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David Kross
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David Kross (born 4 July 1990) is a German actor. He began his career at a young age with a small role in the 2002 film Hilfe, ich bin ein Junge and worked sporadically, mainly focusing on his school work. In 2008, he portrayed Michael Berg in the film The Reader. For his part, he was nominated for various awards and went on to win the Sierra Award at the Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards for Youth in Film.
Key Information
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Kross has since worked in both German and English speaking film roles, including War Horse, Race and Into the White.
Early life and education
[edit]Kross was born in Henstedt-Ulzburg, 20 miles north of Hamburg. He grew up in Bargteheide, where he attended Eckhorst High School[1] until 2007. He has two brothers and one sister. He played basketball at the professional club TSV Bargteheide between 2004 and 2006.
Career
[edit]His career started with a small appearance in the 2002 film Hilfe, ich bin ein Junge (English: Help, I'm a Boy!).[2] In December 2003, he joined Blaues Wölkchen, a small group from a children's theatre in Bargteheide. His first major theatrical appearance was in Hilfe, die Herdmanns kommen.[citation needed]
In 2005, Kross came to the attention of Detlev Buck through his daughter, Bernadette, and he auditioned for Tough Enough (Knallhart);[3] Buck hired Kross to play the lead,[4] a 15-year-old boy who moves with his mother from a rich neighborhood of Berlin (Zehlendorf) to the Neukölln area, known at the time for its high number of Turkish immigrants and high crime level. Kross not only won praise at Berlinale in 2006, but also won Best Actor in Nuremberg at the 11th Filmfestival Türkei/Deutschland.[5]
In 2006, Kross worked again with Buck in the film Hands off Mississippi (Hände weg von Mississippi), playing an apprentice baker. In the fall of the same year, he started shooting a film by Marco Kreuzpaintner, Krabat (The Satanic Mill). In this version of Otfried Preußler's children's book, Kross plays the title role, one of the apprentices of magic, with co-stars Daniel Brühl and Robert Stadlober. The film was released on 19 September 2007 in movie festivals and in October 2008 in theatres.
In September 2007,[6] The Reader began shooting in Berlin, Cologne,[7] and Görlitz. In Stephen Daldry's adaption of the best-selling novel by Bernhard Schlink about the relationship between a teenage boy and an older woman, Kross plays the lead role of Michael Berg, opposite Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, and Bruno Ganz. He had to learn to speak English to appear in the film.[8] The world premiere was at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York on 3 December 2008. The film was presented in the 2009 Berlinale but did not compete. In May 2009, Kross was honored for his performance in The Reader at the 62nd Cannes Festival, winning the Chopard trophy. Kross was nominated for a European Film Award as best actor.
His next work was Same Same But Different (2009), again with Buck directing. The script is based on an autobiographical article by Benjamin Prüfer.
