---
name: "Burghart Klaußner"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/burghart-klauner"
fi1m_id: "burghart-klauner"
imdb_id: "nm0458460"
tmdb_id: 3934
wikidata_id: "Q74886"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "13 September 1949"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-20T07:39:26.025099+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Burghart Klaußner

## Identity

Burghart Klaußner

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/burghart-klauner
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** burghart-klauner
- **IMDb ID:** nm0458460
- **TMDB ID:** 3934
- **Wikidata ID:** Q74886
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burghart_Klau%C3%9Fner, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q74886, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0458460/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3934

Actor. Born 13 September 1949 in Berlin, Germany.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 13 September 1949, Berlin, Germany
- **Active:** 2003–2015
- **Frequently works with:** [Stefan Arndt](https://film.one/person/stefan-arndt.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 73 (3), 2010s 75 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 72 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Comedy 1, Mystery 1, Romance 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $365m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burghart_Klau%C3%9Fner, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q74886, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0458460/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3934

## Fi1m on Burghart Klaußner

> Burghart Klaußner is particularly good at playing men who expect to be obeyed. The stern fathers and officials can become familiar, but his pastor in *The White Ribbon* is a persuasive reason to keep watching.

In *The White Ribbon* (2009), Burghart Klaußner’s pastor does not need to seem monstrous for the children’s fear to make sense. His religious authority is oppressive, but he belongs entirely to the village Michael Haneke puts before us. We were unsettled by the children’s obedience because Klaußner makes their fear of adults so credible. Beside Ulrich Tukur’s baron, he helps establish who is entitled to give orders and who has to live with them.

That performance followed a long stretch of supporting work in German cinema and television, with wider notice coming through *Good Bye, Lenin* (2003) and *The Edukators* (2004). Playing Alex’s father in Wolfgang Becker’s *Good Bye, Lenin* puts him within another family, though this is a much gentler film. Daniel Brühl and Katrin Sass do most of the work of keeping its elaborate premise believable. We like its warmth and humour, even when the story stretches the central conceit too far.

The danger in repeatedly casting Klaußner as a father, pastor or official is that the audience may feel it knows the man before he has done anything. *The White Ribbon* gives that familiarity a purpose: we look to the children for evidence of what such adults have taught them. Christian Berger shoots the village in black and white, giving this patient scrutiny a severity that suits Klaußner’s pastor. Haneke sometimes returns to fear and obedience more often than we need, but the performances remain convincing even when the point has been made.

The lead in *Der Staat gegen Fritz Bauer* (2015), playing the prosecutor Fritz Bauer, offered a different use for that authority. A justice figure need not carry the same threat as the pastor, and the part matters as a move beyond supporting work. His supporting role as Harald Ott in Steven Spielberg’s *Bridge of Spies* (2015) also continued his presence in historical drama. Start with *The White Ribbon*, provided an evening watching adults teach children to fear them is what you had in mind.

## Biography

Burghart Klaußner is a German actor. Born in Berlin in 1949, he trained at the Max-Reinhardt-Schule für Schauspiel in Berlin from 1970 to 1972 after briefly studying German and theatre studies. He began his career on stage with engagements at theatres including the Schaubühne in Berlin, as well as in Cologne, Hamburg, Zürich and elsewhere, and made his screen debut in 1983.

He is known for supporting roles in films including *Good Bye, Lenin!* (2003) as Alex's father, *The Edukators* (2004) as Justus Hardenberg, *The White Ribbon* (2009) as the pastor, *The Reader* (2008) as a judge, and *Bridge of Spies* (2015). He has also appeared in television series such as *The Crown* (2016) as Kurt Hahn. Klaußner has narrated audiobooks and is a member of the Deutsche Filmakademie.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, filmportal.de, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Bridge of Spies* (2015), Fi1m 75, as Harald Ott — [page](https://film.one/film/bridge-of-spies.md)
- *The White Ribbon* (2009), Fi1m 86, as The Pastor — [page](https://film.one/film/the-white-ribbon.md)
- *The Reader* (2008), Fi1m 56, as Judge — [page](https://film.one/film/the-reader.md)
- *Good Bye, Lenin!* (2003), Fi1m 78, as Alex's Father — [page](https://film.one/film/good-bye-lenin.md)

