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.
Biography from TMDB, which often draws on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
In Catlg
1 Work in the catalog credit them.
Filmography
Al borde del abismo: la aventura peruana de Werner HerzogFilm · 2026 · Acting
Gegen das Schweigen - Machtmissbrauch bei Theater und FilmFilm · 2024 · as Self (archive footage)
Othelo The GreatFilm · 2024 · as Self (archive footage)
Nosferatu: A Film Like a VampireFilm · 2022 · as Self (archive footage)
Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci UnchainedFilm · 2021 · as Self - Actor (archive footage)
Hannelore Elsner: More Than One LifeFilm · 2021 · as Self (archive footage)
The Extravagant Little Life of Jean-Claude D. DreyfusFilm · 2021 · as Self (archive footage)
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #2: Later in L.A.Film · 2020 · as (archive footage)
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape VaultFilm · 2020 · as (archive footage)
Alain Delon, l'ombre au tableauFilm · 2019 · as Self (archive footage)- Filming SilenzioFilm · 2017 · as (archive footage)
FantastiCozziFilm · 2016 · as Nosferatu (archive footage)
Fifty Shades of EroticaFilm · 2015 · as (archive footage)
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon FilmsFilm · 2014 · as Self - Actor (archive footage) (uncredited)- Peter Baumgartner, FilmkameramannFilm · 2014 · as (archive footage)
In Free FallFilm · 2010 · as Self (archive footage)
Jesus Christ SaviourFilm · 2008 · as Self- Jesus Christ SaviourFilm · 2008 · Writer
- Beloved CountFilm · 2007 · as Renfield (archive footage)
The Spaghetti WestFilm · 2005 · as Self (archive footage)- The Western World of Ferdinando BaldiFilm · 2005 · as Self (archive footage)
- Kinski rigando PaganiniFilm · 2003 · as Self
WhitefaceFilm · 2002 · as (archive footage)
Klaus Kinski: I'm not an actorFilm · 2000 · as Self (archive footage)
My Best FiendFilm · 1999 · as Self (archive footage)- Please Kill Mr. KinskiFilm · 1999 · as Self (archive footage)
- Sternstunde KunstTV · 1998 · as Self · 1 episode
StoryvilleTV · 1997 · Acting · 1 episode
Otto – The SeriesTV · 1995 · as Verschiedene · 13 episodes
Dracula: A Cinematic ScrapbookFilm · 1991 · as Renfield (archive footage)
PaganiniFilm · 1990 · as Niccolo Paganini- PaganiniFilm · 1990 · Director
- PaganiniFilm · 1990 · Editor
- PaganiniFilm · 1990 · Writer, Story, Screenplay
White HunterFilm · 1990 · as Klaus Naginsky
Nosferatu in VeniceFilm · 1988 · as Nosferatu
Cobra VerdeFilm · 1987 · as Francisco Manoel da Silva aka Cobra Verde
Location AfricaFilm · 1987 · as Self
TimestalkersFilm · 1987 · as Dr. Joseph Cole
CrawlspaceFilm · 1986 · as Karl Gunther
Portrait: Werner HerzogFilm · 1986 · as Self (archive footage)
Revenge of the Stolen StarsFilm · 1986 · as Donald McBride
Commando LeopardFilm · 1985 · as Silveira
CreatureFilm · 1985 · as Hans Rudy Hofner- SonntagsgesprächTV · 1985 · as Self · 1 episode
Star KnightFilm · 1985 · as Boetius- Zeit zu zweitTV · 1985 · as Self - Interviewee · 1 episode
Beauty and the BeastFilm · 1984 · as Beast
Code Name: Wild GeeseFilm · 1984 · as Charleton
The Little Drummer GirlFilm · 1984 · as Martin Kurtz
The Secret Diary of Sigmund FreudFilm · 1984 · as Dr. Max Bauer
DiaryFilm · 1983 · as (archive footage)
The HitchhikerTV · 1983 · as Kurt Hoffman · 1 episode
AndroidFilm · 1982 · as Dr. Daniel
Burden of DreamsFilm · 1982 · as Self - Actor