In June 2010, it was announced that Kross had been cast in Steven Spielberg's film War Horse.[9] Filming started in August 2010, in Dartmoor, Devon, U.K. and the film was released in December 2011.[10]
Personal life
[edit]In 2009, Kross started a three-year course at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).[11] His plan was to improve his acting and English skills but he dropped out at the end of the same year to concentrate on films. He has since lived in Berlin-Mitte. Kross has expressed no desire to move to Hollywood, preferring to stay in Germany and continue making both German and English language films.[12]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Hilfe, ich bin ein Junge | Paddy | Help, I'm a Boy! |
| 2003 | Adam & Eva | Adams Sohn | Austrian film |
| 2006 | Knallhart | Michael Polischka | Tough Enough |
| 2007 | Hände weg von Mississippi | Bäckerlehrling Bröckel | Hands off Mississippi |
| 2008 | Krabat | Krabat | Adapted from a German language novel Krabat (The Satanic Mill in English) by Otfried Preußler |
| The Reader | Young Michael Berg | Las Vegas Film Critics Award for Youth in Film Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Young Performer Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated – European Film Award for Best Actor | |
| 2009 | Same Same But Different | Ben | Received Variety Piazza Grande Award at the International Film Festival organised in Locarno. |
| 2011 | Promising the Moon[13] | Young Osvalds Kalnins | |
| Rio | Blu | German Voice | |
| War Horse[14] | Private Gunther Schröder | ||
| 2012 | Into the White[15] | Josef Auchtor | |
| Measuring the World | Eugen Gauß | ||
| 2013 | Michael Kohlhaas | The Preacher | |
| 2015 | Boy 7 | Sam | |
| 2016 | Race | Carl "Luz" Long | |
| The General Case | Joachim Hell | TV film | |
| 2017 | Halal Daddy | Jasper | |
| 2018 | Balloon | Günter Wetzel | |
| 2019 | The Keeper | Bert Trautmann | |
| 2020 | Rising High | Viktor | |
| 2021 | Prey | Roman | |
| Confessions of Felix Krull[16] | Marquis de Venosta | ||
| The King's Man[17] | Adolf Hitler | Credited as Moustached Man | |
| 2024 | Kafka | Miniseries | |
| 2025 | The World Will Tremble | TBA | |
| Fabula | The Grape | Opening film of the IFFR.[18] | |
| TBD | Wind of Change | Andrej | [19] |
Awards
[edit]
- At the 11th Germany/Turkey Film Festival in Nuremberg, David won his first award as "Actor in a Leading Role" for his performance in Detlev Bucks Tough Enough (German: Knallhart).
- 2008 Nominated for a Chicago Film Critics Association Awards in Most Promising Performer.
- 2009 Nominated in the Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards in Best Young Actor / Actress (Under 21).
- 2009 Won a Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award in Youth in Film.
- 2009 Shooting Stars Award, at the Berlin International Film Festival, annual acting awards for up-and-coming actors by European Film Promotion.
- 2009 Nominated for a European Film Award.
- 2010 Shooting Stars Award at Romy TV-Awards, together with Cristiana Capotondi.
- 2010 Audi Generation Award.
- 2012 Won the Chopard Trophy for male Revelation at the Cannes Film Festival.
References
[edit]- ^ Kastner, Ruth (14 February 2006). "Bargteheider erobert Berlin". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). Archived from the original on 25 February 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Help, I'm a Boy! (2002)". IMDb. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Tough Enough (2006)". IMDb. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ Padtberg, Carola (6 January 2010). "Teenager-Talente der 2000er". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Preise / Ödüller" (PDF). Filmfestival Türkei/Deutschland (in German and Turkish). 19 March 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Principal photography begins on The Reader in Berlin". Studio Babelsberg. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Ein Hauch von Hollywood in Köln". Westdeutscher Rundfunk (in German). 30 March 2008. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ Kaminer, Ariel (5 December 2008). "Translating Love and the Unspeakable". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ Freer, Ian (17 June 2010). "War Horse Cast Announced". Empire. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ Nichols, Tristan (3 August 2010). "Steven Spielberg pictured filming new blockbuster War Horse on Dartmoor". The Herald. Archived from the original on 5 September 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "Interview with Rupert Grint's Into The White costar David Kross!". World News Network. 19 February 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "David Kross – Interview and videos". Oh No They Didn't!. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Das Blaue von Himmel (2011)". IMDb. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "War Horse (2011)". IMDb. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Comrade – Director's Note". Wehrmacht-Awards.com. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ Gebhardt, Jens. "Detlev Bucks "Felix Krull" ist abgedreht – News". GOLDENE KAMERA. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Truitt, Brian. "Spoilers! How 'The King's Man' sets up a future prequel, rise of an evil historical villain". USA TODAY. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ^ "Fabula". International Film Festival Rotterdam. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (20 June 2024). "Scorpions Music Biopic 'Wind Of Change' In Works From ESX Entertainment's Ali Afshar". Deadline Hollywood.
