The son of costume and production designers, and the fourth generation of a theater-working family, he began acting in plays and independent films at age 19
In 1979, traveled to New York and studied Method acting with Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler; later returned to Vienna and took classes at the renowned Max Reinhardt Seminar
After many stage performances, found steady work in British and Austrian television programs and won praise for his versatile European film roles
International acclaim and a Best Actor award at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival came with the role of the charming Nazi villain Col
Hans Landa in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds
Awards
2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical:nominated
2013BAFTA Film Awards-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2013Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:winner
2012Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:winner
2012Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actor (Runner-up):winner
2010Critics' Choice Movie Awards-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2010Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:winner
2010BAFTA Film Awards-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2009New York Film Critics Circle-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2009Detroit Film Critics Society-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2009Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2009Boston Society of Film Critics-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2009Austin Film Critics-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2009Cannes Film Festival-Best Actor:winner
2009National Society of Film Critics-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2009Washington D.C. Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2009Toronto Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2009Online Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2009Florida Film Critics-Best Supporting Actor:winner
2009Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:winner
2009Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:winner
2009Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:winner