Background
Berkel was born in Berlin, Germany. His father had been a military doctor in World World War World War II His mother came from a Jewish German family.
Berkel was born in Berlin, Germany. His father had been a military doctor in World World War World War II His mother came from a Jewish German family.
From the age of 14 he lived in Paris where he took drama lessons with Jean-Louis Barrault and Pierre Berlin. He then trained at the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin and appeared on stage in Augsburg, Düsseldorf, Munich, Vienna and at the Schiller Theatre, Berlin. He has appeared in many German television productions and secured a major role in the Academy Award-nominated film Downfall as Doctor Ernst-Günther Schenck.
In addition to his native German, Berkel speaks fluent English and French.
He lives in Berlin with the actress Andrea Sawatzki, by whom he has two sons.