Fischer grew up on his father's farm Ornatsöd near Untergriesbach in the Bavarian Forest. Ottfried Fischer attended the Maristengymnasium in Fürstenzell near Passau until he graduated from high school. His father originally wanted him to become a lawyer. However, he dropped out of law school after just a few semesters.

In 1983, cabaret artist Werner Schneyder invited him to appear on his television show Meine Gäste und ich. He made his first solo appearance as a cabaret artist in 1989 with the program Schwer ist leicht was. Five years later, he made guest appearances in several German and Austrian cities with his second solo Was tun.

In between, he worked as an actor in numerous television plays, films and television series. Franz Xaver Bogner gave him his first television role in his series Zeit genug. In 1985, Bogner gave him the leading role in the series Irgendwie und Sowieso and the role of Felix in Zur Freiheit - the starting signal for a career beyond the borders of Bavaria. Fischer appeared on Bavarian radio in Der Schwammerlkönig. This was followed by feature film roles in Zärtliche Chaoten (1987), Ein Prachtexemplar (1989), Café Europa (1990), Go Trabi Go (1990), Das schreckliche Mädchen (1990) and Superstau (1991), among others.