Birol Ünel was born on August 18, 1961, in Silifke, Turkey. In 1968 he went to Germany and later became a parquet recliner. After attending actor"s training at Schauspielschule Hannover, Ünel started to perform on stage. He played Caligula in the eponymous play which he also directed at the Tacheles in Berlin and was Siegfried in Castorf"s 1994 production of "Die Nibelungen – Born Bad" at Berlin"s Volksbühne. In 1987, Ünel made his movie debut in "Der Passagier" ("The Passenger - Welcome to Germany") which was followed by several minor parts mainly in the role of shady characters.

Ünel finally made his name with his portray of a plainclothes policeman in "Dealer" (1998) and made his breakthrough performance as an alcoholic in "Gegen die Wand" ("Head-On", 2004) which won him the German film prize as best actor. After "Gegen die Wand", Ünel also played in Turkish films such as "Hirsiz var" (2005) as well as in international productions such as "Not a Lovestory" ( 2005).

In Germany he played some important supporting roles, such as in "Valerie" (2006) and in "Haus der schlafenden Schönen" ("House of Sleeping Beauties", 2006). In "Die Unerzogenen" (2007) he playes another leading role.