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Klaus Kinski

German actor (1926-1991) · Germany · Actors · Died at 65

Klaus Kinski is read about 4,576 times a day, in 57 languages.

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A face that could scald through the screen - five Herzog collaborations, 130 roles across four decades, and a reputation for on-set explosions so violent his own director called him "a great pestilence." The intensity wasn't method; it was volatility made career.

ActorsWriter / AuthorScreenwritingMoviesTheatreTelevisionFilm DirectingMusic

A life in dates

1991Died23 November 19911989“I don't try to justify myself or defend myself. I've always done what I had to. She should know for herself that I love her, that I've loved her always, always.”In their wordsOn his daughter, Nastassja, as quoted in Denise Worrell (1989), Icons: Intimate Portraits.

“I saw Stay as You Are and Tess only. I didn't ask her if she saw every movie I did. I could never think about that. Why do I have to see every movie she did? Why?”In their wordsOn his daughter, Nastassja, as quoted in Denise Worrell (1989), Icons: Intimate Portraits.

“I have made many things wrong in my life. I should have made many things better in my life, not only to Nastassja but many things.”In their wordsAs quoted in Denise Worrell (1989), Icons: Intimate Portraits.

1987Cobra VerdeFilm, Francisco Manoel da Silva aka Cobra Verde1986Commandeur des Arts et des LettresAward1985SonntagsgesprächSeriesCreatureFilm, 1985Hans Rudy Hofner1982Faerie Tale TheatreSeries, BeastAndroidFilm, 1982Dr. Daniel1980SchizoidFilm, Dr. Pieter Fales1979NDR Talk ShowSeries1977Auf los geht's losSeriesDeath of a Corrupt ManFilm, 1977Nicolas Tomski1975Les Rendez-vous du dimancheSeries1973Je später der AbendSeriesDeath Smiles on a MurdererFilm, 1973Dr. Sturges1971“I've come here to tell the most exciting story in the history of mankind: the life of Jesus Christ. I'm not talking about the Jesus in those horribly gaudy pictures.”In their wordsJesus Christus Erlöser (1971)

“I am not the official Church Jesus who is accepted by policemen, bankers, judges, executioners, officers, church bosses, politicians and similar representatives of power.”In their wordsJesus Christus Erlöser (1971)

Slaughter HotelFilm, 1971Dr. Francis Clay1969Marquis de Sade: JustineFilm, Marquis De Sade1967A Bullet for the GeneralFilm, El Santo1964Die DrehscheibeSeriesLast of the RenegadesFilm, 1964David "Luke" Lucas1958A Time to Love and a Time to DieFilm, Gestapo Lieutenant1951German Film AwardSeriesDecision Before DawnFilm, 1951Whining Soldier (uncredited)1926Born18 October 1926

Also in Deutsch

Photos 7

Kinski's birthplace in Sopot, PolandKinski's birthplace in Sopot, PolandPlaque marking Kinski's birthplace in SopotPlaque marking Kinski's birthplace in SopotKinski in For a Few Dollars More, 1965Kinski in For a Few Dollars More, 1965Kinski in Double Face, 1969Kinski in Double Face, 1969Kinski in Five for Hell, 1969.Kinski in Five for Hell, 1969.Klaus Kinski in a caricature by Hans Pfannmüller [de]Klaus Kinski in a caricature by Hans Pfannmüller [de]

In their own words 10

,
Klaus Kinski
,
10 statements, newest first

  1. I don't try to justify myself or defend myself. I've always done what I had to. She should know for herself that I love her, that I've loved her always, always.

    1989, On his daughter, Nastassja, as quoted in Denise Worrell (1989), Icons: Intimate Portraits., Own words

  2. I saw Stay as You Are and Tess only. I didn't ask her if she saw every movie I did. I could never think about that. Why do I have to see every movie she did? Why?

    1989, On his daughter, Nastassja, as quoted in Denise Worrell (1989), Icons: Intimate Portraits., Own words

  3. I have made many things wrong in my life. I should have made many things better in my life, not only to Nastassja but many things.

