Markus Knüfken grew up in Essen, where he completed his Abitur in 1985 at Essen-Kettwig. He then moved to Munich to serve his civilian service and worked at the Munich Postal Package Office for six months to finance a half-year trip to Australia in 1987.
Upon his return to Germany in April 1988, Knüfken obtained his taxi license and worked as a permanent extra at Bavaria Film for the ARD series Rote Erde. In the summer of 1990, he began his training as an actor at the Schauspiel München acting school.
After three years, he completed his training and started his acting career with a guest engagement at the Stadttheater Herford in February 1994. Before that, he had already appeared in his first television productions. His first major role was as a right-wing skinhead in the Polizeiruf-110 episode Samstags wenn Krieg ist, directed by Roland Suso Richter, in November and December 1993.
He then landed main roles in crime series such as Tatort and Notruf Hafenkante. In 1995, Knüfken established himself with the lead role of Eddie Velten in the series Auf Achse. Since then, he has appeared in many television films, series, and feature films.
Among his personal favorite projects are Bang Boom Bang and Doppelpack. Other notable productions he has been involved in include Das merkwürdige Verhalten geschlechtsreifer Großstädter zur Paarungszeit and Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.
Markus Knüfken was married to Dutch actress Ellen ten Damme. He has been living in Hamburg since 2003 and is married to Andrea Lion, with whom he has a child and a stepdaughter.
