Herbst made his first appearance in German television in the show Sketchup - The next generation in 1997. From 2002 to 2004, he performed as a supporting actor in Ladykracher. In 2004, he had his first leading role in the ProSieben series Stromberg. In October 2006, the work on the third season of Stromberg began, airing in early 2007. Herbst also appeared in the Sesamstraße in 2006, and in Anke Engelke's show Ladyland. In 2007, his 7-piece series Die schlimmste Woche meines Lebens, an adaptation of the British Series The Worst Week of My Life, was broadcast.