## Complete filmography (98)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Blood Countess* (2026), Actor
- *The Disappearance of Josef Mengele* (2025), as Karl Mengele
- *An einem Tag im September* (2025), as Konrad Adenauer
- *The Day of the Jackal* (2024), series, as Manfred Fest
- *The Uncertainty Principle of Love* (2023), as Alexander
- *Oskar's Dress* (2022), as Herr Kornmann
- *Brecht* (2019), series, as Bertolt Brecht
- *Klassentreffen* (2019), series, as Herr Rebentisch
- *Klassentreffen* (2019), as Mr. Rebentisch
- *The Silent Revolution* (2018), as Minister of National Education Lange
- *Freddy/Eddy* (2018), as Dr. Weiss
- *Kroymann* (2017), series, as Chef
- *The Crown* (2016), series, as Kurt Hahn — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-crown.md)
- *The Verdict* (2016), as Vorsitzender Richter
- *The Lion Woman* (2016), as Johannes Joachim
- *Die letzte Reise* (2016), as Jean Jovet
- *Chamisso’s Shadow* (2016), as Georg Wilhelm Steller (voice)
- *Die Stadt und die Macht* (2016), series, as Manfred Degenhardt
- *Bridge of Spies* (2015), as Harald Ott — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/bridge-of-spies.md)
- *The People vs. Fritz Bauer* (2015), as Fritz Bauer
- *13 Minutes* (2015), as Nebe
- *Diplomacy* (2014), as Captain Werner Ebernach
- *Inbetween Worlds* (2014), as Oberst Haar
- *George* (2013), as Helmut Maurer
- *Night Train to Lisbon* (2013), as Judge Prado
- *Invasion* (2013), as Josef
- *Hotel Adlon* (2013), series, as Lorenz Adlon
- *The Zigzag Kid* (2012), as Felix Glick
- *In den besten Jahren* (2011), as Friedrich Gehlmann
- *Lessons of a Dream* (2011), as Gustav Merfeld
- *Young Goethe in Love* (2010), as Vater Buff
- *Life Is Too Long* (2010), Actor
- *The Silence* (2010), as Krischan Mittich
- *Aghet* (2010), as Jakob Künzler
- *The White Ribbon* (2009), as The Pastor — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-white-ribbon.md)
- *Age and Beauty* (2009), as Justus
- *The Reader* (2008), as Judge — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/the-reader.md)
- *Mediator* (2008), as Mediator
- *Carninchen* (2007), as Chef
- *The Man from the Embassy* (2007), as Herbert Neumann
- *Yella* (2007), as Dr. Gunthen
- *An die Grenze* (2007), as Prof.Karow
- *Der Novembermann* (2007), as Hermann Droemer
- *Die Aufschneider* (2007), as Prof. Udo Keller
- *Requiem* (2006), as Karl Klingler
- *Die Luftbrücke* (2005), series, as Ernst Reuter
- *The Runaway* (2004), as Born
- *The Edukators* (2004), as Justus Hardenberg
- *Carola Stern - Doppelleben* (2004), as Ernst Richert
- *Ein Goldfisch unter Haien* (2004), as Rupert
