Klaus Kinski
Klaus Kinski (German: [klaʊs ˈkɪnski]; born Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski 18 October 1926 – 23 November 1991) was a German actor. Equally renowned for his intense performance style and his notoriously eccentric and volatile personality off-screen, he appeared in over 130 film roles in a career that spanned 40 years, from 1948 to 1988. He is best known for starring in five films directed by Werner Herzog from 1972 to 1987 (Aguirre, the Wrath of God; Nosferatu the Vampyre; Woyzeck; Fitzcarraldo; and Cobra Verde), who would later chronicle their tumultuous relationship in the documentary My Best Fiend.
Kinski's roles spanned multiple genres, languages, and nationalities, including Spaghetti Westerns, horror films, war films, dramas, and Edgar Wallace krimi films. His infamy was elevated by a number of eccentric creative endeavors, including a one-man show based on the life of Jesus Christ, a biopic of violinist Niccolò Paganini directed by and starring himself, and over twenty spoken word albums.
Kinski was prone to emotional and often violent outbursts aimed at his directors and fellow cast members, issues complicated by a history of mental illness. Herzog described him as "one of the greatest actors of the century, but also a monster and a great pestilence." Posthumously, he was accused of having physically and sexually abused his daughters Pola and Nastassja. His notoriety and prolific output have developed into a widespread cult following and a reputation as a popular icon.
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Acting
Movie
For a Few Dollars More
as Juan Wild - The Hunchback
1965
Movie
Doctor Zhivago
as Kostoyed Amourski
1965
Movie
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
as Don Lope de Aguirre
1972
Movie
Nosferatu the Vampyre
as Count Dracula
1979
Movie
Fitzcarraldo
as Fitzcarraldo
1982
Movie
The Great Silence
as Loco (Tigrero)
1968
Movie
My Best Fiend
as Self (archive footage)
1999
Movie
Woyzeck
as Friedrich Johann Franz Woyzeck
1979
Movie
A Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot
as Doc Foster
1975
Movie
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
as Self - Actor (archive footage) (uncredited)
2014
Movie
Cobra Verde
as Francisco Manoel da Silva aka Cobra Verde
1987
Movie
Burden of Dreams
as Self - Actor
1982
Movie
A Bullet for the General
as El Santo
1967
Movie
Last of the Renegades
as David "Luke" Lucas
1964
Movie
That Most Important Thing: Love
as Karl-Heinz Zimmer
1975
Movie
Count Dracula
as Renfield
1970
Movie
Creature
as Hans Rudy Hofner
1985
Movie
Buddy Buddy
as Dr. Hugo Zuckerbrot
1981
Movie
Death of a Corrupt Man
as Nicolas Tomski
1977
Movie
Crawlspace
as Karl Gunther
1986
Movie
A Time to Love and a Time to Die
as Gestapo Lieutenant
1958
Movie
Venom
as Jacques Müller (Jacmel)
1981
Movie
Fruits of Passion
as Sir Stephen
1981
Movie
Slaughter Hotel
as Dr. Francis Clay
1971