External links
[edit]
David Kross
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
Childhood and family background
David Kross was born on July 4, 1990, in Henstedt-Ulzburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, a municipality situated approximately 30 kilometers northeast of Hamburg. He spent his early years in the nearby village of Todendorf, within the Stormarn district, in a rural-suburban setting characteristic of the region's quiet, family-oriented communities.[12] Kross grew up in a close-knit family with his parents and three siblings—two brothers and one sister—who provided a stable and encouraging home environment. His parents actively supported his budding interest in performing arts from an early age, fostering an atmosphere that nurtured his creative development without any notable family relocations during his formative years.[13] As a child, Kross balanced everyday activities with emerging hobbies that hinted at his artistic leanings. He participated in local sports, notably playing basketball for the TSV Bargteheide youth team from 2004 to 2006, which helped build his discipline and teamwork skills in the small-town community. His initial foray into the arts came around age 12 through involvement in school plays and amateur theater, culminating in a notable performance at 13 with the children's group "Blaues Wölkchen" at Bargteheide's Kleines Theater, where he starred in a production of Hilfe, die Herdmanns kommen! These experiences marked the early spark of his passion for acting, laying the groundwork for his later pursuits.[14][15]Formal education and early interests
David Kross attended Eckhorst High School in Bargteheide, Germany, from his early teenage years until his graduation in 2007.[16] During this period, he was not considered an exemplary student, often struggling to maintain academic focus amid emerging acting commitments.[1] His early interest in performing arts began to take shape around age 13, when he joined the local children's theater group Blaues Wölkchen at the Kleines Theater in Bargteheide in December 2003.[17] There, under the guidance of director Kirsten Martensen, Kross made his stage debut in the group's production of Hilfe, die Herdmanns kommen!, marking his first significant exposure to acting.[18] This involvement in community theater fueled his passion for performance, influenced by the collaborative environment of local German stage productions and classic children's literature adaptations.[19] Kross's decision to pursue acting over other career paths solidified during high school, driven by his theater experiences and initial small roles in television and film that he balanced alongside his studies.[19] However, this path presented challenges, including frequent absences from school for auditions and early filming schedules, which required negotiations with his family—particularly his mother, who supported his artistic pursuits but emphasized completing his education.[1] Following his high school graduation, Kross opted for practical on-set training rather than immediate formal drama school enrollment, though he later pursued studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art starting in 2009, leaving after one year to focus on film opportunities.[20][21]Career
Early acting roles
David Kross made his professional acting debut at the age of 12 in the 2002 German family fantasy film Hilfe, ich bin ein Junge! (also known as Help, I'm a Boy! or Verzauberte Emma oder Hilfe, ich bin ein Junge... !), directed by Oliver Dommenget.[22] In this lighthearted production, adapted from a children's book by Ursula Poznanski, Kross portrayed the minor role of Paddy, a schoolmate in a story about a girl who mysteriously awakens in the body of a boy, exploring themes of identity and friendship amid comedic mishaps.[22] The film, produced for a young audience and featuring a cast of child actors, marked Kross's entry into the industry during his pre-teen years in Schleswig-Holstein.[11] Following his debut, Kross took on sporadic minor roles while prioritizing his schooling, appearing in the 2003 comedy Adam & Eva as a supporting character and contributing to short television spots.[11] These early opportunities allowed him to gain experience without disrupting his education at Eckhorst High School in Bargteheide, where he balanced acting commitments with academic demands until 2007.