Moved to Venice, Italy in 2003. Graduated from High School in Boston, USA. Studied German, English and history at Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen/Germany. Studied acting at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart from 1980 to 1983. During that period, he worked as a musician. After working as a musician in the early 1980s, he started his professional singing career in 1989. He has released five albums so far. Lives on Giudecca, an island near Venice, with his second wife Katharina John, a photographer. Has two daughters, Lilli and Marlene. Owns a Eurasier (dog) called Toto. Being an ensemble member at Deutsches Schauspielhaus in Hamburg from 1985 to 1995, he was chosen "Actor of the Year" in 1986 by "Theater heute" magazine.
