Heino Ferch

Heino Ferch (born 18 August 1963) is a German film, theatre and television actor. His notable film roles include Albert Speer in Downfall (2004) and Harry Melchior in The Tunnel (2001). The son of a merchant sea captain, Heino Ferch was on stage at the age of 15, while still attending grammar school. As a member of the stage ballet company in the musical Can-Can, he performed the tumbling acrobatics at the Stadttheater Bremerhaven in his home town. During this time, he also traveled through Europe as a federal member of the National League of Gymnastics.

Ferch studied acting at the University of Music and Performing Arts "Mozarteum" in Salzburg, Austria. He graduated in 1987. In addition to his main subject, drama, he also took courses in tap dancing, ballet, and singing.

Between 1987 and 2006, Ferch lived in Berlin, a city whose division after World War II and reunification in 1989 is repeatedly reflected in his work as a movie actor (The Tunnel, Mord am Meer, The Airlift, Cold Summer and The Miracle of Berlin). After his wedding in 2005, he moved his main residence to Bavaria.

Until 1999, he was in a nine-year relationship with actress Suzanne von Borsody but in 2000 he met Dr. Julia von Pufendorf, the daughter of the former under-secretary of state for cultural affairs for the city of Berlin. From this relationship, he fathered a daughter (Louisa, born 2000).

In 2002, Ferch met Marie-Jeanette Steinle, a National League Member of the military eventing squad, at the Bavarian Television Award celebration.

Three years later, in 2005, Ferch and Steinle married during the world's biggest sailing ship unification event, Sail 2005. The ceremony took place in the captain's lounge of the three-mast sailing ship Dar Młodzieży in Bremerhaven. A church wedding followed ten days later in Munster St. Maria Ascension in Dießen, Bavarian Ammersee. On 10 November 2008 Marie-Jeanette and Heino Ferch became parents to a daughter named Ava Vittoria Mercedès. The couple also became parents to a boy, Gustav Theo Cian on 4 November 2013.The couple are highly active in polo sports - as players and in the promotion to the young. Both have DPV-Handicap of 0 (season 2010).

Ferch can speak German and English fluently, as well as some French.