[16] Kross's breakthrough in domestic German cinema came at age 15 with his first leading role in the 2006 drama Knallhart (Tough Enough), directed by Detlev Buck and based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Gregor Tessnow.[23] He played Michael "Polischka" Polischka, a sensitive adolescent who relocates from the countryside to a crime-ridden Berlin housing project and becomes entangled with a local gang.[23] Kross was scouted for the part after Buck's daughter, Bernadette, recommended him following a chance encounter, leading to a successful audition that secured the role despite his limited prior experience.[16] The production adhered to German child labor regulations for minors, limiting filming hours to protect young performers' welfare and schooling. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and earned critical acclaim for its raw portrayal of urban youth, with reviewers highlighting Kross's authentic and mature performance as a standout element that conveyed the character's vulnerability and resilience.[4] Early notices noted his natural screen presence, positioning him as a promising talent in German youth cinema, though family reactions to his intensifying schedule remained private, with his parents supportive yet cautious about educational impacts.[4] By 2007, Kross rounded out this formative period with another supporting appearance in the family adventure Hände weg von Mississippi, further honing his skills in ensemble settings.[11]Breakthrough and international recognition
David Kross was cast as the young Michael Berg in Stephen Daldry's adaptation of The Reader at the age of 15 after a rigorous audition process, during which Daldry sought an actor capable of conveying emotional depth across the character's life stages.[24] Filming was delayed for two years to allow Kross to reach 18, complying with regulations for the film's intimate scenes, and production occurred in interrupted phases from fall 2007 to July 2008 when he was 17.[25] Kross prepared by reading Bernhard Schlink's 1995 novel, initially drawn to its provocative elements but later grappling with its exploration of post-war German guilt; he collaborated closely with Daldry on the role's nuances and filmed challenging sequences, including an emotionally intense trial scene, while working opposite Kate Winslet as Hanna Schmitz, whose authoritative presence helped guide his performance.[24] His mother expressed concerns about the project's impact on his schooling, but Kross balanced the demands by learning English for the role and taking breaks to process the material.[25] In the film, Kross portrayed 15-year-old Michael Berg, a Berlin schoolboy in 1958 who initiates a passionate summer affair with the older tram conductor Hanna, only to reconnect years later as a law student during her war crimes trial, revealing her past as a Nazi concentration camp guard.[25] The story, adapted from Schlink's novel, delves into themes of love, illiteracy, moral responsibility, and the collective memory of the Holocaust in post-World War II Germany, with Michael's lifelong struggle embodying generational trauma and personal reckoning.[26] The Reader received widespread critical acclaim, earning five Academy Award nominations in 2009, including Best Picture, Best Director for Daldry, and Best Actress for Winslet (who won), alongside nods for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography. It also garnered four Golden Globe nominations, with Winslet securing the Best Actress in a Drama award.[27] Kross's performance drew particular praise for holding its own against Winslet's, with reviewers noting his ability to capture Michael's vulnerability and growth; he was nominated for a European Film Award for Best Actor and won the Chopard Trophy for emerging talent at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.[28][6] Following the film's release, Kross experienced a surge in international media attention, appearing in high-profile interviews at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival and Cannes, where he discussed the role's challenges and his transition from obscurity.[1] This exposure marked his shift from a promising child actor to a recognized dramatic talent, earning him a Shooting Star award at Berlinale and a Critics' Choice nomination for Best Young Actor/Actress, solidifying his global profile by 2010.[2]Later career and diverse projects
