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Bjarne Mädel

Bjarne Mädel

Actor · Born March 12, 1968 (58) · Hamburg, Germany

Bjarne Ingmar Mädel (born March 12, 1968, in Hamburg) is a German actor and director. He spent his childhood in Reinbek. As a teenager, he lived for several years in Nigeria in a gated community because his father worked there as a civil engineer. He obtained his Abitur at the Burggymnasium Friedberg. In California, he initially worked as a construction worker and then studied world literature and creative writing at the University of Redlands. As a 17-year-old, he worked for a summer in the Port of Hamburg. After studying theater studies and literature at the University of Erlangen, Mädel trained classically as an actor from 1992 to 1996 at the Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen Potsdam. This was followed by an engagement at the Volkstheater Rostock from 1996 to 1999. He was then an ensemble member at the Schauspielhaus Hamburg for five years (2000–2005). Mädel gained greater fame in 2004/2005 through the character of Berthold “Ernie” Heisterkamp, whom he portrayed in the TV series Stromberg. Mädel received his own comedy series Der kleine Mann from Stromberg creator Ralf Husmann, tailored specifically to him. The series aired on ProSieben starting in March 2009. After completing filming for the fourth season of Stromberg at the end of May 2009, Mädel shot the second season of Mord mit Aussicht (ARD). From 2011 to 2018, he played the lead role of Heiko “Schotty” Schotte in the series Der Tatortreiniger, a Hamburg crime scene cleaner who removes traces and remains of human bodies. The series was directed by Stromberg director Arne Feldhusen. In 2013, Mädel last portrayed the role of Berthold “Ernie” Heisterkamp during the filming of Stromberg – Der Film. Mädel is a voice actor in several audio drama and audiobook productions and had a role as a dubbing actor in the comedy thriller Sightseers. Mädel lives in Berlin. He is a fan of Hamburger SV, which is reflected in his portrayal of the title character Schotty in Der Tatortreiniger, as this character is also a passionate HSV fan and wears a blue-white-black fan scarf in several episodes. In 2020, Mädel directed the NDR film Sörensen hat Angst and also took on the lead role in front of the camera as Chief Detective Inspector Sörensen.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 12, 1968 (58)
From
Hamburg, Germany
Works as
Actor
Titles
13 on MovieCove · 70 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 30% in 30 days

What are Bjarne Mädel's films like?

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

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Crime 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
Morality
35%
Self
29%
Society
14%
Survival
9%
Bonds
7%
Power
3%
Ideas
3%
Community4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 2 · Intense 4

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

A split, not a type: Steady 4 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 4 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 8 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 8
Hero
3 of 8
Trickster
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
5
Tense
3
Melancholic
3
Absurd
3
Joyful
2
Other
6

How their films linger

Fun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet3
  • Ambiguous5

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 Bjarne Mädel's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 13 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bjarne Mädel'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

70 credits, 13 with a MovieCove page; 26 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Herkunft (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Actor

  • The Rainbow Fish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Das Manko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 2 episodes · as Chef

  • Stromberg: Everything Back to Normal(2025)

    as Berthold Heisterkamp

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Prange (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Ralf Prange

  • Warum ich? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Bär

  • Sörensen Catches Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director · as Sörensen

  • Buba(2022)

    as Jakob Otto / Buba

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Kranitz - Bei Trennung Geld zurück (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 10 episodes · as Manni

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

    as Volker Feldmann

  • Ferdinand von Schirach: Feinde - Das Geständnis(2021)

    as Peter Nadler

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Ferdinand von Schirach: Feinde - Gegen die Zeit(2021)

    as Peter Nadler

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Ferdinand von Schirach: Feinde – Der Prozess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Peter Nadler

  • Sörensen's Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director · as Sörensen

  • Faking Bullshit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Klaus

  • The Turncoat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 4 episodes · as Ferdinand 'Baffi' Ellerbrok

  • Unterleuten: The Torn Village (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · as Wolf Hübschke

  • Tage des letzten Schnees (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Markus Sellin

  • How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)(2019)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dealer Buba

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • 25 km/h(2018)

    as Georg

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • What Doesn't Kill Us (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Hannes

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

    as Parteisekretär

  • Different Kinds of Rain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Thomas

  • Bruder - Schwarze Macht (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 4 episodes · as Kurt

  • Once Upon a Time in Indian Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Cab Driver / Gas Station Attendant

  • Magical Mystery or: The Return of Karl Schmidt(2017)

    as Werner Maier

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

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

    as Timms Father

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Robby and Toby's Fantastic Voyager (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Matti

  • Wellness für Paare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Malte Hell

  • Don't Believe the Hype (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Vater

  • 24 Weeks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Markus

  • Wer aufgibt ist tot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Paul Lohmann

  • Ein Mord mit Aussicht(2015)

    as Polizeiobermeister Dietmar Schäffer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

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

    as Bene

  • Die Toten von Hameln (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Jan Faber

  • Stromberg – The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Berthold Heisterkamp

  • Neo Magazin Royale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Guest

  • Mord nach Zahlen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Sigbert Friesner

  • Schief gewickelt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Klopka

  • Fischer fischt Frau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Matze

  • Nägel mit Köppen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Heinrich

  • Der Tatortreiniger(2011)

    Show 31 episodes · Creator · as Heiko “Schotty” Schotte

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Butter bei die Fische (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Heinrich

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

    as Sigmar Koch

  • Der kleine Mann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 8 episodes · as Rüdiger Bunz

  • Homicide Hills(2008)

    Show 39 episodes · as Dietmar Schäffer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Niete zieht Hauptgewinn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Kevin

  • Messy Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Max

  • Partnertausch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Andreas Liebig

  • Zwei Engel für Amor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Die Könige der Nutzholzgewinnung (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Krischan

  • Die Tote vom Deich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Matthias Brook

  • Der Dicke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Phillip Ücker

  • Die Bullenbraut (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Vollzugsbeamter

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

    Show 46 episodes · as Berthold "Ernie" Heisterkamp

  • SOKO Wismar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Bernd Strübing

  • Dittsche - Das wirklich wahre Leben (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Der doppelte Dittsche · as Schotty

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

    Show 1 episode · as Stefan Traber

  • Royal Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Der Ermittler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Kai Hase

  • Einsatz in Hamburg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Sörensen

  • Donna Leon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Nicola Resto

  • Küstenwache (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Fedor Priemer

  • Alphateam – Die Lebensretter im OP (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Herr Kroll

  • Für alle Fälle Stefanie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Ekke Hoppe

  • 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 Robert Kreile

  • Police Call 110(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Herr Jünnemann

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Tatort(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Heribert Scharf · as Martin Scholz

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Blackbird (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Morten

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 70 titles, 67 of them dated from 1970 to 2026; peak year 2017.

Biggest box office

25 km/h (2018)

$11M worldwide

Highest rated

Der Tatortreiniger (2011)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Homicide Hills (2008)

Film career

19702026

Peak 2017 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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.

  • 2004Screen debut· Stromberg
  • 2014First film· Stromberg – The Movie
  • 2020First top-billed film· Sörensen's Fear
  • 2020Career best· Sörensen's Fear

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting70 of 70: 67 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thDirecting2 of 70: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleOther crew1 of 70: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

70 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1970s2 · acting1990s5 · acting2000s20 · acting2010s25 · 25 acting · 1 crew2020s15 · 15 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 17% of 12 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 Bjarne Mädel's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 8; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 13 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 13 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed3

Most loved · actor

Der Tatortreiniger (2011)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 46. 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 Bjarne Mädel work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bjarne Mädel's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Arne Feldhusen shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers