Biography
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 t…
Movies & TV Shows
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For a Few Dollars More (1965) — Juan Wild - The Hunchback
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Doctor Zhivago (1965) — Kostoyed Amourski
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Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) — Don Lope de Aguirre
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Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) — Count Dracula
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Fitzcarraldo (1982) — Fitzcarraldo
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The Great Silence (1968) — Loco (Tigrero)
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My Best Fiend (1999) — Self (archive footage)
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Woyzeck (1979) — Friedrich Johann Franz Woyzeck
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A Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot (1975) — Doc Foster
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Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014) — Self - Actor (archive footage) (uncredited)
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Cobra Verde (1987) — Francisco Manoel da Silva aka Cobra Verde
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Burden of Dreams (1982) — Self - Actor
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A Bullet for the General (1967) — El Santo
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Last of the Renegades (1964) — David "Luke" Lucas
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That Most Important Thing: Love (1975) — Karl-Heinz Zimmer
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Count Dracula (1970) — Renfield
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Creature (1985) — Hans Rudy Hofner
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Buddy Buddy (1981) — Dr. Hugo Zuckerbrot
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Death of a Corrupt Man (1977) — Nicolas Tomski
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Crawlspace (1986) — Karl Gunther
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A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958) — Gestapo Lieutenant
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Venom (1981) — Jacques Müller (Jacmel)
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Fruits of Passion (1981) — Sir Stephen
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Slaughter Hotel (1971) — Dr. Francis Clay
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Death Smiles on a Murderer (1973) — Dr. Sturges
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If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your Death (1968) — Morgan
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Nosferatu in Venice (1988) — Nosferatu
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Footprints on the Moon (1975) — Professor Blackmann
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Fear (1954) — Cabaret Performer (uncredited)
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Marquis de Sade: Justine (1969) — Marquis De Sade
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And God Said to Cain (1970) — Gary Hamilton
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Venus in Furs (1969) — Ahmed Kortobawi
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Jack the Ripper (1976) — Dr. Dennis Orloff / Jack the Ripper
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Schizoid (1980) — Dr. Pieter Fales
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Android (1982) — Dr. Daniel
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The Counterfeit Traitor (1962) — Kindler
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Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained (2021) — Self - Actor (archive footage)
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Decision Before Dawn (1951) — Whining Soldier (uncredited)
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Timestalkers (1987) — Dr. Joseph Cole
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The Little Drummer Girl (1984) — Martin Kurtz