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Klaus Kinski is a name that leaves everyone in awe in German as he is a well-known German actor.
In today’s article, we will be taking a look into his life as we explore the cause of his death as well.
Klaus Kinski Biography
Klaus Kinski, born Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski on 18 October 1926 in Zoppot, Danzig, was a German actor known for his intense performance style and notorious for his volatile personality.
In a career that lasted four decades, from 1948 to 1988, he played more than 130 different roles in films.
Financial hardships characterised Kinski’s early years. Due to the Great Depression, his family relocated to Berlin in 1931.
He attended the Prinz-Heinrichs-Gymnasium in Schöneberg, Berlin, but his studies were cut short when, at the age of 17, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht in 1943.
Prior to being taken prisoner by the British Army in the German-occupied Netherlands in the winter of 1944, he saw minimal action while serving in a Fallschirmjäger regiment. He was sent to a prisoner-of-war camp in the UK after receiving treatment for his injuries.
Kinski performed in minor roles in a variety of performances when he was a prisoner of war to help the captives’ spirits. In 1946, following the war, he went back to Germany.
He did learn, however, that his mother had perished in an Allied airstrike in Berlin and that his father had passed away during the conflict.
In the 1950s, Kinski’s acting career started to take form. He shared a boarding home in 1955 with a teenage Werner Herzog, who would go on to work with him frequently.
Despite earning respect and affection from his coworkers and the public during his time at Vienna’s Burgtheater in 1956, Kinski was unable to acquire a long-term contract because of his past struggles in Germany.
Kinski’s fame as an actor and his notoriety for his erratic and explosive behaviour both grew over time.
He collaborated with directors from other nations, working in a variety of languages, genres, and nationalities.
Among his collaborations, Werner Herzog’s was noteworthy since he cast him in leading roles in films like “Aguirre, the Wrath of God” (1972) and “Fitzcarraldo” (1982). The 1999 documentary “My Best Fiend” detailed their turbulent relationship.
Kinski’s artistic pursuits went beyond performing. He produced his own biographical film about the violinist Niccol Paganini, over 20 spoken word albums, and a one-man performance about the life of Jesus Christ.
However, Kinski’s explosive personality and a history of mental illness caused problems in his personal life. H
e frequently had disagreements with producers and other cast members; Herzog called him a “monster and a great pestilence.” His two actress daughters, Pola and Nastassja, accused him of physical and sexual abuse after his death.
At the age of 65, Kinski passed away suddenly from a heart attack on November 23, 1991, at his home in Lagunitas, California.
His remains were burned and dispersed into the Pacific Ocean. Since then, his renown, prodigious productivity, and powerful performances have grown a sizable cult following and solidified his status as a well-liked figure in the movie industry.
Klaus Kinski Cause Of Death
Klaus Kinski’s cause of death is said to have been a heart attack which he suffered at his home in Lagunitas, California at age 65.
