Actor Matti Schmidt-Schaller stars in an episodic lead role in the ZDF crime series Jenseits der Spree, streaming on Joyn, highlighting a prominent German television family that includes his father Andreas Schmidt-Schaller, half-sister Petra Schmidt-Schaller, and half-brother Tom Radisch.
Matti Schmidt-Schaller Grew up in a Performing Arts Family
- Family lineage in the performing arts often leads to early career exposure, as seen with Matti Schmidt-Schaller’s debut at a young age in television productions.
- Public figures such as Andreas Schmidt-Schaller in SOKO Leipzig and Polizeiruf 110 maintain careers before eventually announcing their retirement from the television business.
Matti Schmidt-Schaller Began His Career in SOKO Leipzig
The name Schmidt-Schaller encompasses multiple familiar faces across German film and television. Matti Schmidt-Schaller was born as the youngest son of actor Andreas Schmidt-Schaller and director and theater producer Swentja Krumscheidt, Joyn reported.
Growing up in an environment of theatrical productions and shooting days familiarized him with the industry early on. His first television appearance occurred in 2008 within the ZDF crime series SOKO Leipzig, a program in which his father held a main role for many years.
Matti Schmidt-Schaller has since built an independent career with credits including Das Boot, Raus, 25 km/h, and Himmel & Erde. He joined the cast of the series Zwei Frauen für alle Felle in 2025 and currently appears in an episodic lead role in Jenseits der Spree, available for streaming on Joyn.
Andreas Schmidt-Schaller Career Retrospective
Andreas Schmidt-Schaller established himself over more than 30 years as one of Germany’s most enduring television investigators. He achieved his breakthrough as Lieutenant Thomas Grawe in the East German crime series Polizeiruf 110, portraying the investigator until 1995.
Following German reunification, he secured his next major television role as Detective Chief Inspector Hajo Trautzschke in the ZDF series SOKO Leipzig starting in 2001, remaining with the core ensemble for nearly two decades. His credits also include appearances in In aller Freundschaft, Bettys Diagnose, the Erzgebirgskrimi, and Das Traumschiff.
After more than 50 years in front of the camera, Andreas Schmidt-Schaller announced his retirement from television following his 80th birthday. He said that he intends to spend his retirement surrounded by his family, as he told the publication Superillu.
Petra Schmidt-Schaller Pursued Acting After Studying in Leipzig
Petra Schmidt-Schaller, born from her father’s marriage to actress and director Christine Krüger, initially pursued other paths before discovering an interest in acting during an exchange year in the United States. Following her Abitur, she studied acting in Leipzig and gained early stage and screen experience.
Her breakthrough arrived in 2007 with the feature film Ein fliehendes Pferd, earning her the Bavarian Film Award for best up-and-coming actress. She subsequently gained recognition as investigator Katharina Lorenz in the Tatort series, alongside roles in Almanya – Willkommen in Deutschland, Die Toten von Marnow, and Wendezeit.
The family’s artistic involvement extends further through half-brother Tom Radisch, who stems from another relationship of Andreas Schmidt-Schaller. Tom Radisch has also appeared in Jenseits der Spree, alongside credits in the Ostfrieslandkrimis, Morden im Norden, and various entries in the SOKO franchise.
| Family Member | Notable Production Roles | Career Milestones |
|---|---|---|
| Andreas Schmidt-Schaller | Polizeiruf 110, SOKO Leipzig | Over 50 years on television; retired after turning 80 |
| Petra Schmidt-Schaller | Ein fliehendes Pferd, Tatort, Die Toten von Marnow | Awarded Bavarian Film Award as best newcomer in 2007 |
| Matti Schmidt-Schaller | Jenseits der Spree, Das Boot, Zwei Frauen für alle Felle | Began television work as a child actor in 2008 |
| Tom Radisch | Ostfrieslandkrimis, Morden im Norden, SOKO Leipzig | Active across multiple German crime series |
References
- Joyn. Matti Schmidt-Schaller: Das ist seine berühmte Familie.
- Superillu.
