Biography
Sig Ruman was a German-American actor known for his portrayals of pompous and often stereotypical Teutonic officials or villains. Ruman made his film debut in Lucky Boy (1929). He became a favorite of the Marx Brothers, appearing in A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, and A Night in Casablanca. His German accent and large stature kept him busy during World War II, playing sinister Nazi characters in a series of wartime thrillers. During this period, he also appeared in several films by director Ernst Lubitsch including Ninotchka and To Be or Not to Be. Ruman continued playing over-the-top German characters later in his career for Billy Wilder in The Emperor Waltz, Stalag 17, and The Fortune Cookie.
Movies & TV Shows
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To Be or Not to Be (1942) — Col. Ehrhardt
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Stalag 17 (1953) — Johann Schulz
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White Christmas (1954) — Landlord (uncredited)
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A Night at the Opera (1935) — Gottlieb
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The Addams Family (1964) — Eric Von Bissell
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Ninotchka (1939) — Comrade Iranoff
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One, Two, Three (1961) — Count von Droste Schattenburg (voice) (uncredited)
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The Fortune Cookie (1966) — Professor Winterhalter
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Only Angels Have Wings (1939) — Dutchy
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A Day at the Races (1937) — Dr. Leopold X. Steinberg
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House of Frankenstein (1944) — Burgomeister Hussman
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The Glenn Miller Story (1954) — W. Kranz
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A Night in Casablanca (1946) — Count Pfefferman / Heinrich Stubel
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The Song of Bernadette (1943) — Louis Bouriette
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Heidi (1937) — Police Captain
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Nothing Sacred (1937) — Dr. Emil Eggelhoffer
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Houdini (1953) — Schultz
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36 Hours (1964) — German Guard
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Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) — Hammacher (uncredited)
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The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) — Conductor Schultz
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It Happened Tomorrow (1944) — Mr. Beckstein
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The Wings of Eagles (1957) — Manager
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The Errand Boy (1961) — Baron Elston Carteblanche
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Tarzan Triumphs (1943) — Sergeant
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That Uncertain Feeling (1941) — Kafka (as Sig Rumann)
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Border Incident (1949) — Hugo Wolfgang Ulrich
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O. Henry's Full House (1952) — Menkie (segment "The Gift of the Magi") (uncredited)
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The World in His Arms (1952) — General Ivan Vorashilov
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Maverick (1957)
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Petticoat Junction (1963) — Professor Lieberschmit
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Love Crazy (1941) — Dr. Wuthering
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Crossroads (1942) — Dr. Alex Dubroc
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Living It Up (1954) — Dr. Emile Egelhofer
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Night and Day (1946) — Wilowski
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Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939) — Krogman
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Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940) — Dr. Hans Wolfert
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Desperate Journey (1942) — Preuss
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Daniel Boone (1964) — Van Coot
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Think Fast, Mr. Moto (1937) — Nicolas Marloff
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The Emperor Waltz (1948) — Dr. Zwieback