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Rufus Beck

Rufus Beck

Actor · Born July 23, 1957 (69) · Worms, Germany

Rufus Beck is the only child of a business-owning couple. Because his parents traveled extensively abroad, he lived in the boarding school of the Odenwald School. After graduating from high school in 1976 and completing his civilian service, Beck studied Islamic Studies, Ethnology, and Philosophy at the University of Heidelberg, but later dropped out. From 1976 onward, he appeared as a musician and acting student at the Heidelberg Municipal Theatre. The following year, he was a guest performer at the Saarland State Theatre, followed by engagements at the Tübingen State Theatre, the Frankfurt Theatre, the Cologne Theatre, the Bavarian State Theatre, the Munich Kammerspiele, and the Berliner Ensemble. He later also appeared as a guest performer at the Berlin Renaissance Theatre (2006), the Stuttgart State Theatre (2010), and the Hamburg Kammerspiele (2014). In 1989, Beck was named "Young Actor of the Year" by the magazine Theater heute. Also in 1989, he received the Young Actor Award from the Friends of the Bavarian State Theatre. In 1990, he toured the Soviet Union with Friedrich Schiller's *The Robbers*, performing in Moscow, Irkutsk, and Alma-Ata. He toured South America in 1991 with G.E. Lessing's *Miss Sara Sampson*. In 1994, he toured Germany with Peter Maffay's *Tabaluga*. Beck's breakthrough in film came in 1994 with Sönke Wortmann's *The Most Desired Man*, for which he received a Bambi Award for his role as Waltraut. In 1999, he was nominated for the German Film Award for *Jimmy the Kid*. He has appeared in more than 70 television and 14 feature films (as of 2018). In the children's film *The Wild Soccer Bunch* (2003), he played the role of "Coach Willi." He reprised this role in *The Wild Soccer Bunch – The Legend Lives!* (2016). Rufus Beck is the narrator and producer of more than 200 audiobooks, including the Harry Potter novels. He gives each of the many characters a distinct voice, employing various dialects and accents. His audiobooks have received numerous awards. During the 2006 and 2007 festival seasons, Beck played Mephisto in Goethe's *Faust* at the Bad Hersfeld Festival. Under the artistic direction of Dieter Wedel, he played Joseph Süß Oppenheimer in Jehoschua Sobol's *The Story of Joseph Süß Oppenheimer, Called Jud Süß* at the 2011 Worms Nibelungen Festival. In 2004, he directed the dance spectacular for the world tour of *Night of the Sultans – Pandora's Legend* in Istanbul. In 2003, 2012, and 2016, he was responsible for directing, writing, and playing the magician and the beetle in the musical Tabaluga. Rufus Beck wrote several stage adaptations for his own shows. In 2006, he published the anthology *Stories for Us Children*. His non-fiction book *Children Love Fairy Tales and Discover Values* was published in 2007. He appeared with his son Jonathan Beck in the film *The Wild Soccer Bunch* and toured with him in 2014/15 with the play *Zorn*. Jonathan Beck also played the role of 0815 in his father's Tabaluga productions in 2012 and 2016 and was also his assistant director. Since 2018, he has starred in the television series *Deutsch-Les-Landes*. His daughters Sarah Beck and Natalie Spinell also work as actors. Rufus Beck lives in Munich.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 23, 1957 (69)
From
Worms, Germany
Works as
Actor
Titles
13 on MovieCove · 84 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 35% in 30 days

What are Rufus Beck's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
53%
Self
15%
Morality
10%
Ideas
8%
Society
7%
Survival
6%
Romantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 0 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 3 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 0

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 6 · Charged 4 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 0 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
7
Warm
5
Hopeful
4
Thrilling
3
Romantic
1
Other
1

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Rufus Beck's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 2 of their 13 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Rufus Beck's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

84 credits, 13 with a MovieCove page; 20 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Geheimsache Kopernikus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Kopernikus

  • Ice Princess Lily(2018)

    as Kolk (voice)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Rosamunde Pilcher: Nanny verzweifelt gesucht (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Tabaluga - Es lebe die Freundschaft! Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Magier & Glückskäfer

  • Sternenjäger - Abenteuer am Nachthimmel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Children Of The Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • King Laurin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as König Dietrich

  • Emerald Green(2016)

    as Xemerius (voice)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Soccer Bunch 6(2016)

    as Willi

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Blütenträume(2015)

    as Ulf

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sapphire Blue(2014)

    as Xemerius (voice)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Zwei allein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Linus Gobert

  • München Mord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Oliver Papst

  • Tabaluga und die Zeichen der Zeit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Magier

  • Das Geheimnis der Villa Sabrini (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Andreas von Weissenfels