- *Solo für Schwarz* (2003), series, as Karl Hörster
- *K3 – Kripo Hamburg* (2003), series, as Karsten Uphoff
- *Hamlet_X* (2003), as Polonius
- *Kommissarin Lucas* (2003), series, as Wolfgang Löhns
- *Good Bye, Lenin!* (2003), as Alex's Father — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/good-bye-lenin.md)
- *Mit dem Rücken zur Wand* (2002), as Zeidler
- *Durch dick und dünn* (2001), as Georg Krause
- *Crazy* (2000), as Klaus Lebert
- *Ganz unten, ganz oben* (1999), as Caspar Richter
- *Der blonde Affe* (1999), as Bergen
- *Urlaub auf Leben und Tod - Eine Familie hält zusammen* (1999), as Albrecht Seibel
- *SK Kölsch* (1999), series, as Elmar Hinterhauser
- *Der Kuß des Vergessens* (1999), as Lukas
- *23* (1998), as Weber
- *Das Böse* (1998), as Axel Wornitz
- *The German Bronx* (1997), series, as Burkhard Elder
- *Rossini* (1997), as Tabatier
- *The Superwife* (1996), as Rudi Fährenberg
- *And Nobody Weeps For Me* (1996), as Herr Leer
- *Zerrissene Herzen* (1996), as Bernd
- *Wilsberg* (1995), series, as Gunnar Weltenbrink
- *Die Kommissarin* (1994), series, as Willi Steinbach
- *Doppelter Einsatz* (1994), series, as Richter Olaf Reiffenberg, Staatsanwalt Galwitz
- *Alles außer Mord* (1994), series, Actor
- *Ärzte* (1994), series, as Dr. Harry Schmidt-Werden
- *La Lumière des étoiles mortes* (1994), as Capitaine Krantz
- *Faust* (1994), series, as Ralf Kalldewey
- *Einmal Macht und zurück - Engholms Fall* (1994), as Björn Engholm
- *Child's Play* (1993), as Micha's Father
- *The Denunciation* (1993), as Werner Kraengel
- *Adelheid und ihre Mörder* (1993), series, as Dr. Siegbert Heimeran
- *Schattenboxer* (1992), as Painter
- *Wolffs Revier* (1992), series, as Karl Koppermann
- *The Terrible Threesome* (1991), as Hausbesitzer
- *Kollege Otto - Die Coop Affäre* (1991), Actor
- *The State Chancellery* (1989), Actor
- *Europe in the Evening* (1989), as Reisebüro-Angestellter
- *Morgen in Shanghai* (1989), series, as Thomas Affoldt
- *Peter Strohm* (1989), series, as Georg Schattauer
- *Die Männer vom K3* (1988), series, as Jürgen Ramke
- *From the Reports of Security Guards & Patrol Services – Part Eight* (1986), Actor
- *The Riddle Of The Sands* (1985), series, as Davies
- *Nieder mit den Deutschen* (1984), as Sammy
- *Love Is the Beginning of All Terror* (1984), Actor
- *Ziemlich weit weg* (1983), as Lucas
- *The Axe of Wandsbek* (1982), as Laberdan, Wünschelrutengänger
- *Polizeiruf 110* (1971), series, as Staatsanwalt, Ulrich Oppmann
- *Scene of the Crime* (1970), series, as Ulf Thorning, Sven Planitz, Wessmann, Lothar Köster, Alain Bader, Johannes Bonifaz Hackl

