Simon Schwarz

Simon Schwarz (2012)

Simon Schwarz (born 10 January 1971) is an Austrian actor. He is known for his role as Chris Wegner in the medical drama series Die Eifelpraxis [de] and as Rudi Birkenberger in the Franz Eberhofer series of crime films. Since 2019 he has been starring with Eberhofer actor Sebastian Bezzel in a documentary TV series Bezzel & Schwarz - Die Grenzgänger, in which they live and travel in a motorhome through Bavaria, Germany. He plays a lead role in the 2025 Slovak-Austrian co-production Perla.

Early life and education

Simon Schwarz was born on 10 January 1971 in Vienna, Austria.[1]

Career

Acting

Film and TV

Schwarz is known for his role as the neurotic Austrian private detective Rudi Birkenberger in the very successful Franz Eberhofer series of films,[2] opposite Sebastian Bezzel as Eberhofer, who is also a personal friend.[3]

In 2015 he played the lead role in the Oscar-nominated short drama film Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut), as a divorced father who decides to kidnap his own daughter. The film was directed by Patrick Vollrath,[4][5] and won several awards.[6]

Schwarz played country doctor Chris Wegner in the medical drama TV series Die Eifelpraxis [de], opposite German actress Rebecca Immanuel. The series, which started filming in autumn 2015, premiered on 16 September 2016 on Das Erste, with episode 15 broadcast on 15 November 2024. It was produced by UFA Fiction for ARD Degeto.[7]

He played German Nazi diplomat Martin Luther in the award-winning 2022 film Die Wannseekonferenz (The Conference).[8]

In 2025, he stars opposite Slovak actress Rebeka Poláková in Slovak-Austrian director Alexandra Makárová's second feature film, Perla.[9]

Documentary

Schwarz and his friend, Eberhofer actor Sebastian Bezzel feature as themselves in a documentary TV series for BR Bezzel & Schwarz - Die Grenzgänger (Bezzel & Schwarz - The Border-crossers), in which they live and travel in a motorhome through Bavaria, Germany, over a period of six weeks. The series was launched in 2019.[10] The fifth series was released in 2023,[11] and another series in 2024.[10]

Stage

Schwarz also performs live on stage. He plays opposite actor and cabaret artist Manuel Rubey in Das Restaurant.[12][2]

Other roles and activities

Schwarz co-produced, along with Konstantin Seitz of Alternative Productions-Konstantin Seitz, the debut directorial feature by Alexandra Makárová, titled Crush My Heart (Zerschlag mein Herz), released in 2018.[13]

Personal life

Schwarz was previously married to actress Nana Spier [de]; the couple had two children.[14]

Sustainability is important to him, and he says he is aware of the environmental impact of his travel for work purposes, so tries to use the least damaging means of transport. He also advocates for a more sustainable agriculture and the preservation of cultural landscapes. As of 2024 he eats only plant-based foods at home, and [10]

Accolades

Schwarz won the Max Ophüls Award as Best Young Actor in 1998.[15]

Selected filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1998 The Inheritors Lukas Lichtmeß
2000 Bundle of Joy [de] Speedy
2000 Komm, süßer Tod Berti
2004 Silentium Berti
2006 Heavyweights [de] Leusl-Peter
2008 North Face Willy Angerer
2009 The Bone Man Berti
2011 Meine Schwester [de] Ernst Schlenzer TV film
2013 Dampfnudelblues [de] Rudi Birkenberger
2014 Winterkartoffelknödel [de] Rudi Birkenberger
2015 Everything Will Be Okay Michael Baumgartner
2015–present Die Eifelpraxis [de] Dr Chris Wegner
2016 Die Kunst des Krieges Inkasso-Heinzi TV series episode
2016 Schweinskopf al dente (Film) [de] Rudi Birkenberger
2017 Grießnockerlaffäre [de] Rudi Birkenberger
2018 Klassentreffen 1.0 Ole
2018 Sauerkrautkoma [de] Rudi Birkenberger
2019 Leberkäsjunkie [de] Rudi Birkenberger
2019 Caviar Ferdinand
2021 Kaiserschmarrndrama [de] Rudi Birkenberger
2022 Die Wannseekonferenz Martin Luther English title: The Conference
2022 Guglhupfgeschwader [de] Rudi Birkenberger
2023 Rehragout-Rendezvous [de] Rudi Birkenberger
2025 Perla Josef

References

  1. ^ "Simon Schwarz". Rotten Tomatoes. 10 January 1971. Archived from the original on 16 March 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Manuel Rubey & Simon Schwarz". Stadt Fürth (in German). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Star- und Promi-News aus Film und Fernsehen". Prisma (in German). 20 October 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  4. ^ Debruge, Peter (26 February 2016). "Film Review: '2016 Oscar-Nominated Short Films: Live Action'". Variety. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  5. ^ Vollrath, Patrick. "Alles wird gut Everything Will Be Ok / Tout ira bien". Semaine de la Critique du Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  6. ^ Robbins, Caryn (17 December 2015). "EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY Nominated for Short Film of the Year". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Medical-Reihe für Das Erste". UFA (in German). 21 November 2024. Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Die Wannseekonferenz, TV-Film, Drama, Drittes Reich / NS, Historisch, 2020-2021". Crew United (in German). Archived from the original on 19 January 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  9. ^ Makarová, Alexandra (5 March 2025). "Review". Cinema Austriaco. Archived from the original on 5 March 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "Sebastian Bezzel und Simon Schwarz beziehen Stellung zu "grünen Ökospinnern"!". Prisma (in German). 4 June 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  11. ^ Schmidt, Annika (19 July 2023). "Sebastian Bezzel und Simon Schwarz im Interview: "Es ist nicht lustig, über einer Jauchegrube zu hängen"". Prisma (in German). Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Manuel Rubey und Simon Schwarz". Stadt Burghausen (in German). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Crush My Heart (Zerschlag mein Herz)". Cineuropa. 18 May 2025. Archived from the original on 9 June 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Simon Schwarz will nochmal heiraten" (in German). ORF. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  15. ^ "'Todo irá bien', de Patrick Vollrath, en la Sección Oficial de La Cabina 2015". La Cabina. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Schwarz