After training as an actor, classical and modern dancer in London, Cologne and Paris, he lived and worked in Paris from 1983 to 1992, where he danced in various contemporary dance companies, as well as the Paris Opera. Since 1990 he works as a writer and director for film and television. Since 1998 he has been collaborating with Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion. Since the beginning of 2007 Stefan Schneider is head of the Science & Factual department of Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion.