Cast & creator
Otto Waalkes
Best known for DAS!, Die Harald Schmidt Show, Leute heute
Otto Waalkes, born in Emden in 1948, ranks among the most successful German comedians of all time. He first gained widespread recognition in the mid-1970s through his comedy albums and his own television show. By the mid-1980s—culminating with the release of his first feature film, *Otto – Der Film*—he had risen to the status of an absolute superstar. With a box-office tally of over 14 million viewers, this comedy is considered the most successful German film of all time. The following years saw the release of further installments in the "Otto" film series, all of which went on to become major hits. After a period of relative quiet in the late 1990s, Otto Waalkes staged a major comeback in 2004 with the film *7 Zwerge – Männer allein im Wald* (7 Dwarfs – Men Alone in the Woods). This ensemble comedy drew more than seven million moviegoers to theaters and was followed in 2006 by an equally successful sequel. In the new millennium, Otto established himself as a voice actor for animated films such as *Ice Age*. Although Otto Waalkes is frequently criticized for his allegedly simplistic and silly brand of humor, his films consistently find an audience.
Also known as: Otto Gerhard Waalkes
65
film credits
59
television credits
95
1948–2025 · acting roles
6.3
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (124)
Showing 124 of 124 credits
DAS!
Self
1991
Die Harald Schmidt Show
Self
1995
Leute heute
Self
1997
NDR Talk Show
Self
1979The Johannes B. Kerner Show
Self - Guest
1998
Abendschau
Self
2000
ZDF-Fernsehgarten
Self
1986
Wetten, dass..?
Self
1981
Genial daneben
2003
Bambi
Self
1948Was bin ich?
Self
1955
Inas Nacht
Self
2007
Germany's Next Topmodel
Self - Guest Judge
2006Grimme Award
Self
1964
Tigerenten Club
Self
1996
Late Night Berlin
Self
2018
Die Sendung mit der Maus
self
1971
Klein gegen Groß - Das unglaubliche Duell
Self
2011
1, 2 oder 3
Self
1977
Verstehen Sie Spaß?
Self
1980
Dittsche - Das wirklich wahre Leben
self
2004
RTL Samstag Nacht
1993Blauer Panther
Self
1989Der große Preis
Self
1974Seitenblicke
Self
1987
Die große Maus-Show
Self
2006ECHO-Verleihung
Self
1992NDR Kultur – Das Journal
Self
2002
LOL: Last One Laughing
Self
2021Musik liegt in der Luft
Self
1991Please Turn the Page
Self
1977Goldene Henne
Self
1995
Ein Herz für Kinder
Self
1998German Comedy Award
Self
1997Na siehste!
Self
1987Pantoffelkino
Self - Interviewee
2013Our Best
Self
2003Ein Abend für..
Self
2008
The 7th Dwarf
Bubi (voice)
2014The 7th Dwarf
Producer
2014Die 80er Jahre Show
Self
2002
TV total
Self
1999Die verflixte 7
Self
1984Bully sucht die starken Männer!
Self
2008
Otto – The Series
Verschiedene
1995Otto – The Series
Writer
1995Otto – The Series
Director
1995Otto – The Series
Creator
19955 Millionen SKL Show
Self
2003
Help, I Shrunk My Teacher
Spirit of the school founder Otto Leonhard
2015
7 Zwerge - Männer allein im Wald
Bubi
20047 Zwerge - Männer allein im Wald
Producer
20047 Zwerge - Männer allein im Wald
Screenplay
2004Unsere Besten im Norden
Self
2011
Help, I Shrunk My Parents
Otto Leonhard
2018
Granaten wie wir
Self
2009
Lissi and the Wild Emperor
Thanks
2007Der Meisterfälscher
Self
2014
7 Dwarves: The Forest Is Not Enough
Bubi
20067 Dwarves: The Forest Is Not Enough
Producer
20067 Dwarves: The Forest Is Not Enough
Writer
2006Ein Star und seine Stadt
Self
2001
Help, I Shrunk My Friends
Otto Leonhard
2021
Otto – The New Movie
Otto
1987Otto – The New Movie
Screenplay
1987Otto – The New Movie
Original Music Composer
1987Otto – The New Movie
Director
1987
Ottifants
Baby Bruno Bommel
1993Ottifants
Writer
1993Ottifants
Creator
1993Geheimakte Otto Waalkes - Harry Hirsch auf Spurensuche
Harry Hirsch
2018
Otto - The Movie
Otto / Otto's Father (voice) / Otto's Mother (voice) / Mr. Astrid (voice)
1985Otto - The Movie
Screenplay
1985Otto - The Movie
Director
1985
Siegfried
Grille (voice)
2005
The Otto-Show
Otto Waalkes
1973The Otto-Show
Creator
1973
Mein Name ist Otto
Self
2024
Ottos Märchenshow
Self
2022
Otto – The Alien from East Frisia
Otto / Benno Gross
1989Otto – The Alien from East Frisia
Director
1989Otto – The Alien from East Frisia
Author
1989
Udo Lindenberg: Stärker als die Zeit - Live
2016
Otto - Geboren um zu blödeln
Self
2015
Otto - The Romance Film
Karl/Otto/Amor
1992Otto - The Romance Film
Director
1992Otto - The Romance Film
Screenplay
1992Otto - The Romance Film
Music
1992
Die Helene Fischer Show 2013
Self
2013
Otto - The Disaster Movie
Otto, Baby-Otto, Otti, Großvater
2000Otto - The Disaster Movie
Screenplay
2000
Crazy Race 2 - Warum die Mauer wirklich fiel
Scientist
2004
Udo Lindenberg - Stark wie zwei
Self
2008
Udo Lindenberg & Das Panikorchester - 50 Jahre Rock'n'Roll in der bunten Republik
Self
2023
Otto's Eleven
Otto
2010Otto's Eleven
Screenplay
2010Die Traumschiff-Gala zum 80. Geburtstag von Peter Alexander
Self
2006
Hallervorden - Didi gegen den Rest der Welt
Self
2025
Otto Fröhliche - Advent, Advents mit Otto und Friends
Various
2021Heino – Made in Germany
Self
2013
Otto - Mein Ostfriesland und mehr
2001
The Time Carousel
Wilhelm Tell
2015
Pur & Friends: Live auf Schalke 2014
Self
2014Ronny’s Pop Show
Ronny (voice)
1982
Otto live - Holdrio Again
Self
2016
Seiler und Speer: A schware Partie 25
Otto Waalkes
2025Happy Otto! Wir haben Grund zum Feiern
Creator
St. Pauli Nacht
1999
Otto live! Das Original
Self
2008Otto Waalkes rockt WERNER
Self
2018
Hilfe, Otto kommt!
Self
1983
Catweazle
Catweazle
2021Catweazle
Screenplay
2021
Otto - Die ersten 15 Jahre und mehr! (Goldedition)
2005
So ein Otto: Best-of: Die Otto Show
Self
1981
Potato Salad: Don't Ask!
Notrufbeantworter
2015Potato Salad: Don't Ask!
Original Music Composer
2015
Otto - Die DVD
2003Otto's Traum
Otto
2014Offifanten
Creator
Otto - Die Doku
Self
2018
Best of Otto
2012
Kommando Störtebeker
Bruno Bommel / Papagei
2001Kommando Störtebeker
Characters
2001