Cast & creator
Harald Schmidt
Best known for DAS!, DAS!, Volle Kanne
Harald Franz Schmidt is a German actor, comedian, television presenter, and author, best known as the host of two popular German late-night shows. The son of refugees who fled the Sudetenland (now the Czech Republic) in 1945, Schmidt spent his youth in the Swabian town of Nürtingen. Due to his strict Catholic upbringing, he became actively involved in the Roman Catholic Church, serving as a choirmaster and playing the organ. At the age of 21, Schmidt moved to Stuttgart, where he attended drama school for three years. Subsequently, he gained stage experience at the *Städtische Bühne* (Municipal Theater) in Augsburg. His first role was that of the Second Mamluk in Lessing’s *Nathan the Wise*. In 1984, Schmidt became a lyricist for the cabaret ensemble *Kom(m)ödchen* in Düsseldorf, and in 1986, he was named "Best Up-and-Coming Cabaret Artist." That same year, he toured Germany with his own solo show. Television soon took notice of the talented young comedian, and in 1988, Schmidt hosted his first TV program, *MAZ ab*. This was followed by shows such as *Psst!* and *Schmidteinander*. He experienced the greatest boost of his career in 1992, when he took over as host of the popular Saturday-night show *Verstehen Sie Spaß?*. Schmidt was awarded the Adolf Grimme Prize—Germany’s most prestigious television award—the first of many such honors to follow. Just one year later, he was named "Entertainer of the Year" and received both the Bambi and the *Goldene Kamera* awards.
Also known as: Харальд Шмидт, Harald Franz Schmidt
16
film credits
68
television credits
82
1948–2025 · acting roles
6.3
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (84)
Showing 84 of 84 credits
DAS!
1991DAS!
Self
1991Volle Kanne
Self
1999
Die Harald Schmidt Show
Self - Host
1995
Leute heute
Self
1997
Abendschau
Self
2000
SOKO Stuttgart
Prof. Dr. Lukas Gotthardt
2009
Wetten, dass..?
Self
1981
Nachtcafé
Self
1987
Beckmann
Self
1999Menschen der Woche
Self
2000Der Sonntags-Stammtisch
Self
2007
Das Traumschiff
Oskar de Navetta
1981Das Traumschiff
Oskar Schifferle
1981
alfredissimo! Kochen mit Bio
Self
1994Menschen bei Maischberger
Self
2003
Bambi
Self
1948Bambi
Self - Laudation
1948Bambi
Self - Moderator
1948Sabine Christiansen
Self
1998
Kulturplatz
Self
2004Grimme Award
Self
1964
Ringlstetter
Self
2016Die Pyramide
Self
1979Goldene Kamera
Self
1984
Boulevard Bio
Self
1991Münchner Runde
2000
Verstehen Sie Spaß?
Self - Host
1980Romy Award
Self
1990Blauer Panther
Self
1989
Deutscher Fernsehpreis
Self
1999
Alles Nichts Oder?!
Self
1988Mitternachtsspitzen
Self
1988Musikantenstadl
Self
1981Menschen
Self
1982
Nuhr im Ersten
Self
2009
Kurzstrecke mit Pierre M. Krause
Self
2020Kurzstrecke mit Pierre M. Krause
2020
Zur Person
Self
1963Die Gruaberin
Self
2025Schawinski
Self
2011Erlesen
self
2010Pssst ...
Self - Host
1990Lebens-Künstler
Self
1995
Schmidteinander
Moderator
1990Kuli & Co.
Self
1999Die Mike Krüger Show
Self
1991Gredig direkt
Self
2020Was liest du?
Self
2003
Sträter
Self - Guest
2020Lesen! Mit Elke Heidenreich
Self
2003Ein Abend für..
Self
2008
Schmidt & Pocher
Self - Host
2007Schmidt & Pocher
Producer
2007Prix Pantheon
himself
1995WegGefährten
self
2007Telestar
Self
1983Klassentreffen
Self
1987
7 Zwerge - Männer allein im Wald
Jester Candidate
2004Gysi & Schmidt
Self
2015Gysi & Schmidt
2015Ottis Schlachthof
himself
1999Der Meisterfälscher
Self
2014
Frei:Gespielt - Mehmet Scholl - Über das Spiel hinaus
Himself
2007
Gisbert
1999
Labaule & Erben
Creator
2018
The Legend of Timm Thaler: or The Boy Who Sold His Laughter
Racecourse speaker
2017
Stopped on Track
Himself
2011
Talk 2000
Self
1997
One Mic Stand
Self - Coach
2022
Schreckenstein Castle
Graf Schreckenstein
2016Das McSchmidt-Studio
Self
1998
About the Looking for and the Finding of Love
Psychotherapeut
2005
Best of Harald Schmidt - Respektlos und Rezeptfrei
2000
Rosamunde Pilcher: Ein Doktor und drei Frauen
lord Hurrleton
2016
Die Musterknaben 2
Himself
1999
Gruschel mich! Die studiVZ-Story
Self (archive footage)
2025
Nich' mit Leo
Bishop
1995
Late Show
Conny Scheffer
1999
Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten
Rooster (voice)
2010
Beckenbauer
Self - Interviewee
2024
Schmidteinander - Das Beste
1995
Zettl
Conny Scheffer
2012