Schilling grew up in the formerly East German borough of Berlin Mitte. He was discovered at the age of 12 by stage director Thomas Heise, and cast in the stage play Im Schlagschatten des Mondes (Under the shadow of the moon) at the Berliner Ensemble theatre company, which he stayed with for the next four years to play in other productions as well. Acting jobs earned him enough money to move out of his parents' place when he was 18 and still in school. He left school with Abitur certificate.
Schilling's screen acting debut was in 1996, when he, aged 14, appeared in the Sat.1 TV series ‘Hallo, Onkel Doc!’ He was later cast in the theatrical film Schlaraffenland (1999) where he played alongside Franka Potente, Daniel Brühl and Heiner Lauterbach, but the breakthrough for him came with his performance in Crazy (2000, directed by Hans-Christian Schmid), for which he received the Talented Young Actor Award of the Bayerischer Filmpreis.
In the critically well-received 2004 film Before the Fall (German title: Napola – Elite für den Führer, directed by Dennis Gansel) he played alongside Max Riemelt a young and fragile student at a Nazi elite school (Napola). In 2006, he received a scholarship for the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York, where he studied for half a year. In the same year, he became a father to a son. Schilling was later given the role of the young Adolf Hitler in Urs Odermatt's 2009 film Mein Kampf (the UK DVD release is marketed as Dawn of Evil: Rise of the Reich), co-starring Götz George.
He originally wanted to become a painter and study art after school. In a 2008 interview he said he was not much of an extrovert, and that, to him, having to deliver oneself up on a day-to-day basis was a major disadvantage of the acting profession.
In the early summer of 2014 his second child, a son, was born - the first child for Schilling and his partner, the assistant director Annie Mosebach. In January 2017, his first daughter and third child was born - the second child by his partner Annie Mosebach.
Audio plays
2003: Die Meute der Mórrígan (The Hounds of the Morrigan) – role: Pidge
2003: Das Geheimnis der verborgenen Insel (Monster Mission)
2003: Hanni und Nanni und ihre Gäste (based on Enid Blyton's book series St. Clare's) – role: Peter
2008: 19 Minuten – role: Peter H.
2011: Übernacht – role: Jan
2012: Als ich meine Eltern verließ – audiobook recording of the novel by Michel Rostain (orig. French title: Le Fils)
Awards
2000: Bavarian Film Awards, Germany: Young Talented Actor award for his performance in Crazy
2005: Undine Awards, Germany: Best young character actor award (Bester jugendlicher Charakterdarsteller) for his performance in Before the Fall
2005: Undine Awards, Germany: Audience award (Zuschauerpreis) for his performance in Before the Fall
2008: Wiesbaden Fernsehkrimi-Festival: Deutscher Fernsehkrimipreis (German crime fiction TV award) special award for outstanding performance in Tatort – Der frühe Abschied
2012: Oldenburg International Film Festival: Seymour Cassel Award for his performance in Oh Boy
2013: Bavarian Film Awards, Germany: Best male actor award (Bester Darsteller) for his performance in Oh Boy
2013: German Film Awards (Goldene Lola): Best male actor in a leading role (for his performance in Oh Boy)
