)
Buy more detailed movie star biographies in the Movie Star Bookstore.