Grew up on Lake Starnberg in Bavaria

After graduating from college, worked as an actor for three years in state-run theater doing classical repertory and operettas, then as narrator and editor for literary programs on radio

In the 1970s created film features for "Abendschau", a topical magazine program on TV, then made short TV documentaries (often portraits of literary and musical figures, shot cinema-verite style)

Made first long TV documentary profile, a one hour portrait of cartoonist Tomi Ungerer

With wife Eleanore, formed production company Pelemele Film GmbH

TV feature-length fiction film debut, "The Guardian and His Poet" about Swiss poet Robert Walser (first shown on German TV in 1979)

Theatrical feature writing and directing debut, "Celeste"

First feature as producer (also writer; director), "Sugarbaby"

Directed "So in Love" segment of AIDS-benefit TV special, "Red, Hot and Blue", starring k.d. Lang