Lisa Kreuzer

Lisa Kreuzer, born Elisabeth Kreuzer on 2 December 1945 in Hof, Bavaria, Germany, emerged as one of Germany’s most versatile screen talents. Though details of her early training are sparse, she entered the professional acting world in the mid‑1970s, quickly gaining attention for her naturalistic style and emotional depth. Her breakout came when she was cast by the visionary director Wim Wenders in the road‑movie classic Alice in the Cities (1974), where she portrayed the mother of the titular wanderer, a role that highlighted her ability to convey complex maternal affection amid existential wandering. The collaboration with Wenders continued through the seminal The Wrong Move (1975) and Kings of the Road (1976), solidifying her as a key figure in the New German Cinema movement. In 1977 she delivered a powerful performance as Marianne Zimmermann in Wenders’ adaptation of The American Friend, sharing the screen with Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz, and demonstrating her skill in international co‑productions. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s she amassed an impressive filmography of over a hundred titles, ranging from the haunting Birgitt Haas Must Be Killed to the atmospheric Radio On (1980), while also appearing repeatedly on the long‑running German television series Derrick.

In the new millennium, Kreuzer transitioned effortlessly to contemporary platforms, most notably embodying the enigmatic Claudia Tiedemann in Netflix’s groundbreaking series Dark (2017‑2020), where her performance anchored the show’s intricate time‑travel narrative. Her later work includes a memorable turn as a Grande Dame in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) and various roles in TV miniseries such as Exil and Wagner. Renowned for her adaptability, she continues to work across film, television, and streaming media, maintaining a presence that bridges classic German cinema with modern global storytelling. Her enduring career, marked by artistic bravery and collaborative spirit, makes her a lasting icon in both national and international entertainment landscapes.