Faerie Tale TheatreTV · 1982 · as Beast · 1 episode
FitzcarraldoFilm · 1982 · as Fitzcarraldo- Na sowas!TV · 1982 · as Self · 1 episode
The SoldierFilm · 1982 · as Dracha
Buddy BuddyFilm · 1981 · as Dr. Hugo Zuckerbrot
Fruits of PassionFilm · 1981 · as Sir Stephen
Love & MoneyFilm · 1981 · as Frederic Stockheinz
VenomFilm · 1981 · as Jacques Müller (Jacmel)
HaineFilm · 1980 · as Le motard
SchizoidFilm · 1980 · as Dr. Pieter Fales
The Child WomanFilm · 1980 · as Marcel
I Am My Films: A Portrait of Werner HerzogFilm · 1979 · as Voice- NDR Talk ShowTV · 1979 · as Self · 1 episode
Nosferatu the VampyreFilm · 1979 · as Count Dracula
The Making of 'Nosferatu'Film · 1979 · as Self
WoyzeckFilm · 1979 · as Friedrich Johann Franz Woyzeck
Zoo zéroFilm · 1979 · as Yavé, le directeur du zoo
Ciné regardsTV · 1978 · as Self · 1 episode
The Song of RolandFilm · 1978 · as Roland / Klaus
Auf los geht's losTV · 1977 · as Self · 1 episode
Death of a Corrupt ManFilm · 1977 · as Nicolas Tomski
Madame ClaudeFilm · 1977 · as Alexander Zakis
Operation ThunderboltFilm · 1977 · as Wilfried Boese
Golden NightFilm · 1976 · as Michel Fournier
Jack the RipperFilm · 1976 · as Dr. Dennis Orloff / Jack the Ripper
A Genius, Two Friends, and an IdiotFilm · 1975 · as Doc Foster
Footprints on the MoonFilm · 1975 · as Professor Blackmann
Les Rendez-vous du dimancheTV · 1975 · as Self · 5 episodes
LifespanFilm · 1975 · as Nicholas Ulrich
Return of Shanghai JoeFilm · 1975 · as Pat Barnes
That Most Important Thing: LoveFilm · 1975 · as Karl-Heinz Zimmer
The NetFilm · 1975 · as Emilio Bossi
Am laufenden BandTV · 1974 · as Self - Guest · 1 episode
Heroes in HellFilm · 1974 · as Gen. Kaufmann
Lover of the MonsterFilm · 1974 · as Dr. Alex Nijinski
Spécial cinémaTV · 1974 · as Self · 1 episode
The Hand That Feeds the DeadFilm · 1974 · as Prof. Nijinski
Death Smiles on a MurdererFilm · 1973 · as Dr. Sturges- Je später der AbendTV · 1973 · as Self · 1 episode
The Bloody Hands of the LawFilm · 1973 · as Vito Quattroni
The Fighting Fist of Shanghai JoeFilm · 1973 · as Scalper Jack
A Noose Is Waiting for You TrinityFilm · 1972 · as Scott
Aguirre, the Wrath of GodFilm · 1972 · as Don Lope de Aguirre
Adios CompañerosFilm · 1971 · as Reverend Cotton
Black KillerFilm · 1971 · as James Webb / Black Killer
Coffin Full of DollarsFilm · 1971 · as Dan Hagen / Slander
Eye of the SpiderFilm · 1971 · as Hans Fischer
His Name Was KingFilm · 1971 · as Brian Foster
Shoot the Living and Pray for the DeadFilm · 1971 · as Dan Hogan
Slaughter HotelFilm · 1971 · as Dr. Francis Clay
The Price of DeathFilm · 1971 · as Chester Conway / Ray
Vengeance Is a Dish Served ColdFilm · 1971 · as Virgil Prescott
Web of the SpiderFilm · 1971 · as Edgar Allan Poe
And God Said to CainFilm · 1970 · as Gary Hamilton
Churchill's LeopardsFilm · 1970 · as Captain Holtz
Count DraculaFilm · 1970 · as Renfield
How Did a Nice Girl Like You Get Into This Business?Film · 1970 · as Juan José Ignatio Rodriguez de Calderon / 'Sam'
Only the CoolFilm · 1970 · as Pavel Richko / Torpédo I
The BeastFilm · 1970 · as Johnny Laster
The Night of the AssassinFilm · 1970 · as Evagoras
Double FaceFilm · 1969 · as John Alexander
Five for HellFilm · 1969 · as SS Col. Hans Mueller
Gangster's LawFilm · 1969 · as Quintero
I Am Sartana Your Angel of DeathFilm · 1969 · as Chadeau / Holden / Hot Dead
Marquis de Sade: JustineFilm · 1969 · as Marquis De Sade
