Martin Wuttke

Martin Wuttke (born February 8, 1962 in Gelsenkirchen, West Germany) is a distinguished German actor and director whose career spans over three decades. He began his formal training at the college theatre in Bochum before moving to the Westfälische Schauspielschule Bochum, where he honed a craft that would soon dominate both stage and screen. Wuttke quickly became a fixture in the German‑speaking theatre circuit, appearing at renowned venues such as the Volksbühne am Rosa‑Luxemburg‑Platz, the Berliner Ensemble, Schaubühne, Deutsches Theater Berlin, and the Burgtheater in Vienna, where he was appointed director in 2009. His theatrical repertoire is marked by versatility, ranging from classic Brechtian works to contemporary avant‑garde productions, and his portrayal of Adolf Hitler in Heiner Müller’s adaptation of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui garnered critical acclaim for its chilling yet nuanced humanity.

Beyond the boards, Wuttke achieved international fame through his film work, most notably his award‑winning performance as Adolf Hitler in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds (2009), a role that earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble cast. He has since appeared in a variety of cinematic and television projects, including the acclaimed series Babylon Berlin (2020‑2022) and the political drama Bonn – Alte Freunde, neue Feinde (2023) where he played Reinhard Gehlen. Known for his deep, resonant voice and intense screen presence, Wuttke continues to influence German cultural life both as a performer and as a leader within major theatrical institutions, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most respected actors of his generation.