    1989, As quoted in Denise Worrell (1989), Icons: Intimate Portraits., Own words

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Filmography 40

DUDjango & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained2021 · ★ 6.9
EFElectric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films2014 · ★ 7.2
MFMy Best Fiend1999 · ★ 7.4
NVNosferatu in VeniceNosferatu1988 · ★ 5.9
CVCobra VerdeFrancisco Manoel da Silva aka Cobra Verde1987 · ★ 6.9
TITimestalkersDr. Joseph Cole1987
CRCrawlspaceKarl Gunther1986 · ★ 5.4
CRCreatureHans Rudy Hofner1985 · ★ 4.7
TGThe Little Drummer GirlMartin Kurtz1984
FIFitzcarraldoFitzcarraldo1982 · ★ 7.6
BDBurden of Dreams1982 · ★ 7.6
ANAndroidDr. Daniel1982 · ★ 5.4
TSThe SoldierDracha1982
FPFruits of PassionSir Stephen1981 · ★ 5.3
BBBuddy BuddyDr. Hugo Zuckerbrot1981 · ★ 6.1
VEVenomJacques Müller (Jacmel)1981 · ★ 5.6
SCSchizoidDr. Pieter Fales1980 · ★ 5.2
NVNosferatu the VampyreCount Dracula1979 · ★ 7.3
WOWoyzeckFriedrich Johann Franz Woyzeck1979 · ★ 6.6
DMDeath of a Corrupt ManNicolas Tomski1977 · ★ 6.5
JRJack the RipperDr. Dennis Orloff / Jack the Ripper1976 · ★ 5.9
AIA Genius, Two Friends, and an IdiotDoc Foster1975 · ★ 6.3
TLThat Most Important Thing: LoveKarl-Heinz Zimmer1975 · ★ 7.0
FMFootprints on the MoonProfessor Blackmann1975 · ★ 6.3
DMDeath Smiles on a MurdererDr. Sturges1973 · ★ 5.8
AGAguirre, the Wrath of GodDon Lope de Aguirre1972 · ★ 7.4
SHSlaughter HotelDr. Francis Clay1971 · ★ 4.8
CDCount DraculaRenfield1970 · ★ 5.9
ACAnd God Said to CainGary Hamilton1970 · ★ 6.7
MJMarquis de Sade: JustineMarquis De Sade1969 · ★ 5.0
TSThe Great SilenceTigrero1968 · ★ 7.5
IDIf You Meet Sartana Pray for Your DeathMorgan1968 · ★ 5.9
AGA Bullet for the GeneralEl Santo1967 · ★ 6.6
FMFor a Few Dollars MoreJuan Wild - The Hunchback1965 · ★ 8.0
DZDoctor ZhivagoKostoyed Amourski1965 · ★ 7.5
LRLast of the RenegadesDavid "Luke" Lucas1964 · ★ 6.7
TTThe Counterfeit TraitorKindler1962 · ★ 6.5
ADA Time to Love and a Time to DieGestapo Lieutenant1958 · ★ 7.2
FEFearCabaret Performer (uncredited)1954 · ★ 6.4
DDDecision Before DawnWhining Soldier (uncredited)1951 · ★ 6.8

189 credits on file

Television 18

SKSternstunde Kunst1998
STStoryville1997
OSOtto - The SeriesVerschiedene1995
SOSonntagsgespräch1985
ZZZeit zu zweit1985
THThe HitchhikerKurt Hoffman1983
FTFaerie Tale TheatreBeast1982
NSNa sowas!1982
NSNDR Talk Show1979
CRCiné regards1978
ALAuf los geht's los1977
LDLes Rendez-vous du dimanche1975
SCSpécial cinéma1974
ABAm laufenden Band1974
JAJe später der Abend1973
DDDie Drehscheibe1964
WEWeltspiegel1963
GAGerman Film Award1951

Awards

Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres1986

Family

Klaus Kinski

Partners

Children

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About this person

Born Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski on 18 October 1926, he carved through 40 years of film - Spaghetti Westerns, krimi, horror - in multiple languages, wracking up over 130 roles between 1948 and 1988. The partnership with Werner Herzog produced Aguirre, the Wrath of God, Nosferatu the Vampyre, Woyzeck, Fitzcarraldo, and Cobra Verde from 1972 to 1987, a combustible alliance Herzog later dissected in My Best Fiend. Off-screen he staged a one-man Jesus show, directed himself as Paganini, and recorded over twenty spoken word albums, all while leaving a trail of outbursts shadowed by mental illness. He died 23 November 1991; posthumous accusations of abuse by daughters Pola and Nastassja darkened what was already a legacy built on brilliance and wreckage.

Country
Germany
Category
Actors
Type
Actor
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1926 to 1991 · aged 65

In common with Klaus

Arielle DombasleAlso in Fruits of Passion (1981)Erich Maria RemarqueAlso in A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958)Hildegard KnefAlso in Decision Before Dawn (1951)Ingrid BergmanAlso in Fear (1954)Werner HerzogAlso in Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)William HoldenAlso in The Counterfeit Traitor (1962)

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