Klaus Kinski filmography and discography
Year | Title | Role | Director(s) | Notes | |
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1948 | Morituri | Holländischer Häftling | Eugen York | ||
1952 | Decision Before Dawn | Whining soldier | Anatole Litvak | ||
1954 | Fear | Cabaret artist | Roberto Rossellini | ||
1955 | Ludwig II | Prinz Otto | Helmut Käutner | ||
1955 | Children, Mother, and the General | Leutnant, der nicht mehr lacht | Laslo Benedek | ||
1955 | Hanussen | Erik von Spazier a.k.a. Mirko | Georg Marischka O. W. Fischer |
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1955 | Sarajevo | Cabrinovic | Fritz Kortner | ||
1956 | Winter in the Woods | Otto Hartwig | Wolfgang Liebeneiner | ||
1956 | A Time to Love and a Time to Die | Gestapo Leutnant | Detlef Sierck | ||
1960 | The Avenger | Dramaturg Lorenz Voss | Karl Anton | ||
1961 | The Dead Eyes of London | Edgar Strauss | Alfred Vohrer | ||
1961 | The Strange Countess | Stuart Bresset | Josef von Báky Jürgen Roland |
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1961 | The Devil’s Daffodil | Peter Keene | Akos von Rathonyi | ||
1961 | Bankraub in der Rue Latour | Autor Bex | Curd Jürgens | ||
1962 | The Puzzle of the Red Orchid | Der schöne Steve | Helmuth Ashley | ||
1962 | The Counterfeit Traitor | Kindler | George Seaton | ||
1962 | Der rote Rausch | Martin | Wolfgang Schleif | ||
1962 | Die Tür mit den 7 Schlössern | Pheeny | Alfred Vohrer | ||
1962 | The Inn on the River | Gregor Gubanow | Alfred Vohrer | ||
1963 | The Squeaker | Krishna | Alfred Vohrer | ||
1963 | The Black Cobra | Koks-Charly / Charley ‘The Snow’ | Rudolf Zehetgruber | ||
1963 | The Black Abbot | Thomas Fortuna | Franz Josef Gottlieb | ||
1963 | The Indian Scarf | Peter Ross | Alfred Vohrer | ||
1963 | Scotland Yard Hunts Dr. Mabuse | Inspector Joe Wright | Paul May | ||
1963 | Kali Yug: Goddess of Vengeance | Saddhu | Mario Camerini | ||
1963 | The Secret of the Black Widow | Boyd | Franz Josef Gottlieb | ||
1963 | Piccadilly null Uhr zwölf | Whity Skipper | Rudolf Zehetgruber | ||
1964 | The Last Ride to Santa Cruz | José | Rolf Olsen | ||
1964 | Waiting Room to the Beyond | Shapiro | Alfred Vohrer | ||
1964 | The Curse of the Hidden Vault | George | Franz Josef Gottlieb | ||
1964 | Winnetou – 2. Teil | David ‘Luke’ Lucas | Harald Reinl | ||
1964 | The Secret of the Chinese Carnation | Speranzo | Rudolf Zehetgruber | ||
1964 | Traitor’s Gate | Kane | Freddie Francis | ||
1965 | Neues vom Hexer | Edwards | Alfred Vohrer | ||
1965 | The Dirty Game | Russian Agent | Christian-Jaque Werner Klingler Carlo Lizzani Terence Young |
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1965 | Estambul 65 | Schenck | Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi | ||
1965 | The Pleasure Girls | Nikko Stalmar | Gerry O’Hara | ||
1965 | For a Few Dollars More | Juan Wild, The Hunchback (Indio’s Gang) | Sergio Leone | ||
1965 | Doctor Zhivago | Kostoyed | David Lean | ||
1966 | Our Man in Marrakesh | Jonquil | Don Sharp | ||
1966 | Circus of Fear | Manfred | John Llewellyn Moxey | ||
1966 | Killer’s Carnival | Gomez (Rio segment) | Alberto Cardone Robert Lynn Sheldon Reynolds Louis Soulanes |
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1966 | Target for Killing | Caporetti | Manfred R. Köhler | ||
1966 | A Bullet for the General | El Santo | Damiano Damiani | ||
1966 | Lasciapassare per l’Inferno | George Fuller | Unreleased | ||
