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Axel Prahl

Axel Prahl

Actor · Born March 26, 1960 (66) · Eutin, Germany

Axel Prahl grew up in Neustadt in Holstein alongside a brother. His mother was a sales assistant, and his stepfather worked at the employment office. At the age of 14, Prahl entered a music competition in Neustadt in Holstein; he won the local round, thereby qualifying to compete at the state level. However, fearing that such success might fundamentally alter his life, he declined to participate in the state finals. He dropped out of a vocational training program in the metalworking trade after just one year, spent time living as a street musician in Spain, subsequently earned his specialized university entrance qualification, and went on to study music and mathematics for five semesters at the College of Education in Kiel. Prahl is an accomplished guitarist and counts Pat Metheny among his musical role models, though during his youth, he also performed Irish folk music. Ultimately, from 1982 to 1985, he completed a degree in acting in Kiel. Prahl began his professional theater career in 1984, subsequently joining the Schleswig-Holstein State Theater. Prahl has lived in Berlin since 1992. This was followed by engagements at the Renaissance-Theater, the Grips-Theater, and the *Kammerspiele* (chamber theater) of the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. During his drama school days—while holding an apprentice contract at the Theater Kiel—Prahl performed with the band Ougenweide and subsequently founded the band Impuls. At that time, his musical and acting pursuits ran in parallel, until Prahl ultimately decided to focus exclusively on acting. Axel Prahl made his television debut in 1992 in Max Färberböck’s *Schlafende Hunde*. Also in 1992, he provided the German voice dubbing for Michael Chiklis in an episode of the series *Miami Vice*. In *Nachtgestalten* (1999)—Prahl’s first feature film—he played a police officer in a supporting role; since then, he has frequently been cast in similar roles, including in *Die Polizistin*, *Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt*, and *Der Grenzer und das Mädchen*. The film *Nachtgestalten* also marked the beginning of a successful collaboration with director Andreas Dresen: for *Die Polizistin*, *Halbe Treppe*, and *Willenbrock*, Axel Prahl was honored with various acting awards, including the Adolf Grimme Prize. Since 2002, in his role as Chief Inspector Frank Thiel, he has teamed up with Jan Josef Liefers to form the investigative duo based in Münster for the WDR’s *Tatort* series. In 2007, Prahl also contributed the title song—a reinterpretation of a well-known pop hit—to the feature film *Du bist nicht allein*. In the music video for the song "Wenn es passiert" by the band Wir sind Helden, he appears as a traveling salesman. Prahl and Andreas Dresen perform together in a band with no name, whose repertoire includes cover versions of songs by artists such as Rio Reiser and Gerhard Gundermann. On February 27, 2009, the audiobook *Wo die wilden Maden graben* by Thorsten Nagelschmidt was released, featuring Axel Prahl as a guest narrator alongside Farin Urlaub. Prahl subsequently narrated the audiobook *North Western* in 2013. Axel Prahl has three daughters and one son. He is divorced from his second wife and resides in Berlin.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 26, 1960 (66)
From
Eutin, Germany
Works as
Actor
Titles
18 on MovieCove · 108 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 27Up 3% in 30 days

What are Axel Prahl's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: 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
27%
Self
18%
Power
18%
Morality
15%
Society
13%
Ideas
6%
Survival
4%
Friendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 1 · Dark 4

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 5 · Intense 3

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 5 · 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 9 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 5 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 7 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 8
Mentor
2 of 8
Herald
1 of 8
Trickster
1 of 8
Ally
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Joyful
6
Warm
7
Hopeful
4
Melancholic
2
Other
6

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet1
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

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 Axel Prahl's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 6 of their 18 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (3).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Axel Prahl'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

108 credits, 18 with a MovieCove page; 50 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Block 10 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Prof. Dr. Carl Clauberg

  • Tödliches Spiel - Das Live-Krimi-Dinner(2025)

    as Harry Raven

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Man stirbt nur zweimal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Kriminalhauptkommissar Frank Thiel

  • Unter Gärtnern (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Kriminalhauptkommissar Frank Thiel

  • Ich bin! Margot Friedländer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Reuter

  • Extraklasse - On Tour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Ralph Friesner

  • The History of Mankind: Slightly Abridged(2022)

    as Sokrates

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Love Your Enemies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Herr Schimke

  • Der Teufels langer Atem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Frank Thiel

  • Eisland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Marko Wendrichs

  • Extraklasse 2+ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Ralph Friesner

  • Nur mit Dir zusammen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Wim

  • Spy Cat(2018)

    as Elvis (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Spieglein, Spieglein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Frank Thiel

  • Blame Game(2019)

    as Dr. Joachim Rauhweiler

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Das Märchen von der Regentrude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Iven

  • Extraklasse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Ralph Friesner

  • Gloria, die schönste Kuh meiner Schwester (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Thomas

  • Capt'n Sharky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Alter Bill (voice)

  • Gundermann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Führungsoffizier

  • The Little Witch(2018)

    as Abraxas (voice)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Gott ist auch nur ein Mensch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Frank Thiel

  • Regrettably Kin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Knud Lühr

  • Der gute Bulle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Roland Bischoff

  • The Legend of Timm Thaler or The Boy Who Sold His Laughter(2017)

    as Behemoth

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Udo Lindenberg: Stärker als die Zeit - Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Mullewapp - A Pig's Tail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Waldemar (voice)

  • Schwanensee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Frank Thiel

  • Trenk, the Little Knight(2015)

    as Ritter Hans (voice)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Die Mutter des Mörders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as David Bacher

  • Die Himmelsleiter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Armin Zettler

  • Die Lichtenbergs - zwei Brüder, drei Frauen und jede Menge Zoff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Jochen Lichtenberg -

  • The Burrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Franz

  • The Pasta Detectives(2014)

    as Herr Marrak

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Whole Shebang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Helmut

  • Harms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Menges

  • Secrets of the North Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · as Narrator (voice)

  • Circus Halligalli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Das Millionen Rennen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Mathias Wengeler

  • Geschichtenerzähler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 7 episodes · as Narrator

  • An Enemy to Die For(2012)

    as Friedrich Mann

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

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

    as Grobian

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

    as Weininger

  • In der Welt habt ihr Angst (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Paul Krämer

  • Lessons of a Dream(2011)

    as Schricker Sen.

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Sesamstraße präsentiert: Eine Möhre für zwei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · as Kapitän

  • Here Comes Lola! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Felix Jungherz

  • Dorfpunks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Mascher

  • Berlin '36 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Hans Waldmann

  • Die Schimmelreiter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Tilmann Koch

  • 12 Winter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Klaus Starck

  • Die Wölfe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · as Bernd 2

  • The Godmother - No Way Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · as Tom Kranold

  • Liesl Karlstadt und Karl Valentin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Erich Engels

  • Peaceful Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Karl

  • Die Weisheit der Wolken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Georg Paulsen

  • Summer Sunday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Bruno Hansen

  • Stella and the Star of the Orient (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Kleinheinz

  • The Red Baron(2008)

    as General von Hoeppner

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Mondkalb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Piet Hatzky

  • You're Not Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Hans Moll

  • Not All Were Murderers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Erwin Redlich

  • Kommissar Stolberg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Raimund Görlitz

  • Die Mauer - Berlin '61(2006)

    as Erwin Sawatzke

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Die Kette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Bernd

  • Wild Chicks(2005)

    as Willis Vater

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Summer in Berlin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Kneipengast (uncredited)

  • Der Grenzer und das Mädchen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Hans-Werner Müller

  • Willenbrock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Willenbrock

  • Liberated Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Rolf Kubicek

  • I Love You All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Narrator (Major S.)

  • Das Wunder von Lengede (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Erwin

  • The Miracle of Lengede (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · as Erwin

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

    as Leo

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

    as Vater

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

    as Konrad "Bussi"

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

    Show 1 episode · as Fritz Schulz

  • Gun-shy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Schwimmer in der Nacht

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

    as Car Rental Dealer

  • The Pianist(2002)

    as German Soldier - Rummage Bags (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

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

    as Bens Anwalt

  • Die unheimlichen Briefe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Taxi driver

  • Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Eddy Garbitsch

  • Das Duo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Jost Kupitzki

  • Liebe und Verrat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Daniel Bullrich

  • Grill Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Uwe

  • Geht nicht gibt's nicht (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Heinz Treibel

  • Ich bring Dich hinter Gitter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Günther Szerba

  • Paulas Schuld (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Gründlin

  • Run While You Can (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Oswald Kosinski

  • 99euro-films(2001)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Beim nächsten Coup wird alles anders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 5 episodes · as Ulf

  • Herzrasen(2001)

    as Chris

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Bronski und Bernstein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Heinz Körner

  • Zoom - It's Always About Getting Closer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Beamter

  • alaska.de (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Polizist Wünsche

  • Policewoman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Mike

  • Night Shapes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Polizeibeamter

  • Die Cleveren (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Jens Stuber

  • Balko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Robin Friedensreich

  • Im Namen des Gesetzes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Wirt Patschke

  • Das Phantom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Bella Block (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Adelheid und ihre Mörder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Rainer Kohler

  • Evelyn Hamanns Geschichten aus dem Leben (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Klempner

  • Wolffs Revier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Georg Ackermann

  • Police Call 110(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Kieslowski

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Tatort(1970)

    Show 48 episodes · as Frank Thiel

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 110 titles, 109 of them dated from 1970 to 2025; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

The Little Witch (2018)

$15M worldwide

Highest rated

Lessons of a Dream (2011)

Midcredits 75th

Most popular right now

Spy Cat (2018)

Film career

19702025

Peak 2018 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. 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.

  • 1970Screen debut· Scene of the Crime
  • 2002First film· Grill Point
  • 2010First top-billed film· Here Comes Lola!
  • 2019Career best· Spy Cat

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting110 of 110: 109 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting1 of 110: 0 only directing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s2 · acting1990s10 · acting2000s50 · acting2010s37 · 37 acting · 1 crew2020s10 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 14% of 14 roles
0212

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Axel Prahl's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 18 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 18 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Tödliches Spiel - Das Live-Krimi-Dinner (2025)

91st percentile spread · 56% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Pianist (2002)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 31. 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 Axel Prahl work with?

People who share at least 2 of Axel Prahl's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Milan Peschel shares the most, 3.

Actors