Uwe Ochsenknecht grew up in Mannheim, Germany. As a young boy, he developed a passion for opera and theater, which led him to join the opera choir at the age of 10. Despite his love for the arts, his school performance suffered, and he was forced to leave high school shortly before graduating.
At 17, Ochsenknecht passed the entrance exam at the Bochum drama school, where he received professional training. After completing his studies, he began his acting career, performing at the National Theater Mannheim and the Schauspielhaus Bochum.
In 1977, Ochsenknecht made his television debut, followed by a supporting role in the 1978 Hollywood film "Lawinenexpress". He gained widespread recognition in the 1980s with roles in films such as "Das Boot" (1981),"Men" (1985),and "Schtonk" (1986). For his performance in "Men", he received the Federal Film Prize in Gold.
Throughout his career, Ochsenknecht has continued to work in both film and theater, appearing in productions such as "Tatort" and "Widows". He has also been recognized for his work, receiving the Actor Award from the Association of Film and Television Directors in 1985 and the Bavarian Film Prize for Best Actor in 2000.
In addition to his acting career, Ochsenknecht is also a musician and singer. He released his debut album "Ochsenknecht" in 1992, which almost achieved gold status. He has since released several albums, including "Blue Water", "O-Ton", and "Singer", and has toured with his band.
Ochsenknecht has been married to Natascha since 1993, and they have three children together, Jimi Blue, Wilson Gonzalez, and Cheyenne Savannah. In 2011, he appeared in the music video for "House on Fire" by the Berlin band Beatsteaks alongside his son Wilson Gonzalez.
In recent years, Ochsenknecht has continued to work in film and television, appearing in productions such as "Luther", "Blood Wedding", "Elementarparticles", and "The Best Teacher in the World". He has also been recognized for his work, receiving the German Television Prize for Best Supporting Actor in 2001.