Samuel Finzi


Samuel Finzi is a Bulgarian-German actor. Since his start in the late 1980s, he has hundreds of film, television, and theatrical credits. Between 1993 and 2011, he received ten acting awards.

Early life and adulthood

Born in Plovdiv, he is the son of actor Itzhak Fintzi. He is of Bulgarian-Jewish descent. Finzi performed in his first theater and film roles while still a student.
In 2004, his wife at the time Dimitra Petrou was diagnosed with a brain tumor and shortly after died. He has since found a partner, Sorrel Athina Jardine, and has had two children, including his son Ezra Fintzi.

Career

Very early on, he came into contact with directors who have had a major influence on European theater and film. He has worked in the theater with directors such as Benno Besson, Dimiter Gotscheff, Frank Castorf, Jürgen Gosch, and Robert Wilson. In film, his collaborations with Michael Glawogger, Oliver Hirschbiegel, Peter Popzlatev, Sönke Wortmann, and Til Schweiger have extended his popularity to a wider audience. He also played the title role in the crime series Flemming. Samuel Finzi has performed in many film and television productions such as Kokowääh, , Même Dieu est venu nous voir, and Vaterspiele.
In 2013 he starred alongside his son, Ezra Finzi, in the movie Aschenbrödel und der gestiefelte Kater.
In 2014, he played six leading roles at the Deutsches Theater, the Maxim Gorki Theater, and the Volksbühne, in Berlin, and at the Schauspielhaus in Leipzig.
He has also received several awards for his acting, including the Berlin Theatre Prize in 2011 alongside many others.

Selected filmography

Theatrography (selection)

Awards

  • 1993: Critics’ Prize for Best New Actor in Nordrhein-Westfalen for The Seagul
  • 1994: 13th Theater Festival NRW: Prize for Best New Actor for The Seagul
  • 1995: Critics’ Prize: Best Actor of the Year in Nordrhein-Westfalen for The Cherry Orchard and Swan Songs
  • 1996: Advancement Award for Dramatic Arts of the city of Düsseldorf for Ein Monat in Dachau
  • 2001: Golden Chest, Best Male Performer, International Television Festival Plovdiv, Bulgaria for Devil’s Tail
  • 2009: Best Actor at the Mess Theater Festival Sarayevo for Ivanov
  • 2010: Best Actor at the MOT Theater Festival Skopje for Diary of a Madman
  • 2011: Best Actor at the Skena Up Theater Festival Pristina for Diary of a Madman
  • 2011: German Comedy Prize in the Category Film Comedy for Kokowääh
  • 2011: Theater Prize Berlin 2011, Prussian Maritime Trading Foundation, for his entire work in the theater