After studying theater science, he got to know Bernd Eichinger at the Munich Film School. In 1980, he became director of Eichinger's hit movie Christiane F. (1981).

Collaborated with Douglas Sirk in the 1980s.

Original director of Fire Down Below (1997) but left project in July 1996.

Has directed two Emmy Award-winning performances: Greta Scacchi in Rasputin (1996) and Alan Rickman in Rasputin (1996) .