Salt in the WoundFilm · 1969 · as Cpl. Brian Haskins / Norman Carr
Venus in FursFilm · 1969 · as Ahmed Kortobawi
Coplan Saves His SkinFilm · 1968 · as Theler
If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your DeathFilm · 1968 · as Morgan
PsychopathFilm · 1968 · as Periwinkle
The BastardFilm · 1968 · as Adam
The Great SilenceFilm · 1968 · as Tigrero
The Ruthless FourFilm · 1968 · as Brent il Biondo
The Vatican AffairFilm · 1968 · as Clint Rogers
Twice a JudasFilm · 1968 · as Dingus
Western, Italian StyleFilm · 1968 · as Self
A Bullet for the GeneralFilm · 1967 · as El Santo
Creature with the Blue HandFilm · 1967 · as Dave Emerson / Richard Emerson
Five Golden DragonsFilm · 1967 · as Gert
Grand SlamFilm · 1967 · as Erich Weiss
Man, Pride and VengeanceFilm · 1967 · as Lt. Miguel Garcia
The Million Eyes of SumuruFilm · 1967 · as President Boong
Circus of FearFilm · 1966 · as Manfred
Our Man in MarrakeshFilm · 1966 · as Jonquil
Target for KillingFilm · 1966 · as Caporetti
Where Are You Taking That WomanFilm · 1966 · as Gomez (Rio segment)
Again the RingerFilm · 1965 · as Edwards
Doctor ZhivagoFilm · 1965 · as Kostoyed Amourski
For a Few Dollars MoreFilm · 1965 · as Juan Wild - The Hunchback
That Man in IstanbulFilm · 1965 · as Schenck
The Dirty GameFilm · 1965 · as Russian Agent
The Pleasure GirlsFilm · 1965 · as Nikko Stalmar- Die DrehscheibeTV · 1964 · as Self · 1 episode
Last of the RenegadesFilm · 1964 · as David "Luke" Lucas
Mark of the TortoiseFilm · 1964 · as Shapiro
Secret of the Chinese CarnationFilm · 1964 · as Speranzo
The Curse of the Hidden VaultFilm · 1964 · as George
The Last Ride to Santa CruzFilm · 1964 · as Jose
Traitor's GateFilm · 1964 · as Kane- Die MondvögelFilm · 1963 · as Valentin
Kali-Yug, Goddess of VengeanceFilm · 1963 · as Saddhu
Piccadilly Zero Hour 12Film · 1963 · as Whitey
Scotland Yard Hunts Dr. MabuseFilm · 1963 · as Inspector Joe Wright
The Black AbbotFilm · 1963 · as Thomas Fortuna
The Black CobraFilm · 1963 · as Koks-Charley
The Indian ScarfFilm · 1963 · as Peter Ross
The Mystery of the Indian TempleFilm · 1963 · Acting
The Secret of the Black WidowFilm · 1963 · as Boyd
The SqueakerFilm · 1963 · as Krishna- WeltspiegelTV · 1963 · as Self · 1 episode
The Counterfeit TraitorFilm · 1962 · as Kindler
The Door with Seven LocksFilm · 1962 · as Pheeny
The Inn on the RiverFilm · 1962 · as Gregor Gubanow
The Red PasturesFilm · 1962 · as Martin
The Secret of the Red OrchidFilm · 1962 · as Steve
Bankraub in der Rue LatourFilm · 1961 · as Bex, Autor
Dead Eyes of LondonFilm · 1961 · as Edgar Strauss- Die KurveFilm · 1961 · as Anton
The Devil's DaffodilFilm · 1961 · as Peter Keene
The Strange CountessFilm · 1961 · as Bresset
The AvengerFilm · 1960 · as Lorenz Voss
A Time to Love and a Time to DieFilm · 1958 · as Gestapo Lieutenant
Corinna DarlingFilm · 1956 · as Klaus Brockmann
WaldwinterFilm · 1956 · as Otto Hartwig
Children, Mother, and the GeneralFilm · 1955 · as Leutnant, der nicht mehr lacht
HanussenFilm · 1955 · as Erik von Spazier / Mirko
Ludwig IIFilm · 1955 · as Prince Otto von Bayern
SarajevoFilm · 1955 · as Nedeljko Čabrinović
FearFilm · 1954 · as Cabaret Performer (uncredited)
Decision Before DawnFilm · 1951 · as Whining Soldier (uncredited)- German Film AwardTV · 1951 · as Self · 1 episode
MorituriFilm · 1948 · as Dutch prisoner
Filmography from TMDB. This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.