Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski, known professionally as Klaus Kinski, spent forty years in cinema and theater, building a career defined by intense emotional volatility. From his 1948 screen debut in Morituri to his final projects, he moved across genres including war dramas, Spaghetti Westerns, and horror, accumulating over 130 film credits while maintaining a reputation for difficult behavior.
Early Conscription and Internment
Born in 1926 in Sopot, Kinski moved to Berlin with his family in 1931. In 1943, at seventeen, he entered the Wehrmacht as a member of a Fallschirmjäger unit. His military service proved short, as he was captured by the British Army in the Netherlands during the winter of 1944. While held as a prisoner of war at Berechurch Hall in Colchester, he participated in morale-boosting stage performances before his 1946 return to Germany.
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Upon returning to Berlin, he adopted the stage name Klaus Kinski. He joined the Schlosspark-Theater in 1946 but was dismissed within a year due to unpredictable conduct. His career shifted toward itinerant work and guest appearances, such as his 1956 role in Goethe's Torquato Tasso at Vienna's Burgtheater. Following unsuccessful attempts to secure long-term contracts, he developed a solo career as a monologist, touring Germany, Austria, and Switzerland with works by Shakespeare, Wilde, and Villon.
Cinematic Collaborations
Kinski gained international attention through five films directed by Werner Herzog between 1972 and 1987: Aguirre, the Wrath of God, Nosferatu the Vampyre, Woyzeck, Fitzcarraldo, and Cobra Verde. These productions were marked by professional friction, with Herzog documenting their volatile dynamic in My Best Fiend. Beyond these collaborations, Kinski appeared in numerous genre films, ranging from Edgar Wallace mysteries to Spaghetti Westerns like For a Few Dollars More and The Great Silence.
Final Years and Recognition
His output included over twenty spoken word albums and a self-directed biopic of Niccolò Paganini. In 1986, he received the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts. He died in 1991 in Lagunitas-Forest Knolls. Posthumously, his reputation became complicated by accusations of abuse leveled by his daughters, Pola and Nastassja, alongside debates regarding the factual accuracy of his 1988 autobiography.
Fast facts
- Born: 18 October 1926, Sopot
- Died: 23 November 1991, Lagunitas-Forest Knolls
- Career span: 1948–1988
- Total film roles: Over 130
- Awards: Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (1986)
- Notable collaborations: Werner Herzog
- Military service: Wehrmacht (1943–1944)
- Citizenship: Germany
Questions readers ask
How many films did Klaus Kinski make with Werner Herzog?
He starred in five films directed by Herzog: Aguirre, the Wrath of God, Nosferatu the Vampyre, Woyzeck, Fitzcarraldo, and Cobra Verde.
What was Kinski's military background?
He was conscripted into the Wehrmacht in 1943, served in a Fallschirmjäger unit, and was captured by the British Army in 1944.
Achievements
- Worked as screenwriter, film actor and stage actor
