Stefan Behrens

The face of the German middle class

Stefan Behrens was born in Dresden in 1942, surrounded by ruins. He wasn't chasing instant fame, but German television of the 1970s can't be understood without his constant presence. He studied acting in Hamburg and soon realized that in this profession consistency counts for more than pure talent.

His first serious brush with the camera came with Der Forellenhof. That 1965 series put him on the map of German households. And he did it without any fuss.

Television was then the only possible altar.

In 1977, he accepted the role of Otto Krüger in Drei Damen vom Grill. It was his biggest commercial hit. The series stayed on the air until 1992, and Behrens became a familiar neighbor to millions of viewers who had dinner while watching their everyday adventures in West Berlin. But the actor knew that television fame has an expiration date.

The Business of Other People's Voices

Many viewers recognize his face, but almost every German knows his voice. Behrens soon discovered the goldmine of dubbing. He gave his voice to John Ritter in the comedy Apartamento para tres and lent his vocal cords to Christopher Walken in several productions. It's a technical, unglamorous job that demands the precision of a watchmaker.

In dubbing, there's no room for ego.

Because dubbing characters like Bill Murray or Steve Martin requires completely setting aside your own personality. Behrens balanced this work with appearances on Tatort or Praxis Bülowbogen. He was never a movie superstar, but he always had steady work in front of the microphone.

A Refuge on Stage and the Years of Silence

From the nineties on, his screen work slowed down dramatically. He retreated to theater and dramatized readings. He took part in productions such as Pension Schöller and proved that the stage is where actors survive trends. So he focused on regional tours across Germany.

And the industry gradually forgot him.

In 2010, he had a brief appearance in the series Danni Lowinski. It was one of his last roles on camera before he stepped away from the spotlight. There were no farewells or major tributes in prime time.

Behrens has lived in Berlin for decades and keeps a low profile, staying away from social events. His profile with the 2024 talent agency barely shows any public activity. The last official record of his career is a voice recording for a locally distributed audiobook.