Following the international acclaim from The Reader, David Kross pursued a range of roles that demonstrated his versatility across genres, languages, and production scales. Immediately following The Reader, he appeared in the fantasy film Krabat (2008) as the apprentice Jeschke, adapting Otfried Preußler's novel; the romantic drama Same Same but Different (2009) as Ben, based on a true story of cross-cultural love; and later in the corporate thriller Age of Cannibals (2014) as Franz.[29] In 2010, he starred as Jan Brezina in the Czech-German historical drama Habermann, directed by Juraj Herz, portraying a young man caught in a forbidden romance and moral dilemmas during the Nazi occupation of the Sudetenland, highlighting themes of ethnic tension and personal betrayal in a community torn by war.[30] The film's collaboration with Herz, a veteran of Czech New Wave cinema, allowed Kross to engage with nuanced historical narratives, emphasizing his command of subtle emotional shifts in multilingual settings.[30] Kross's transition to Hollywood began prominently in 2011 with the role of Gunther, a kind-hearted German soldier, in Steven Spielberg's World War I epic War Horse, where he navigated the film's anti-war message through scenes of reluctant camaraderie amid battlefield chaos.[31] This was followed by the 2012 Norwegian-German co-production Into the White, directed by Petter Næss, in which Kross played Obergefreiter Josef Schwartz, a German Luftwaffe gunner forming an improbable alliance with downed British airmen in a remote cabin, underscoring human resilience and reconciliation in wartime isolation. By 2013, he took on the supporting role of The Preacher in the French-German-Swiss period drama Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas, directed by Arnaud des Pallières, contributing to the film's exploration of 16th-century injustice and rebellion through intense, justice-driven interactions. These early projects marked Kross's deliberate expansion into European co-productions and English-language work, avoiding confinement to German domestic cinema. In the mid-2010s, Kross balanced indie and mainstream fare, including the 2015 German sci-fi thriller Boy 7, where he led as amnesiac protagonist Sam, unraveling a conspiracy in a dystopian narrative that showcased his action-oriented range. His Hollywood presence continued with 2016's Race, directed by Stephen Hopkins, portraying Olympic sprinter Carl "Luz" Long, Jesse Owens's supportive rival at the 1936 Berlin Games, in a biopic emphasizing sportsmanship against Nazi propaganda. The 2017 Irish-German comedy Halal Daddy, under director Jonathan Wright, saw Kross as Jasper, a German immigrant navigating cultural clashes in a Muslim family, blending humor with social commentary on integration. From 2018 onward, Kross focused on character-driven stories with historical and contemporary resonance. In Balloon (2018), directed by Michael Herbig, he played Günter Wetzel, a father risking everything in a daring East German escape via hot-air balloon, delivering a performance rooted in familial desperation and quiet heroism.[32] His lead role as Bert Trautmann in the 2019 German-English biopic The Keeper, helmed by Marcus H. Rosenmüller, depicted the former Nazi POW's redemption as a Manchester City goalkeeper, requiring months of intensive training to authentically capture the physicality of the sport alongside emotional layers of guilt and forgiveness.[33] Kross has reflected on this collaboration as a fulfilling blend of personal interests in football and acting, allowing him to tackle multifaceted historical figures.[33] Subsequent projects included the 2020 German financial drama Rising High, as ambitious banker Viktor, and the 2021 thriller Prey, where he portrayed Roman in a tense survival story. That year, he also appeared as Adolf Hitler in Matthew Vaughn's The King's Man, a prequel exploring espionage origins.[34] In 2023, he starred in the horror thriller Home Sweet Home – Where Evil Lives as Viktor and appeared in the TV series Davos 1917. In 2024, Kross starred in the biographical drama Kafka and the ensemble film Everything's Fifty Fifty. By the early 2020s, Kross sustained his diverse output with roles in The Peacock (2023), a German ensemble drama directed by Lutz Heineking Jr., and the international thriller Fabula (2025), under Michiel ten Horn. Upcoming releases include The World Will Tremble (2025), directed by Lior Geller, and Parallel Me (2025), further evidencing his ongoing commitment to cross-genre and multinational endeavors without venturing into directing or producing.[35] In interviews, Kross has emphasized choosing projects that challenge preconceptions from his early fame, prioritizing collaborations with innovative directors to broaden his portrayals beyond initial typecasting concerns.[33]Personal life
