Matthias Brandt

Matthias Brandt is a German actor, audiobook narrator and author. He is the youngest son of former Federal Chancellor of Germany Willy Brandt. He is widely known especially for his role as the commissioner in the TV series Polizeiruf 110.

Born in West Berlin on October 7, 1961; His mother is Rut Brandt, born in Norway. He spent most of his childhood in Bonn. After his acting training, he worked in various German theaters for many years; Since 1989, he has appeared in more than seventy productions in cinema and television.

Acting

In 2003, he drew attention for his portrayal of Günter Guillaume, the East German spy who led to his father's resignation as chancellor, in the two-part television film Im Schatten der Macht. Between 2011 and 2018, he played the role of commissioner Hanns von Meuffels in Polizeiruf 110 episodes set in Munich; this character became his best-known screen persona.

The final episode of the role aired in December 2018; Brandt returned to the same role for a new chapter after an eight-year absence.

He played the character of August Benda in the period drama Babylon Berlin, which started in 2017. His film credits include Vor der Morgenröte (2016), about Stefan Zweig's years in exile, and Christian Petzold's Transit (2018).

Writing

In 2016, he stepped into writing with his story book Raumpatrouille; the novel Blackbird followed in 2019. In Nein sagen, published in March 2026, he discussed the resistance movement around the July 20, 1944 assassination attempt and the political stance of his parents. He was honored with the Carl Zuckmayer Medal in 2024.

Brandt is one of the well-known faces of German television, who continues his acting together with literature.