Highest rated as cast or director
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 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Klaus Kinski, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Acted in 143
2020s
- 2026
Al borde del abismo: la aventura peruana de Werner Herzog
Movie
- 2020
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #2: Later in L.A.
(archive footage)
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
(archive footage)
2010s
- 2016
- 2015
Fifty Shades of Erotica
(archive footage)
2000s
- 2002
Whiteface
(archive footage)
1990s
- 1997
- 1995
Otto – The Series
Verschiedene · 13 episodes
- 1991
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Renfield (archive footage)
- 1990
White Hunter
Klaus Naginsky
1980s
- 1988
- 1987
- 1986
Revenge of the Stolen Stars
Donald McBride
- 1985
Commando Leopard
Silveira
- 1984
The Little Drummer Girl
Martin Kurtz
Code Name: Wild Geese
Charleton
Beauty and the Beast
Beast
The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud
Dr. Max Bauer
- 1983
Diary
(archive footage)
- 1982
- 1981
Fruits of Passion
Sir Stephen
Buddy Buddy
Dr. Hugo Zuckerbrot
- 1980
The Child Woman
Marcel
Haine
Le motard
1970s
- 1979
Zoo zéro
Yavé, le directeur du zoo
I Am My Films: A Portrait of Werner Herzog
Voice
- 1978
The Song of Roland
Roland / Klaus
- 1977
Operation Thunderbolt
Wilfried Boese
- 1976
Golden Night
Michel Fournier
- 1975
The Net
Emilio Bossi
Lifespan
Nicholas Ulrich
- 1974
Lover of the Monster
Dr. Alex Nijinski
- 1973
The Bloody Hands of the Law
Vito Quattroni
- 1972
- 1971
Eye of the Spider
Hans Fischer
The Price of Death
Chester Conway / Ray
Slaughter Hotel
Dr. Francis Clay
- 1970
The Beast
Johnny Laster
Churchill's Leopards
Captain Holtz
The Night of the Assassin
Evagoras
How Did a Nice Girl Like You Get Into This Business?
Juan José Ignatio Rodriguez de Calderon / 'Sam'
1960s
- 1969
Salt in the Wound
Cpl. Brian Haskins / Norman Carr
Gangster's Law
Quintero
- 1968
The Bastard
Adam
The Vatican Affair
Clint Rogers
Twice a Judas
Dingus
Coplan Saves His Skin
Theler
Psychopath
Periwinkle
- 1967
Grand Slam
Erich Weiss
Five Golden Dragons
Gert
Creature with the Blue Hand
Dave Emerson / Richard Emerson
- 1966
- 1965
That Man in Istanbul
Schenck
The Dirty Game
Russian Agent
Again the Ringer
Edwards
The Pleasure Girls
Nikko Stalmar
- 1964
The Curse of the Hidden Vault
George
Mark of the Tortoise
Shapiro
The Last Ride to Santa Cruz
Jose
- 1963
Piccadilly Zero Hour 12
Whitey
The Secret of the Black Widow
Boyd
The Mystery of the Indian Temple
Movie
Kali-Yug, Goddess of Vengeance
Saddhu
The Indian Scarf
Peter Ross
The Black Abbot
Thomas Fortuna
The Black Cobra
Koks-Charley
The Squeaker
Krishna
- 1962
The Inn on the River
Gregor Gubanow
The Red Pastures
Martin
The Counterfeit Traitor
Kindler
- 1961
The Devil's Daffodil
Peter Keene
Bankraub in der Rue Latour
Bex, Autor
Dead Eyes of London
Edgar Strauss
- 1960
The Avenger
Lorenz Voss
1950s
- 1958
A Time to Love and a Time to Die
Gestapo Lieutenant
- 1956
Corinna Darling
Klaus Brockmann
Waldwinter
Otto Hartwig
- 1955
Hanussen
Erik von Spazier / Mirko
Sarajevo
Nedeljko Čabrinović
Children, Mother, and the General
Leutnant, der nicht mehr lacht
Ludwig II
Prince Otto von Bayern
- 1954
Fear
Cabaret Performer (uncredited)
- 1951
1940s
- 1948
Morituri
Dutch prisoner
Wrote 2
2000s
- 2008
Jesus Christ Saviour
Writer
1990s
- 1990
Directed 1
1990s
- 1990
Edited 1
1990s
- 1990
Appearances24
2020s
- 2024
Othelo The Great
Self (archive footage)
Gegen das Schweigen - Machtmissbrauch bei Theater und Film
Self (archive footage)
- 2022
Nosferatu: A Film Like a Vampire
Self (archive footage)
- 2021
The Extravagant Little Life of Jean-Claude D. Dreyfus
Self (archive footage)
Hannelore Elsner: More Than One Life
Self (archive footage)
2010s
- 2019
Alain Delon, l'ombre au tableau
Self (archive footage)
- 2014
- 2010
In Free Fall
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2008
Jesus Christ Saviour
Self
- 2005
The Spaghetti West
Self (archive footage)
- 2000
Klaus Kinski: I'm not an actor
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1999
1980s
- 1987
Location Africa
Self
- 1986
Portrait: Werner Herzog
Self (archive footage)
- 1982
1970s
- 1979
The Making of 'Nosferatu'
Self
- 1978
- 1977
- 1975
- 1974
Am laufenden Band
Self - Guest · 1 episode
1960s
- 1968
Western, Italian Style
Self