Filmography
Actor
-
Eine Million Minuten (announced) as
Wolf Küper
2023
Das fliegende Klassenzimmer as
Justus Bökh
2023
German Genius (TV Series)
2023
Der Pfau as
Andreas Voigt
2022
Die Geschichte der Menschheit - leicht gekürzt as
Claus Philipp Maria Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg
2022
A Stasi Comedy as
Herr Dietrich
2021
Fabian: Going to the Dogs as
Jakob Fabian
2021
Me and the Others (TV Mini Series) as
Tristan
- Episode #1.6 (2021) - Tristan
- Episode #1.5 (2021) - Tristan
- Episode #1.4 (2021) - Tristan
- Episode #1.3 (2021) - Tristan
- Episode #1.2 (2021)
- Episode #1.1 (2021)
2020
In Berlin wächst kein Orangenbaum as
Anselm Stoffenburg
2019
Lara as
Viktor Jenkins
2019
TKKG as
Pauling
2019
The Goldfish as
Oliver
2019
Brecht as
Bertolt Brecht (1916-1933)
2018
Never Look Away as
Kurt Barnert
2017
The Same Sky (TV Series) as
Lars Weber
- Teil 3 (2017) - Lars Weber
- Teil 2 (2017) - Lars Weber
- Teil 1 (2017) - Lars Weber
2016
Mitten in Deutschland: NSU (TV Mini Series) as
Bronner
- Die Opfer - Vergesst mich nicht (2016) - Bronner
2016
Point Blank (TV Movie) as
Klaus Roth
2015
Punk Berlin 1982 as
Robert Rother
2015
Woman in Gold as
Heinrich
2014
Suite Française as
Lieutenant Kurt Bonnet
2014
Posthumous as
Ben
2014
Who Am I as
Benjamin
2013
Generation War (TV Mini Series) as
Friedhelm Winter
- Ein anderes Land (2013) - Friedhelm Winter
- Ein anderer Krieg (2013) - Friedhelm Winter
- Eine andere Zeit (2013) - Friedhelm Winter
2013
Hai-Alarm am Müggelsee as
Fischexperte von der Humboldt-Universität
2013
Woyzeck (TV Movie) as
Woyzeck
2013
Das Adlon. Eine Familiensaga (TV Mini Series) as
Louis Adlon jr.
- Teil 3 (2013) - Louis Adlon jr.
- Teil 2 (2013) - Louis Adlon jr.
2012
Ludwig II as
Prinz Otto
2012
A Coffee in Berlin as
Niko Fischer
1999
Tatort (TV Series) as
Alexander Geyda / Laurent Lenz / Patrick / ...
- Auskreuzung (2011) - Alexander Geyda
- Am Ende des Tages (2010) - Laurent Lenz
- Der frühe Abschied (2008) - Patrick
- Wo ist Max Gravert? (2005) - Tom Novak
- Tot bist Du! (2001) - Philip Seidel
- Kinder der Gewalt (1999) - Tucky
2011
Police Call 110 (TV Series) as
Felix Diest
- Die verlorene Tochter (2011) - Felix Diest
2010
Cologne P.D. (TV Series) as
Claas Sandmann
- Ein Bund fürs Leben (2010) - Claas Sandmann
2010
Life Is Too Long as
Karolines Begleiter
2010
Ich, Ringo und das Tor zur Welt (TV Movie) as
Horst Königstein (70-er Jahre)
2010
Eisfieber (TV Movie) as
Kit Oxenford
2009
Bloch (TV Series) as
Paul Seifert
- Tod eines Freundes (2009) - Paul Seifert
2009
Tender Parasites as
Guest Appearance as Singer at Railway Station
2009
Mein Kampf as
Adolf Hitler
2008
The Baader Meinhof Complex as
Josef Bachmann
2008
Mordgeständnis (TV Movie) as
Tobias Göpfert
2008
Robert Zimmermann wundert sich über die Liebe as
Robert Zimmermann
2007
Warum Männer nicht zuhören und Frauen schlecht einparken as
Krischl
2007
Neben der Spur as
Marcel Rosemann
2007
Pornorama as
Bennie
2007
KDD - Kriminaldauerdienst (TV Series) as
Androsch
- Fragen der Ehre (2007) - Androsch
- Verantwortung (2007) - Androsch
- Veränderungen (2007) - Androsch
- Rückkehr (2007) - Androsch
- Verwirrungen (2007) - Androsch
2007
Einfache Leute (TV Movie) as
Sebastian Bode
2006
Schwarze Schafe as
Julian, Breslin's Best Friend
2006
Joy Division as
Thomas (younger)
2006
