He dropped his study of the law to begin an actor's education in Munich with Hans Josef Becher and Ellen Mahlke.

After his participation in the TV-recordings of productions at the Schaubühne his work with directors of the New German Cinema increased, including Bernhard Sinkel, Edgar Reitz and Peter Fleischmann.

Among his more recognized roles with international audiences are the bat-riding "Night Hob" in the 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story and the scientist Dr. Richter in the 2012 science fiction comedy Iron Sky.

[5][6] He appeared as the hypochondriac detective Gernot Schubert in the TV-series Adelheid und ihre Mörder for six years, co-starring with Evelyn Hamann and Heinz Baumann.

From 2015 until his death, he played a lead role in the ARD crime series Rentnercops about retired cops who are hired back into their jobs.