Klaus Kinski
Known for Acting · 180 credits
- Born
- 1926-10-18
- Died
- 1991-11-23
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.
Known For
TV Shows (17)
NDR Talk Show
1979
as Self
Spécial cinéma
1974
as Self
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975
as Self
German Film Award
1951
as Self
Die Drehscheibe
1964
as Self
The Hitchhiker
1983
as Kurt Hoffman
Ciné regards
1978
as Self
Faerie Tale Theatre
1982
as Beast
Sternstunde Kunst
1998
as Self
Na sowas!
1982
as Self
Auf los geht's los
1977
as Self
Am laufenden Band
1974
as Self - Guest
Je später der Abend
1973
as Self
Weltspiegel
1963
as Self
Otto – The Series
1995
as Verschiedene
Sonntagsgespräch
1985
as Self
Zeit zu zweit
1985
as Self - Interviewee
Movies (163)
For a Few Dollars More
1965
as Juan Wild - The Hunchback
Fifty Shades of Erotica
2015
as (archive footage)
Doctor Zhivago
1965
as Kostoyed Amourski
Love & Money
1981
as Frederic Stockheinz
Nosferatu the Vampyre
1979
as Count Dracula
Marquis de Sade: Justine
1969
as Marquis De Sade
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
1972
as Don Lope de Aguirre
Madame Claude
1977
as Alexander Zakis
Fitzcarraldo
1982
as Fitzcarraldo
Fruits of Passion
1981
as Sir Stephen
Last of the Renegades
1964
as David "Luke" Lucas
Haine
1980
as Le motard
The Great Silence
1968
as Loco (Tigrero)
The Little Drummer Girl
1984
as Martin Kurtz
Whiteface
2002
as (archive footage)
Beloved Count
2007
as Renfield (archive footage)
Cobra Verde
1987
as Francisco Manoel da Silva aka Cobra Verde
Double Face
1969
as John Alexander
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
2014
as Self - Actor (archive footage) (uncredited)
Crawlspace
1986
as Karl Gunther
Coplan Saves His Skin
1968
as Theler
Die Mondvögel
1963
as Valentin
Nosferatu in Venice
1988
as Nosferatu
Fear
1954
as Cabaret Performer (uncredited)
My Best Fiend
1999
as Self (archive footage)
Five Golden Dragons
1967
as Gert
Death of a Corrupt Man
1977
as Nicolas Tomski
Count Dracula
1970
as Renfield
The Counterfeit Traitor
1962
as Kindler
A Bullet for the General
1967
as El Santo
FantastiCozzi
2016
as Nosferatu (archive footage)
Decision Before Dawn
1951
as Whining Soldier (uncredited)
Portrait: Werner Herzog
1986
as Self (archive footage)
Zoo zéro
1979
as Yavé, le directeur du zoo
Star Knight
1985
as Boetius
Schizoid
1980
as Dr. Pieter Fales
Adios Compañeros
1971
as Reverend Cotton
Paganini
1990
as Niccolo Paganini
Western, Italian Style
1968
as Self
The Child Woman
1980
as Marcel
That Most Important Thing: Love
1975
as Karl-Heinz Zimmer
Creature
1985
as Hans Rudy Hofner
The Soldier
1982
as Dracha
Othelo The Great
2024
as Self (archive footage)
Code Name: Wild Geese
1984
as Charleton
If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your Death
1968
as Morgan
The Song of Roland
1978
as Roland / Klaus
A Time to Love and a Time to Die
1958
as Gestapo Lieutenant
The Dirty Game
1965
as Russian Agent
White Hunter
1990
as Klaus Naginsky
Coffin Full of Dollars
1971
as Dan Hagen / Slander
Traitor's Gate
1964
as Kane
Again the Ringer
1965
as Edwards
A Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot
1975
as Doc Foster
The Making of 'Nosferatu'
1979
as Self
Buddy Buddy
1981
as Dr. Hugo Zuckerbrot
Slaughter Hotel
1971
as Dr. Francis Clay
Death Smiles on a Murderer
1973
as Dr. Sturges
Shoot the Living and Pray for the Dead
1971
as Dan Hogan
Filming Silenzio
2017
as (archive footage)
The Spaghetti West
2005
as Self (archive footage)
Heroes in Hell
1974
as Gen. Kaufmann
The Pleasure Girls
1965
as Nikko Stalmar
Diary
1983
as (archive footage)
Golden Night
1976
as Michel Fournier
Target for Killing
1966
as Caporetti
Timestalkers
1987
as Dr. Joseph Cole
Jesus Christ Saviour
2008
as Self
Return of Shanghai Joe
1975
as Pat Barnes
Circus of Fear
1966
as Manfred
I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death
1969
as Chadeau / Holden / Hot Dead
Twice a Judas
1968
as Dingus
Our Man in Marrakesh
1966
as Jonquil
Beauty and the Beast
1984
as Beast
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
1991
as Renfield (archive footage)
And God Said to Cain
1970
as Gary Hamilton
Grand Slam
1967
as Erich Weiss
Please Kill Mr. Kinski
1999
as Self (archive footage)
Android
1982
as Dr. Daniel
Dead Eyes of London
1961
as Edgar Strauss
Jack the Ripper
1976
as Dr. Dennis Orloff / Jack the Ripper
The Ruthless Four
1968
as Brent il Biondo
Venus in Furs
1969
as Ahmed Kortobawi
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
2020
as (archive footage)
Black Killer
1971
as James Webb / Black Killer
The Vatican Affair
1968
as Clint Rogers
The Strange Countess
1961
as Bresset
The Devil's Daffodil
1961
as Peter Keene
How Did a Nice Girl Like You Get Into This Business?
1970
as Juan José Ignatio Rodriguez de Calderon / 'Sam'
Commando Leopard
1985
as Silveira
The Curse of the Hidden Vault
1964
as George
Man, Pride and Vengeance
1967
as Lt. Miguel Garcia
Burden of Dreams
1982
as Self - Actor
Children, Mother, and the General
1955
as Leutnant, der nicht mehr lacht
Woyzeck
1979
as Friedrich Johann Franz Woyzeck
His Name Was King
1971
as Brian Foster
Footprints on the Moon
1975
as Professor Blackmann
A Noose Is Waiting for You Trinity
1972
as Scott
Venom
1981
as Jacques Müller (Jacmel)
That Man in Istanbul
1965
as Schenck
The Night of the Assassin
1970
as Evagoras
The Bastard
1968
as Adam
Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained
2021
as Self - Actor (archive footage)
Five for Hell
1969
as SS Col. Hans Mueller
Ludwig II
1955
as Prince Otto von Bayern
Mark of the Tortoise
1964
as Shapiro
Web of the Spider
1971
as Edgar Allan Poe
The Inn on the River
1962
as Gregor Gubanow
Kali-Yug, Goddess of Vengeance
1963
as Saddhu
The Bloody Hands of the Law
1973
as Vito Quattroni
The Beast
1970
as Johnny Laster
The Red Pastures
1962
as Martin
The Million Eyes of Sumuru
1967
as President Boong
Only the Cool
1970
as Pavel Richko / Torpédo I
Kinski rigando Paganini
2003
as Self
The Secret of the Red Orchid
1962
as Steve
The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe
1973
as Scalper Jack
I Am My Films: A Portrait of Werner Herzog
1979
as Voice
Creature with the Blue Hand
1967
as Dave Emerson / Richard Emerson
The Price of Death
1971
as Chester Conway / Ray
About 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 t… With 180 credits spanning from 1948 to 2024, Klaus Kinski has appeared in 163 films and 17 TV shows.
Fans searching for Klaus Kinski movies, Klaus Kinski filmography, or the latest projects starring Klaus Kinski can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Klaus Kinski Movies
- For a Few Dollars More (1965) — as Juan Wild - The Hunchback
- Fifty Shades of Erotica (2015) — as (archive footage)
- Doctor Zhivago (1965) — as Kostoyed Amourski
- Love & Money (1981) — as Frederic Stockheinz
- Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) — as Count Dracula
Where to Watch Klaus Kinski Films
Most Klaus Kinski movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Klaus Kinski, check our movies catalogue and browse page.