Peter Kurth

Peter Kurth, born on 4th April 1957, is a celebrated German actor renowned for his visceral performances and profound impact on German cinema. Touted for his high-calibre acting skills, Kurth's significant contribution to the German film and drama scene cannot be overlooked. Growing up in Goldberg, he frequently visited the local movie theater, which, he later confessed, inspired his decision to pursue acting. He honed his acting skills at the state drama school in Rostock from 1978 to 1981. He made a humble start in his acting journey right after drama school, performing at Theater für junge Leute in Magdeburg from 1981 to 1984, followed by a stint at Theater der Altmark in Stendal till 1988. His trajectory took a positive turn when he joined the Schauspiel Leipzig in Leipzig, where he also served as a drama teacher. Kurth's contribution to theatres extended to Thalia Theater and then to the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin in 2006. He later moved to the Stuttgart Drama Theater, cementing his position in the German theatre scene. Kurth's acting prowess found recognition when he was named Actor of the Year by the German theater magazine Theater heute in 2014. His major breakthrough came when he played Herbert, a boxer suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in the 2015 film A Heavy Heart. He bagged the German Film Award for Best Actor and the Deutscher Schauspielpreis for this role. His method acting approach, gaining and then shedding 35 pounds for the role, drew applause and further elevated his position in the German film industry. In 2018, Kurth received a nomination for the Deutscher Fernsehpreis award for Best Actor, for his role as Detective Bruno Wolter in the German neo-noir television series Babylon Berlin.