  • Die Sterntaler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Caspar

  • Mondo Lux: The Visual Worlds of Werner Schroeter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • Klick ins Herz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Alexander Randow

  • SOKO Stuttgart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Felix Zink

  • Jasper: Journey to the End of the World(2008)

    as Kakapo (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Meerkats(2008)

    as Narrator (Russian release) (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Ihr Auftrag, Pater Castell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Sergio Spinosa

  • The Visible and the Invisible (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Leo Barnstein

  • Hamburg Dockland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Markus Herold

  • Tabaluga und Lilli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Magier

  • The Robber Hotzenplotz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Petrosilius Zwackelmann

  • Going Public (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Bruno

  • München 7 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Erich Schlicker

  • Bibi Blocksberg and the Secret of Blue Owls(2004)

    as Maribor (voice)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Germanikus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Prefect

  • Inga Lindström (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Herzog Anders von Köping · as Marvin Blom

  • Tabaluga und das verschenkte Glück (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · as Magier

  • The Nutcracker and the Mouseking(2004)

    as Squeak

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Es wird etwas geschehen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Benno

  • SOKO Köln (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Thomas Lambrecht

  • The Wild Soccer Bunch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Willi

  • Hamlet_X (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Insurance Salesman

  • Gangster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Kevin

  • Bibi Blocksberg(2002)

    as Maribor (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Inspektor Rolle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 5 episodes · as Inspektor Rolle

  • Edel & Starck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Britz

  • Brazilero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Alex

  • Emil und die Detektive(2001)

    as Hotelportier

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Drehkreuz Airport (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Kiss Me, Frog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Hofzauberer Gorm

  • Frauen lügen besser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Markus Kopf

  • Der Preis der Schönheit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Guido Sprüngli

  • Lieber böser Weihnachtsmann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Dieter Barth

  • Jimmy the Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Kelp

  • Delta Team - Auftrag geheim! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Kurt Bojarski

  • Vorübergehend verstorben (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Schubert

  • HeliCops - Einsatz über Berlin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Marcel Dante

  • Der letzte Zeuge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Burkhardt

  • Lonny, der Aufsteiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Guido Sprüngli

  • Friedrich und der verzauberte Einbrecher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Einbrecher Paul Paul

  • Die rote Waschmaschine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • Verbrechen, die Geschichte machten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Günter Dorn

  • Wer hat Angst vorm Weihnachtsmann? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Nikolaus

  • Peanuts - Die Bank zahlt alles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Peter Hackmann

  • Inzest - Ein Fall für Sina Teufel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Dr. Carlo van Rees

  • Ein tödliches Vergehen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as David

  • Die Straßen von Berlin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Waldemar 'Waldi' Schmitz

  • Heimliche Zeugen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Peter Dähnert

  • Im Innern des Bernsteins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Thomas Kast

  • Der König (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Maybe... Maybe Not(1994)

    as Waltraud

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Tödliche Dienstreise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Ali

  • Weihnachtsfest mit Hindernissen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Franz

  • RTL Samstag Nacht (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Mr. Bluesman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Lentz

  • Alarm auf Station 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Dr. Hartenstein

  • Der Bergdoktor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Guido Mooslechner

  • Little Sharks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Woyczek

  • Café Meineid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Ralf Hagedorn

  • Peter Strohm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Tommy Schneider

  • Liebling Kreuzberg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Das Traumschiff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Magnus Tennstett · as Paul Gassner

  • SOKO München (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Kühn · as Prof. Dr. Maximilian Sundt

  • The Old Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Erich Kapuste

  • Derrick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Benno Hauke · as Manfred Georg

  • Tatort(1970)

    Show 2 episodes · as Alex · as Gereon · as Johannes Anders · as Mickey · as Stefan Stoll · as Udo Retzlaff

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • An Impossible Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Freddi

  • Cloud Study (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Hanni

  • Der bewegte Mann – Reloaded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Waltraud

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 83 titles, 80 of them dated from 1970 to 2023; peak year 2015.

Biggest box office

Bibi Blocksberg (2002)

$10M worldwide

Highest rated

The Meerkats (2008)

Midcredits 87th

Most popular right now

Sapphire Blue (2014)

Film career

19702023

Peak 2015 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1992Screen debut· Little Sharks
  • 2008Career best· The Meerkats

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting83 of 83: 82 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score46thDirecting1 of 83: 0 only directing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s4 · acting1980s3 · acting1990s27 · acting2000s29 · 29 acting · 1 crew2010s16 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Rufus Beck's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 12; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 13 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 13 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser3
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Jasper: Journey to the End of the World (2008)

87th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Meerkats (2008)

Midcredits 87th · 78% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Rufus Beck work with?

People who share at least 2 of Rufus Beck's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Katja Riemann shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers