1. Overview
Sylvester Groth (born March 31, 1958) is a prominent German actor, tenor singer, and voice actor. He is widely recognized for his extensive work across theater, film, and television, both in Germany and internationally. Groth gained significant international acclaim for his roles in major Hollywood productions, including Quentin Tarantino's *Inglourious Basterds* and Guy Ritchie's *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.*. His television appearances include popular series such as *Sense8*, *Fargo*, and *Dark*. Notably, he portrayed the historical figure Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, in two distinct films: *My Führer - The Really Truest Truth about Adolf Hitler* (2007) and *Inglourious Basterds* (2009).
2. Biography
Sylvester Groth's life journey began in East Germany, leading him through a dedicated education in the performing arts and eventually to a distinguished career spanning multiple countries and artistic mediums.
2.1. Early Life and Upbringing
Sylvester Groth was born on March 31, 1958, in Jerichow, which was then part of the Bezirk Magdeburg in the East Germany. He was the youngest of five siblings. His family's origins trace back to Upper Silesia. During his childhood, Groth experienced the loss of his father at a young age, and his mother subsequently remarried. When he was 14 years old, his family relocated to Leipzig, another significant city within East Germany.
2.2. Education and Early Career
Groth pursued his passion for the performing arts by studying acting and singing at the prestigious Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin. Following his formal education, he embarked on his professional career with engagements in various German theaters, including those in Schwerin and Dresden. In Berlin, he worked as a guest actor at the renowned Deutsches Theater and was a member of the ensemble at the Schaubühne from 1986 to 1989. His extensive theater career also saw him perform at other esteemed venues such as the Residenz Theater, the Munich Kammerspiele, the Berliner Ensemble, the Burgtheater in Vienna, and the internationally acclaimed Salzburg Festival.
2.3. Emigration and West German Career
A pivotal moment in Groth's life occurred in 1986 when he successfully escaped from East Germany to West Germany. This emigration allowed him to broaden his artistic horizons and further develop his professional career in the West, where he continued to build an extensive body of work in theater, television, and film.
3. Acting Career
Sylvester Groth has cultivated an extensive and diverse acting career, marked by numerous appearances in German and international films, television series, and a significant presence in theater.
3.1. Film Appearances
Groth's film career began in East Germany and expanded significantly after his move to West Germany, leading to roles in both European and Hollywood productions. His first major film role was in the 1983 East German film The Turning Point, which was based on a novel by Hermann Kant. In 1986, he appeared in Johannes Schaaf's adaptation of Michael Ende's story Momo. He also featured in the 1992 war drama The Last U-Boat and the 1993 war film Stalingrad.
His later filmography includes:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Meines Vaters Straßenbahn | ||
| 1983 | The Turning Point | Mark Niebuhr | |
| 1986 | The House on the River | Heinz Hüsgen | |
| 1986 | Momo | Agent BLW/553 X | |
| 1992 | The Last U-Boat | Funker Maschke | |
| 1993 | Stalingrad | Otto | |
| 1999 | Requiem for a Romantic Woman | ||
| 2003 | The Third Wave | Dauphin | |
| 2006 | Nevermore | Pfarrer Ekdahl | |
| 2007 | My Führer - The Really Truest Truth about Adolf Hitler | Joseph Goebbels | |
| 2008 | The Reader | Prosecutor | |
| 2008 | Buddenbrooks | Kesselmayer | |
| 2009 | Hilde | Boleslaw Barlog | |
| 2009 | Inglourious Basterds | Joseph Goebbels | |
| 2009 | Gift Horse | ||
| 2009 | Vodka Whiskey | ||
| 2010 | Aghet - Ein Völkermord | Martin Niepage | Documentary |
| 2012 | Weekend | ||
| 2012 | Shores of Hope | ||
| 2013 | Promise | ||
| 2015 | Naked Among Wolves | Helmut Krämer | |
| 2015 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Uncle Rudi | |
| 2017 | In Times of Fading Light | Kurt Umnitzer | |