Relationships and family
David Kross maintains a notably private personal life, rarely discussing romantic relationships or family matters in public interviews or media appearances. He has expressed a desire to shield his intimate affairs from scrutiny, emphasizing the importance of separating his professional acting career from personal disclosures. This approach aligns with his overall low-profile stance on non-professional topics, as evidenced by limited verifiable information available about his adult relationships and family dynamics.[25] Kross is the second of four children, with two brothers and one sister, though details about ongoing sibling interactions or parental influences in his adult life remain undisclosed in public records. No confirmed reports indicate the birth of children or any familial events post-childhood, such as relocations involving relatives. He resides in Berlin, having moved from his hometown near Hamburg, where he prioritizes a balanced life amid demanding acting schedules.[2][33] In terms of romantic relationships, Kross was publicly linked to Swedish model Agnes Lindström in the mid-2010s, attending events together including the 2015 German Filmball and the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin. Photographs from these occasions confirm their partnership at the time, but no updates on the status of this relationship or subsequent long-term partners have been reported as of 2025. Kross has not publicly confirmed any marriages, engagements, or breakups, further underscoring his commitment to privacy.[36]Interests and philanthropy
David Kross maintains a low public profile regarding his personal interests and philanthropic activities, with limited details available from credible sources. In interviews, he has emphasized the importance of balancing his professional commitments with personal time, suggesting a focus on work-life harmony. He resides in Berlin, Germany, where he leads a relatively private lifestyle.[33] Kross enjoys surfing, traveling for relaxation (such as trips to Portugal and Costa Rica), and playing football with friends, often as goalkeeper. During his youth, he played basketball for the professional club TSV Bargteheide from 2004 to 2006.[33] No charitable causes, such as environmental protection or arts education, have been documented in reputable media up to 2025.Filmography and awards
Film roles
David Kross debuted in feature films as a child actor and has since built a diverse portfolio across German-language productions and Hollywood projects, often portraying complex young characters in dramas, historical films, and fantasies. He has frequently collaborated with director Detlev Buck on three occasions and shared the screen with high-profile actors such as Kate Winslet in The Reader and Ralph Fiennes in the same film. His roles have contributed to films with significant cultural resonance, including Oscar-nominated dramas and World War-era stories.| Year | Title | Role | Director | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Help, I'm a Boy! (Hilfe, ich bin ein Junge!) | Max | Ute Wieland | In this family fantasy, Kross plays a boy who must adjust to life after his sister mysteriously swaps bodies with him during a school trip, exploring themes of identity and sibling bonds. |
| 2006 | Tough Enough (Knallhart) | Michael Polischka | Detlev Buck | Kross stars as a teenager relocated to a tough Berlin neighborhood, where he turns to underground boxing to escape poverty and crime, marking his first leading role. |
| 2007 | Hands Off Mississippi (Hände weg von Mississippi) | Miro | Detlev Buck | As a aspiring rock musician, Kross's character joins a band on a chaotic road trip to a talent contest, blending comedy and coming-of-age elements in this German youth film. |
| 2008 | Krabat | Krabat | Stefan Ruzowitzky | Kross portrays the titular apprentice in this dark fantasy adaptation of Otfried Preußler's novel, where a young orphan learns sorcery at a mysterious mill but uncovers its sinister secrets. |
| 2008 | The Reader | Young Michael Berg | Stephen Daldry | Kross plays a teenager who begins a passionate affair with an older woman (Kate Winslet), later grappling with her Nazi past during her war crimes trial; the film grossed $108.9 million worldwide and earned five Academy Award nominations.[37] |
