Axel Stein, born February 28, 1982, in Wuppertal, started his acting career with several guest appearances in the TV series "Die Wache" (1996). Three years later, Stein made his breakthrough in a supporting role in the successful TV comedy series "Hausmeister Krause". His portray of the simple-minded son of janitor Krause, Thomas Krause, won Stein the German comedy award in 2002. Furthermore, Stein met director Marc Rothemund and made his movie debut as the loudmouthed, yet amiable Red Bull in Rothemund's popular teenager comedy "Harte Jungs" ("Ants in the Pants", 2000).

Besides his part in "Hausmeister Krause" Stein got his own TV comedy series "Axel!" (2002-2006). Although appearing mainly in several teenager comedies such as "Knallharte Jungs" ("More Ants in the Pants") and slapstick comedies such as "Feuer, Eis und Dosenbier" oder "Sieben Zwerge – Der Wald ist nicht genug" ("7 Dwarves - The Wood is Not Enough"), Stein was able to prove his acting abilities in films such as "Schule" ("No More School") or "Barfuss" ("Barefoot"). In 2007, Stein returned to his comedy roots in the army comedy "Kein Bund fürs Leben" but also played a part in the historical parody "Tell" (2007). In 2008, Stein is going to appear in a more complex role in the junkie drama "Lauf um Dein Leben!" ("Run for Your Life!", 2008).

Stein then relied again on his comic skills as a pacifist army recruit in "Morgen, ihr Luschen! Der Ausbilder-Schmidt-Film" (2008). He went on to play petty thief Kevin in  the successful children's movie "Vorstadtkrokodile" (2009) and its sequel, and co-starred as a pedantic police officer in the comedy "Die Superbullen" (2011). After a more dramatic turn as an ex-soldier and bodyguard in Til Schweiger's "Schutzengel" (2012), and a small part in the romantic comedy "Mann tut was Mann kann" (2012), Stein was cast as the male lead in the adaptation of the best-selling novel "Nicht mein Tag". Directed by Peter Thorwarth, the film has Stein playing a narrow-minded bank clerk whose life is turned upside down by a gangster.