Simon Schwarz

Simon Schwarz (born 10 January 1971) is an Austrian actor. He is known for his role as Chris Wegner in the medical drama series Die Eifelpraxis[de] and as Rudi Birkenberger in the Franz Eberhofer series of crime films. Since 2019 he has been starring with Eberhofer actor Sebastian Bezzel in a documentary TV series Bezzel & Schwarz - Die Grenzgänger, in which they live and travel in a motorhome through Bavaria, Germany. He plays a lead role in the 2025 Slovak-Austrian co-production Perla.

Early life and education

Simon Schwarz was born on 10 January 1971 in Vienna, Austria.

Career

Acting

Film and TV

Schwarz is known for his role as the neurotic Austrian private detective Rudi Birkenberger in the very successful Franz Eberhofer series of films, opposite Sebastian Bezzel as Eberhofer, who is also a personal friend.

In 2015 he played the lead role in the Oscar-nominated short drama film Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut), as a divorced father who decides to kidnap his own daughter. The film was directed by Patrick Vollrath, and won several awards.

Schwarz played country doctor Chris Wegner in the medical drama TV series Die Eifelpraxis[de], opposite German actress Rebecca Immanuel. The series, which started filming in autumn 2015, premiered on 16 September 2016 on Das Erste, with episode 15 broadcast on 15 November 2024. It was produced by UFA Fiction for ARD Degeto.

He played German Nazi diplomat Martin Luther in the award-winning 2022 film Die Wannseekonferenz (The Conference).

In 2025, he stars opposite Slovak actress Rebeka Poláková in Slovak-Austrian director Alexandra Makárová's second feature film, Perla.

Documentary

Schwarz and his friend, Eberhofer actor Sebastian Bezzel feature as themselves in a documentary TV series for BR Bezzel & Schwarz - Die Grenzgänger (Bezzel & Schwarz - The Border-crossers), in which they live and travel in a motorhome through Bavaria, Germany, over a period of six weeks. The series was launched in 2019. The fifth series was released in 2023, and another series in 2024.

Stage

Schwarz also performs live on stage. He plays opposite actor and cabaret artist Manuel Rubey in Das Restaurant.

Other roles and activities

Schwarz co-produced, along with Konstantin Seitz of Alternative Productions-Konstantin Seitz, the debut directorial feature by Alexandra Makárová, titled Crush My Heart (Zerschlag mein Herz), released in 2018.

Personal life

Schwarz was previously married to actress Nana Spier[de]; the couple had two children.

Sustainability is important to him, and he says he is aware of the environmental impact of his travel for work purposes, so tries to use the least damaging means of transport. He also advocates for a more sustainable agriculture and the preservation of cultural landscapes. As of 2024[update] he eats only plant-based foods at home.

Accolades

Schwarz won the Max Ophüls Award as Best Young Actor in 1998.

Selected filmography

External links

• at IMDb