1967 | L’uomo, l’orgoglio, la vendetta | Lt. Miguel Garcia, Carmen’s Husband | Luigi Bazzoni | ||
1967 | Creature with the Blue Hand | Dave Emerson / Richard Emerson | Alfred Vohrer | ||
1967 | The Million Eyes of Sumuru | President Boong | Lindsay Shonteff | ||
1967 | Five Golden Dragons | Gert | Jeremy Summers | ||
1967 | Grand Slam | Erich Weiss | Giuliano Montaldo | ||
1967 | Hell Is Empty | Bernard Knowles | |||
1968 | Shoot Twice | Victor Barret / Dingus | Nando Cicero | ||
1968 | Coplan Saves His Skin | Theler | Yves Boisset | ||
1968 | Psychopath | Periwinkle | Guido Zurli | AKA Mister Zehn Prozent – Miezen und Moneten | |
1968 | If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your Death | Morgan | Gianfranco Parolini | ||
1968 | The Vatican Affair | Clint Rogers | Emilio Miraglia | ||
1968 | Giugno ’44 – Sbarcheremo in Normandia | León Klimovsky | |||
1968 | The Great Silence | Tigrero / Loco | Sergio Corbucci | ||
1968 | Ognuno per sé | Brent il Biondo | Giorgio Capitani | ||
1968 | The Cats | Adam | Duccio Tessari | AKA I Bastardi | |
1969 | Five for Hell | SS Col. Hans Mueller | Gianfranco Parolini | ||
1969 | Kampf um Rom II – Der Verrat | Robert Siodmak | |||
1969 | Marquis de Sade: Justine | Marquis de Sade | Jesús Franco | ||
1969 | Double Face | John Alexander | Riccardo Freda | AKA A Doppia Faccia | |
1969 | Gangster’s Law | Quintero | Siro Marcellini | ||
1969 | Il dito nella piaga | Cpl. Brian Haskins / Norman Carr | Tonino Ricci | ||
1969 | Venus in Furs | Ahmed Kortobaw | Jesús Franco | AKA Paroxismus | |
1969 | I am Sartana, Your Angel of Death | Hot Dead | Giuliano Carnimeo | ||
1970 | The Naughty Cheerleader | Juan José Ignatio Rodriguez de Calderon / ‘Sam’ | Will Tremper | ||
1970 | And God Said to Cain | Gary Hamilton | Antonio Margheriti | ||
1970 | Count Dracula | Reinfield | Jesús Franco | ||
1970 | La peau de torpedo | Pavel Richko / Torpédo I | Jean Delannoy | ||
1970 | Rendezvous with Dishonour | Evagoras | Adriano Bolzoni | ||
1970 | Churchill’s Leopards | Hauptsturmführer Holtz | Maurizio Pradeaux | ||
1970 | Rough Justice | Johnny Laster | Mario Costa | AKA La Belva | |
1971 | A Barrel Full of Dollars | Hagen / Slander | Demofilo Fidani | ||
1971 | Lo chiamavano King | Brian Foster | Giancarlo Romitelli | ||
1971 | Slaughter Hotel | Dr. Francis Clay | Fernando Di Leo | ||
1971 | Giù le mani… carogna! | Demofilo Fidani | AKA Django Story | ||
1971 | La vendetta è un piatto che si serve freddo | Prescott | Pasquale Squitieri | ||
1971 | Prega il morto e ammazza il vivo | Dan Hogan | Giuseppe Vari | ||
1971 | Nella stretta morsa del ragno | Edgar Allan Poe | Antonio Margheriti | ||
1971 | Il venditore di morte | Chester Conway | Lorenzo Gicca Palli | ||
1971 | Eye of the Spider | Hans Fischer | Roberto Bianchi Montero | ||
1971 | Black Killer | James Webb / Black Killer | Carlo Croccolo | ||
1971 | A Fistful of Death | Reverend Cotton | Demofilo Fidani | AKA Adios Compañeros | |
1972 | Il ritorno di Clint il solitario | Scott | Alfonso Balcázar | ||
1972 | Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes | Don Lope de Aguirre | Werner Herzog | ||
1973 | Death Smiles at a Murderer | Dr. Sturges | Joe D’Amato | ||
1973 | La mano spietata della legge | Vito Quattroni | Mario Gariazzo | ||
1973 | The Fighting Fist of Shanghai Joe | Scalper Jack | Mario Caiano | ||
1974 | The Hand That Feeds the Dead | Prof. Nijinski | Sergio Garrone | ||