| 2009 | Same Same But Different | Ben | Detlev Buck | Based on a true story, Kross depicts a German backpacker who falls in love with a Cambodian woman afflicted with leprosy, highlighting cross-cultural romance and social stigma. |
| 2011 | War Horse | Friedrich | Steven Spielberg | In this World War I epic, Kross's German soldier forms a bond with a captured British horse amid the trenches, contributing to the film's emotional narrative; it earned $177.6 million globally.[38] |
| 2012 | Into the White | Joseph | Petter Næss | Drawing from real events, Kross plays a young German Luftwaffe pilot stranded in Norway with British enemies, leading to an unlikely truce in this survival drama. |
| 2013 | Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas | Michael Kohlhaas | Arnaud des Pallières | Kross leads as a 16th-century horse trader seeking violent justice after authorities seize his property, in this French-German adaptation of Heinrich von Kleist's novella emphasizing themes of rebellion and law. |
| 2014 | The Pasta Detectives 2: Nothing's What It Seems (Pasta Detectives 2: Die Spur vom Silberadler) | Rico | Manfred Thalheimer | Kross reprises his role as the clever sidekick to a dyslexic boy solving a theft mystery in this German children's adventure sequel. |
| 2015 | Boy 7 | Sam | Özgür Yildirim | Kross stars as an amnesiac man uncovering his involvement in a government mind-control experiment, in this sci-fi thriller remake of the Dutch film. |
| 2016 | Race | Carl "Luz" Long | Stephen Hopkins | Portraying the German Olympic athlete who befriends Jesse Owens, Kross appears in this biopic of the 1936 Berlin Games, which grossed $25.4 million and highlighted anti-Nazi defiance. |
| 2017 | My Brother Simple (Simpel) | Simple (Barnabas) | Markus Goller | Kross plays the mentally disabled brother in this drama about siblings evading institutionalization after their mother's death, earning him the Bavarian Film Award for Best Actor (shared).[39] |
| 2018 | Balloon (Ballon) | Peter Wetzel | Michael Herbig | Based on a true 1979 escape attempt, Kross plays a father building a hot air balloon to flee East Germany with his family, in this tense historical drama nominated for multiple German Film Awards. |
| 2018 | The Keeper | Bert Trautmann | Marcus H. Rosenmüller | Kross portrays the real-life German POW who becomes a Manchester City goalkeeper post-WWII, facing prejudice in this biographical sports drama. |
| 2020 | Rising High (Betonrausch) | Viktor | Christian Zübert | In this crime drama inspired by the 2008 financial crisis, Kross's ambitious banker rises through fraud at a Berlin property firm before it all unravels. |
| 2021 | Prey | Roman | Prano Bailey-Bond | Kross supports as the brother of a woman (Emily Watson) returning to her rural home, where buried family secrets resurface in this psychological horror-thriller. |
| 2021 | Confessions of Felix Krull (Bekenntnisse des Hochstaplers Felix Krull) | Marquis de Venosta | Till Franzen | Adapting Thomas Mann's novel, Kross plays a nobleman entangled with the charismatic con artist Felix Krull in this lavish period comedy. |
| 2021 | The King's Man | Adolf Hitler | Matthew Vaughn | In the Kingsman prequel set during World War I, Kross cameos as the historical figure amid a plot to assassinate world leaders; the film grossed $125.9 million worldwide despite pandemic challenges.[40] |
| 2022 | The Peacock (Der Pfau) | Simon | Lutz Heineking Jr. | Kross stars as a man on a Mediterranean vacation with his girlfriend, where a chance encounter spirals into obsession and jealousy in this erotic thriller. |
| 2024 | Everything's Fifty Fifty (Alles Fifty Fifty) | Robin | Alireza Golafshan | Kross portrays the new boyfriend in a divorced couple's chaotic family vacation in Italy, blending comedy and family dynamics.[41] |
| 2024 | Home Sweet Home – Where Evil Lives (Home Sweet Home – Wo das Böse wohnt) | Paul | Thomas Sieben | In this horror film, Kross plays a husband whose dream home renovation unearths supernatural terrors tied to the property's dark history.[42] |
| 2025 | Fabula | The Grape | Michiel ten Horn | Kross plays The Grape in this Dutch-German absurdist crime comedy about a sidelined small-time criminal facing misfortune.[43] |
| 2025 | The World Will Tremble | Lange | Lior Geller | Kross portrays Nazi commandant Herbert Lange in this historical drama about prisoners attempting escape from the Chełmno extermination camp, the first Nazi death camp.[44] |