## Gallery

- ![Burghart Klaußner](https://film.one/media/person/98262/gallery-484037d45f7b.jpg) Burghart Klaußner — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/MJK63102_Burghart_Klau%C3%9Fner_%28Frankfurter_Buchmesse_2018%29.jpg/1280px-MJK63102_Burghart_Klau%C3%9Fner_%28Frankfurter_Buchmesse_2018%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Burghart Klaussner, als Sänger. 2013 bei Zum Klaussner, die musikalische Reisegaststätte der bedenkenlosen Art, in Wiesbaden.](https://film.one/media/person/98262/gallery-7249cc0480b5.jpg) Burghart Klaussner, als Sänger. 2013 bei Zum Klaussner, die musikalische Reisegaststätte der bedenkenlosen Art, in Wiesbaden. — Dontworry, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Burghart-klaussner-wiesbaden-2013-zum-klaussner-915.jpg/1280px-Burghart-klaussner-wiesbaden-2013-zum-klaussner-915.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Burghart Klaussner, als Sänger. 2013 bei Zum Klaussner, die musikalische Reisegaststätte der bedenkenlosen Art, in Wiesbaden.](https://film.one/media/person/98262/gallery-1432c319d1ca.jpg) Burghart Klaussner, als Sänger. 2013 bei Zum Klaussner, die musikalische Reisegaststätte der bedenkenlosen Art, in Wiesbaden. — Dontworry, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Burghart-klaussner-wiesbaden-2013-zum-klaussner-916.jpg/1280px-Burghart-klaussner-wiesbaden-2013-zum-klaussner-916.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Burghart Klaussner, als Sänger. 2013 bei Zum Klaussner, die musikalische Reisegaststätte der bedenkenlosen Art, in Wiesbaden.](https://film.one/media/person/98262/gallery-604b5a194b3a.jpg) Burghart Klaussner, als Sänger. 2013 bei Zum Klaussner, die musikalische Reisegaststätte der bedenkenlosen Art, in Wiesbaden. — Dontworry, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Burghart-klaussner-wiesbaden-2013-zum-klaussner-919.jpg/1280px-Burghart-klaussner-wiesbaden-2013-zum-klaussner-919.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Burghart Klaußner](https://film.one/media/person/98262/gallery-2190f4c6d218.jpg) Burghart Klaußner — Image via TMDB
- ![Burghart Klaußner](https://film.one/media/person/98262/gallery-e8736a988ef2.jpg) Burghart Klaußner — Image via TMDB
- ![Burghart Klaussner, als Sänger. 2013 bei Zum Klaussner, die musikalische Reisegaststätte der bedenkenlosen Art, in Wiesbaden.](https://film.one/media/person/98262/gallery-8d96ffd7132e.jpg) Burghart Klaussner, als Sänger. 2013 bei Zum Klaussner, die musikalische Reisegaststätte der bedenkenlosen Art, in Wiesbaden. — Dontworry, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Burghart-klaussner-wiesbaden-2013-zum-klaussner-920.jpg/1280px-Burghart-klaussner-wiesbaden-2013-zum-klaussner-920.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Burghart Klaußner, German actor, Berlinale 2012, ARD Degeto Blue Hour Party](https://film.one/media/person/98262/gallery-d06caab9b2b7.jpg) Burghart Klaußner, German actor, Berlinale 2012, ARD Degeto Blue Hour Party — Siebbi, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Burghart_Klau%C3%9Fner_%28Berlinale_2012%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Other awards — 11 won, 1 nominated

- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 2021: Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (won)
- Bavarian Film Awards (Best Acting) 2016: Bavarian Film Awards (Best Acting) (won), for *The People vs. Fritz Bauer*
- Bernhard Wicki Award 2016: Bernhard Wicki Award (won), for *The People vs. Fritz Bauer*
- European Film Award for Best Actor 2016: European Film Award for Best Actor (nominated), for *The People vs. Fritz Bauer*
- Günter Rohrbach film award 2015: Günter Rohrbach film award (won), for *The People vs. Fritz Bauer*
- Preis der deutschen Filmkritik 2015: Preis der deutschen Filmkritik (won), for *The People vs. Fritz Bauer*
- Rolf Mares Award 2012: Rolf Mares Award (won), for *Death of a Salesman*
- Deutscher Hörbuchpreis 2011: Deutscher Hörbuchpreis (won)
- German Film Award 2010: German Film Award (won), for *The White Ribbon*
- Preis der deutschen Filmkritik 2009: Preis der deutschen Filmkritik (won), for *The White Ribbon*
- Locarno International Film Festival Best Actor Award 2006: Locarno International Film Festival Best Actor Award (won), for *The Man from the Embassy*
- German Film Award 2005: German Film Award (won), for *The Edukators*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/burghart-klauner