Harald Franz Schmidt, the oldest son of an administrative employee and a kindergarteneducator, was born on 18 August 1957 in Neu-Ulm, Germany. After completing his education in his hometown of Nürtingen, Schmidt pursued his passion for acting at the prestigious Stuttgart School of Music and Performing Arts from 1978 to 1981.
Following his graduation, Schmidt began his stage career in Augsburg, where he was discovered by renowned comedian Kay Lorentz. This chance encounter led to Schmidt becoming a cast member at the esteemed Düsseldorf cabaret Kom(m)oedchen. As his talent caught the attention of television executives, Schmidt started hosting his own shows, including the popular programs "Maz ab!" (1988) and "Psst...!" (1989).
Schmidt's early success led to the creation of his satirical program Schmidteinander (1990),which showcased his unique blend of humor and wit. Although his initial Saturday night show Verstehen Sie Spaß? (1980) failed to gain traction, Schmidt was given a second chance by private network SAT.1, which commissioned him to host his own late-night program Die Harald Schmidt Show (1995).
The show became a cultural phenomenon, running for eight years and earning cult status due to Schmidt's sophisticated and irreverent humor. After a one-year hiatus, Schmidt returned to the public network ARD and launched a second run with Harald Schmidt (2004),cementing his status as one of Germany's most beloved comedians and television personalities.
