Lars Eidinger (born January 21, 1976) is a highly acclaimed German actor, musician, and photographer, widely considered one of the most versatile performers in contemporary European theater and film.
Acting Career
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Theater: Since 1999, Eidinger has been a prominent member of the ensemble at the Schaubühne Berlin. He is famous for his intense, physical portrayals of Shakespearean characters, most notably Hamlet and Richard III, under the direction of Thomas Ostermeier.
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Film & Television:
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International: He gained international recognition for roles in Clouds of Sils Maria (2014) and Personal Shopper (2016). More recently, he starred in the American miniseries All the Light We Cannot See (2023) and Noah Baumbach’s White Noise (2022).
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German Productions: He is well known for his role as Alfred Nyssen in the hit series Babylon Berlin and for his lead performance in the 2024 film Dying (Sterben), which received critical acclaim.
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Upcoming Major Project: On December 20, 2025, director James Gunn officially announced that Eidinger has been cast as the iconic villain Brainiac in the upcoming DC Universe film Man of Tomorrow (scheduled for 2027).
Other Artistic Pursuits
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Music & DJing: Eidinger is a rapper and a regular DJ in the Berlin club scene. He is the founder of the popular “Autistic Disco” party series and released the trip-hop EP I’ll Break Ya Legg in 1998.
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Photography: He is an active photographer and has published illustrated books, such as Autistic Disco and O Mensch. In 2024, his photographic and video work was the subject of a solo museum exhibition in Düsseldorf.
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Recent Tours: In late 2025 and throughout 2026, he is scheduled for a tour across Germany where he reads, plays, and sings Bertolt Brecht’s Hauspostille.
Background
Born and raised in Berlin, Eidinger studied acting at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has received numerous accolades, including the Grimme Prize and multiple “Best Actor” awards from the German Film Critics Association.