Elementarteilchen as
Michael - Jung
2006
Wigald (Short) as
Wigald
2005
Die letzte Schlacht (TV Movie) as
Fähnrich Horst Bandmann
2004
Kurz - Der Film
2004
Agnes and His Brothers as
Ralf Tschirner
2004
Egoshooter as
Jakob
2004
Before the Fall as
Albrecht Stein
2004
Fetisch (Short)
2003
Verschwende deine Jugend as
Harry
2002
Latchkey Kids (Short) as
Torben
2002
Weichei (Short)
2002
Mehmet (Short)
2002
Weil ich gut bin! (TV Movie) as
Mücke
2001
Herz über Kopf as
Jakob Schneider
2000
Der Himmel kann warten as
Jo
2000
Crazy as
Janosch Schwarze
1999
Paradise Mall as
Dannie
1998
Der Kinderhasser (TV Movie) as
Viktor
1996
Hallo, Onkel Doc! (TV Series) as
Mark
- Manege frei (1996) - Mark
1996
Für alle Fälle Stefanie (TV Series) as
Patrick
- Rettung des Retters (1996) - Patrick
1988
Stunde der Wahrheit (TV Short)
Producer
2013
Hai-Alarm am Müggelsee (associate producer)
2012
A Coffee in Berlin (associate producer)
Cinematographer
2004
Egoshooter
Soundtrack
2023
Der Pfau (performer: "Bello e impossibile")
2019
Die Liebe frisst das Leben, Tobias Gruben, seine Lieder und die Erde (Documentary) (performer: "Meine weiße Welt")
2009
Tender Parasites (lyrics: "By Your Side") / (music: "By Your Side") / (performer: "By Your Side")
Thanks
2009
13 Semester (thanks)
2003
Anatomy 2 (special thanks)
Self
2021
Leute heute (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Episode dated 28 September 2023 (2023) - Self
- Episode dated 11 June 2021 (2021) - Self
- Episode dated 10 June 2021 (2021) - Self
2022
Brisant (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Episode dated 22 April 2022 (2022) - Self
2019
Wer weiß denn sowas? (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 12 January 2022 (2022) - Self
- Folge 434 (2019) - Self
2021
Willkommen Österreich (TV Series) as
Self
- Die 508. Sendung: Tom Schilling & Franz Schuh (2021) - Self
2019
Homs und ich (Documentary)(voice)
2019
ZDF-Mittagsmagazin (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 14 November 2019 (2019) - Self
2019
Die Liebe frisst das Leben, Tobias Gruben, seine Lieder und die Erde (Documentary) as
Self
2019
Late Night Berlin (TV Series) as
Self
- Folge 33 (2019) - Self
2017
100 Jahre Ufa - Im Maschinenraum des deutschen Films (TV Movie documentary) as
Self - Actor
2017
Volle Kanne (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Episode dated 24 March 2017 (2017) - Self
2017
Die Goldene Kamera 2017 (TV Special) as
Self
2016
Kölner Treff (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 26 February 2016 (2016) - Self
2016
Zimmer frei! (TV Series) as
Self
- Tom Schilling (2016) - Self
2013
Bambi Verleihung 2013 (TV Special) as
Self - Winner
2013
Durch die Nacht mit... (TV Series documentary)
- Olli Schulz & Tom Schilling (2013)
2010
Morgenmagazin (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 8 March 2013 (2013) - Self
- Episode dated 25 January 2010 (2010) - Self
2013
Der Bayerische Filmpreis 2012 (TV Special) as
Self
2011
Krömer - Die internationale Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #5.4 (2011) - Self
2005
Zibb (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Episode dated 26 August 2005 (2005) - Self
2005
Videotagebuch von Dennis Gansel (Video documentary short) as
Self - Albrecht Stein
2004
Siir'den sahneye: Nazim'a armagan (Documentary) as
