From 1962 until 1964 he was employed at the Schauburg in Munich, and afterwards worked at the Theater St. Gallen, from 1966 to 1968 at the Theater Oberhausen and 1968/1969 at the Schauspielhaus Zürich.
From 1970-73, he played at Berlin's Schaubühne, where he was one of the founding members.
Since 1973 he worked as a freelance actor at the Bayerisches Staatsschauspiel in Munich.

After his participation in the TV-recordings of productions at the Schaubühne his work with directors of the New German Cinema increased, including Bernhard Sinkel, Edgar Reitz and Peter Fleischmann.
He often played sick or handicapped people.
In 1976 Prückner received the German Actors Award for his role as the violinist Hännschen Wurlitzer in Bomber & Paganini.
Among his more recognized roles with international audiences are the bat-riding "Night Hob" in the 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story and the scientist Dr. Richter in the 2012 science fiction comedy Iron Sky.

In later years Prückner proved his art of interpreting diverse characters in a great number of movie and TV productions, often portraying cranky or eccentric characters.
He appeared as the hypochondriac detective Gernot Schubert in the TV-series Adelheid und ihre Mörder for six years, co-starring with Evelyn Hamann and Heinz Baumann.
Since 2003, he had a regular supporting role in the TV-series Kommissarin Lucas as the landlord of the main character played by Ulrike Kriener.
From 2015 until his death, he played a lead role in the ARD crime series Rentnercops about retired cops who are hired back into their jobs.

In 2013, he published his first novel, Willi Merkatz wird verlassen.
From 1962 until 1964 he was employed at the Schauburg in Munich, and afterwards worked at the Theater St. Gallen, from 1966 to 1968 at the Theater Oberhausen and 1968/1969 at the Schauspielhaus Zürich. From 1970-73, he played at Berlin's Schaubühne, where he was one of the founding members. Since 1973 he worked as a freelance actor at the Bayerisches Staatsschauspiel in Munich.
After his participation in the TV-recordings of productions at the Schaubühne his work with directors of the New German Cinema increased, including Bernhard Sinkel, Edgar Reitz and Peter Fleischmann. He often played sick or handicapped people. In 1976 Prückner received the German Actors Award for his role as the violinist Hännschen Wurlitzer in Bomber & Paganini. Among his more recognized roles with international audiences are the bat-riding "Night Hob" in the 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story and the scientist Dr. Richter in the 2012 science fiction comedy Iron Sky.
In later years Prückner proved his art of interpreting diverse characters in a great number of movie and TV productions, often portraying cranky or eccentric characters. He appeared as the hypochondriac detective Gernot Schubert in the TV-series Adelheid und ihre Mörder for six years, co-starring with Evelyn Hamann and Heinz Baumann. Since 2003, he had a regular supporting role in the TV-series Kommissarin Lucas as the landlord of the main character played by Ulrike Kriener. From 2015 until his death, he played a lead role in the ARD crime series Rentnercops about retired cops who are hired back into their jobs. 
In 2013, he published his first novel, Willi Merkatz wird verlassen.
Tilo Prückner