<Tr> <Th> Occupation </Th> <Td> Actor </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 2010--present </Td> </Tr> <P> Nico Louis Liersch (born 17 July 2000) is a German TV and film teen actor . He is mostly known for his role as Rudy Steiner in the 2013 film The Book Thief . He is also known for his work in the German television series Das ist Gut where he played Phillip Greenyard, a caveman without parents . </P> <P> In 2012, Nico Liersch appeared in episodes of the German TV series Inga Lindström and Das Traumhotel . In February 2013, he was cast in the film adaptation of the best - seller novel The Book Thief . He played Rudy Steiner, the best friend of the titular book thief, Liesel Meminger . Markus Zusak, who wrote the novel that inspired the movie, was pleased with Liersch's portrayal of his character and wrote: _̈ He's magnificent, indeed . He is Rudy. _̈ </P>

Actor who played rudy in the book thief