1974 | Lover of the Monster | Dr. Alex Nijinski | Sergio Garrone | ||
1974 | Heroes in Hell | Gen. Kaufmann | Joe D’Amato | ||
1974 | Chi ha rubato il tesoro dello scia? | Guido Leoni | |||
1975 | Footprints on the Moon | Professor Blackmann | Luigi Bazzoni | ||
1975 | L’important c’est d’aimer | Karl-Heinz Zimmer | Andrzej Żuławski | ||
1975 | Return of Shanghai Joe | Pat Barnes | Bitto Albertini | ||
1975 | Lifespan | Nicholas Ulrich | Alexander Whitelaw | ||
1975 | Un genio, due compari, un pollos | Doc Foster | Damiano Damiani | ||
1975 | Das Netz | Emilio Bossi | Manfred Purzer | ||
1976 | Jack the Ripper | Dr. Dennis Orloff / Jack the Ripper | Jesús Franco | ||
1976 | Golden Night | Michel Fournier | Serge Moati | ||
1977 | Operation Thunderbolt | Wilfried Boese | Menahem Golan | ||
1977 | Madame Claude | Alexander Zakis | Just Jaeckin | ||
1977 | Death of a Corrupt Man | Nicolas Tomski | Georges Lautner | ||
1978 | The Song of Roland | Roland / Klaus | Frank Cassenti | ||
1979 | Nosferatu the Vampyre | Count Dracula | Werner Herzog | ||
1979 | Zoo Zéro | Yavé, le directeur du zoo | Alain Fleischer | ||
1979 | Woyzeck | Woyzeck | Werner Herzog | ||
1980 | Haine | Le motard | Dominique Goult | ||
1980 | Schizoid | Pieter Fales | David Paulsen | ||
1980 | La Femme Enfant | Marcel | Raphaële Billetdoux | ||
1981 | Fruits of Passion | Sir Stephen | Shūji Terayama | ||
1981 | Venom | Jacmel | Piers Haggard | ||
1981 | Buddy Buddy | Dr. Hugo Zuckerbrot | Billy Wilder | ||
1982 | Fitzcarraldo | Brian Sweeney “Fitzcarraldo” Fitzgerald | Werner Herzog | ||
1982 | The Soldier | Dracha | James Glickenhaus | ||
1982 | Android | Dr. Daniel | Aaron Lipstadt | ||
1982 | Love and Money | Frederic Stockheinz | James Toback | ||
1982 | Burden of Dreams | Himself | Les Blank | Archive footage | |
1984 | Code Name: Wild Geese | Charlton | Antonio Margheriti | ||
1984 | The Little Drummer Girl | Martin Kurtz | George Roy Hill | ||
1984 | The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud | Dr. Max Bauer | Danford B. Greene | ||
1985 | Creature | Hans Rudy Hofner | William Malone | AKA The Titan Find | |
1985 | Kommando Leopard | Silveira | Antonio Margheriti | ||
1985 | El caballero del dragón | Boetius | Fernando Colomo | AKA Star Knight | |
1985 | Revenge of the Stolen Stars | Donald McBride | Ulli Lommel | ||
1986 | Crawlspace | Karl Gunther | David Schmoeller | ||
1987 | Cobra Verde | Francisco Manoel da Silva / Cobra Verde | Werner Herzog | ||
1987 | Location Africa | Himself | Steff Gruber | Archive footage | |
1988 | Grandi cacciatori | Klaus Naginsky | Augusto Caminito | ||
1988 | Vampire in Venice | Nosferatu | Augusto Caminito | A sequel to Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht | |
1989 | Kinski Paganini | Niccolò Paganini | Klaus Kinski | Final film role Only film as a director |
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1999 | My Best Fiend | Himself | Werner Herzog | Archive footage | |
1999 | Please Kill Mr. Kinski [1] | Himself | David Schmoeller | Archive footage | |
2008 | Jesus Christus Erlöser | Himself | Peter Geyer | Filmed in 1971 |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1961 | Die Kurve | Anton | TV movie | |
1963 | Die Mondvögel | Valentin | TV movie | |
1984 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Beast | Episode: “Beauty and the Beast” | |
1984 | Deadly Nightmares | Kurt Hoffman | Episode: “Lovesounds” | |
1987 | Timestalkers | Dr. Joseph Cole | TV movie |