| 2019 | Berlin, I Love You | Frosch | |
| 2022 | The 355 | Jonas Muller |
3.2. Television Appearances
Groth has also established a significant presence in television, appearing in numerous series and made-for-TV films, both in Germany and on international platforms.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Rote Erde | Fritz Rewandowski | |
| 2003 | Tatort: Stiller Tod | Justus Fürmann, public prosecutor | |
| 2004 | Mein Leben & Ich | 4 episodes | |
| 2005 | Tatort: Rache-Engel | Chief of police | |
| 2007 | Rosa Roth | Michael Katzmann | |
| 2007, 2013 | Der Kriminalist | 2 episodes | |
| 2010 | KDD - Kriminaldauerdienst | Richard Plötz | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Tatort: Das Dorf | Medical examiner | |
| 2012, 2014 | The Old Fox | 2 episodes | |
| 2012 | Tatort: Die schöne Mona ist tot | Christian Seitz | |
| 2010 | Generation War | Sturmbannführer/Standartenführer Hiemer | 2 episodes |
| Tatort: Schwarzer Afghane | Norbert Müller | ||
| Tatort: Wer das Schweigen bricht | Rainer Vaske | ||
| 2013-2015 | Polizeiruf 110 | Jochen Drexler | 4 parts |
| 2015 | Sense8 | Sergei Bogdanow | 4 episodes |
| 2015 | Deutschland 83 | Walter Schweppenstette | 8 episodes |
| 2016 | NSU German History X: The Investigators | Walter Ahler | |
| 2017 | Tatort: Wacht am Rhein | Dieter Gottschalk | |
| 2017 | Fargo | Colonel Horst Lagerfeld | 1 episode |
| 2018 | Deutschland 86 | Walter Schweppenstette | 10 episodes |
| 2019 | Dark | Clausen | |
| 2019 | Criminal: Germany | Detective Chief Inspector Karl Schultz | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Deutschland 89 | Walter Schweppenstette | 8 episodes |
3.3. Notable Roles
Sylvester Groth is particularly recognized for several impactful roles throughout his career, showcasing his versatility and depth as an actor.
One of his most notable portrayals is that of Joseph Goebbels, the infamous Nazi Minister of Propaganda. Groth played Goebbels in two separate films: first in Dani Levy's 2007 German film *My Führer - The Really Truest Truth about Adolf Hitler*, and then again in Quentin Tarantino's critically acclaimed 2009 film *Inglourious Basterds*. His performance as Goebbels in *My Führer* earned him the Deutscher Kritikerpreis. These roles, while depicting a figure associated with immense historical atrocities, highlighted Groth's ability to embody complex and challenging characters.
In television, Groth is known for his role as Clausen, a police investigator, in the popular Netflix series *Dark*. He also appeared as Colonel Horst Lagerfeld in the first episode of the third season of the acclaimed series *Fargo*. Furthermore, he held a significant role as Walter Schweppenstette across the *Deutschland 83*, *Deutschland 86*, and *Deutschland 89* series, portraying a character central to the Cold War espionage narrative. Another notable television role was Sergei Bogdanow in the Netflix series *Sense8*.
His early career also featured significant roles such, as Mark Niebuhr in the 1983 East German film *The Turning Point*, which marked his first major film appearance. He also played Agent BLW/553 X in the 1986 film *Momo* and Otto in the 1993 war drama *Stalingrad*.
4. Awards and Honours
Sylvester Groth has received several awards and recognitions throughout his career for his contributions to German and international cinema and television.
- In 1984, he was awarded the Heinrich Greif Prize for his performance in the film The Turning Point.
- He received a Television and film award from the German Academy of Performing Arts in 2001 for his work in Romeo.
- This was followed by a Grimme-Preis in 2002, also for Romeo.
- In 2007, Groth was honored with the Deutscher Kritikerpreis for his portrayal of Joseph Goebbels in the film My Führer - The Really Truest Truth about Adolf Hitler.
- For his ensemble work in Quentin Tarantino's 2009 film Inglourious Basterds, Groth shared the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast and the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble.
- In January 2013, the Film Museum in Potsdam honored Groth with a retrospective of his work, showcasing his extensive career.
- On December 1, 2017, he received an award from the DEFA Foundation for his outstanding achievements in German film.