Television and theater appearances
David Kross began his acting career with early involvement in theater during his childhood in Germany. In December 2003, at the age of 13, he joined Blaues Wölkchen, a children's theater group in Bargteheide, where he participated in local productions. His first major theatrical appearance came in a stage adaptation of Hilfe, die Herdmanns kommen!, a play based on the children's book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, marking his initial foray into live performance before transitioning to screen roles.[5] While Kross has primarily focused on film throughout his career, his limited theater work during this formative period laid the groundwork for his later on-screen presence, emphasizing ensemble and character-driven storytelling in smaller-scale settings. No major professional stage productions appear in his credits beyond these early experiences.[45] Kross's television appearances have been more prominent in recent years, particularly in German-language miniseries and series that allow for deeper character exploration compared to his film work. In 2023, he starred as Dr. Carl Mangold, a physician entangled in espionage and moral dilemmas during World War I, in the six-episode limited series Davos 1917, a historical drama co-produced by ARD and SRF that examines power struggles in a Swiss sanatorium.[46] The role showcased his ability to portray complex, introspective figures in period settings, contributing to the series' focus on international intrigue and personal sacrifice.[47] Building on this, Kross took on the role of Max Brod, Franz Kafka's close friend and literary executor, in the 2024 six-episode miniseries Kafka, directed by David Schalko. In this biographical drama, Brod's character arc revolves around his unwavering loyalty to Kafka amid the writer's personal and professional turmoil in early 20th-century Prague, highlighting themes of friendship, exile, and preservation of legacy—Brod notably defies Kafka's wishes by publishing his works posthumously.[48] The production, which aired on ORF and ARD, featured Kross alongside Joel Basman as Kafka, allowing him to delve into the emotional depth of a real-life figure who fled Nazi persecution.[49] In 2024, Kross expanded into voice acting with the animated series Friedefeld, providing the voice for Paul, the indecisive protagonist in this 10-episode dark comedy-drama about everyday absurdities and personal reinvention. Produced by BR and SWR, the series blends humor and introspection, with Paul's arc exploring themes of stagnation and change through Kross's nuanced vocal performance.[50] That same year, he made a guest appearance as Sami in one episode of the Amazon Prime Video series Viktor bringt's, a comedy-drama following a service technician's misadventures, where his brief role added layers to the ensemble's interpersonal dynamics.[51] Additionally, in 2024, Kross portrayed Wiktor in the TV series Asbest, a drama addressing contemporary social issues through the lens of environmental and personal crises, further demonstrating his versatility in serialized formats.[52] In 2025, he starred as Jonas Dunkel in the eight-episode limited series Parallel Me, a dramatic fantasy where a woman explores parallel lives with magical aid, with Kross's role supporting themes of self-discovery and change.[53] Kross has also contributed to dubbing, notably voicing the blue macaw Blu in the German version of the animated film Rio (2011), which extended his reach into family-oriented media.[54] Overall, his shift toward television in the 2020s reflects a deliberate move toward multifaceted roles in prestige miniseries, offering opportunities for sustained character development absent in shorter film narratives.[55]| Title | Year | Role | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davos 1917 | 2023 | Dr. Carl Mangold | Miniseries (6 episodes) | Historical espionage drama; ARD/SRF production. |
| Kafka | 2024 | Max Brod | Miniseries (6 episodes) | Biographical drama on Franz Kafka; ORF/ARD. |
| Friedefeld | 2024 | Paul (voice) | Series (10 episodes) | Animated dark comedy; BR/SWR. |
| Viktor bringt's | 2024 | Sami | Series (1 episode) | Comedy-drama; Amazon Prime Video. |
| Asbest | 2024 | Wiktor | Series | Social drama; ARD/Degeto. |
| Parallel Me | 2025 | Jonas Dunkel | Limited series (8 episodes) | Dramatic fantasy; Paramount+. |