John Banner

Biography

John Banner was an Austrian-born American actor who studied law in Vienna before turning to acting. After emigrating to the United States in 1938, he learned English and appeared on Broadway in From Vienna (1939), Pastoral (1939), and The Big Two (1947). His film career spanned over 40 features, where he was often typecast as German soldiers or Nazi officers, with roles in Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942), The Young Lions (1958), and 36 Hours (1964). He also clocked more than 70 television appearances from 1950 to 1970, including a regular part on Rocky Jones, Space Ranger (1954). Banner became best known for his portrayal of Sergeant Hans Schultz on Hogan's Heroes, which ran from 1965 to 1971, and he was in every episode. After the show ended, he starred in The Chicago Teddy Bears, and his final acting job was a 1972 episode of The Partridge Family.

63years old at death

Born January 28, 1910Vienna
Died January 28, 1973Vienna
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18

Movie Career

Films: 15
Career span: 23 years1941 to 1964

Genres

Drama53%, 8 films
Comedy33%, 5 films
Romance27%, 4 films
War27%, 4 films
Action13%, 2 films

First and latest

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A change of course
Banner studied law at the University of Vienna but gave it up to become an actor, and in 1938, while he was touring with an acting troupe in Switzerland, Hitler annexed Austria, so he emigrated to the United States.
A change of course
Banner enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942, took basic training in Atlantic City and served as a supply sergeant until 1945, even posing for a recruiting poster.
First role
Banner played a German captain in Once Upon a Honeymoon, released in 1942. That part was his first credited screen role, and the film starred Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers.
Languages
Banner had to learn his lines phonetically before he became fluent in English. He appeared on Broadway three times, including the 1939 musical revue From Vienna, which ran for two months.

John Banner movies on Netflix

36 Hours1964IMDb rating 7.4as Ernst
Kisses for My President1964IMDb rating 5.5as Vasiliovich Alexminitch
One, Two, Three1961IMDb rating 7.8as Krause / Haberdasher (voice)
The Story of Ruth1960IMDb rating 6.7as King Of Moab
The Wonderful Country1959IMDb rating 6.1as Ben Sterner
The Young Lions1958IMDb rating 7.1as German Town Mayor
Never Say Goodbye1956IMDb rating 6.1as Oskar
Callaway Went Thataway1951IMDb rating 6.6as Headwaiter at Mocambo's
Go for Broke!1951IMDb rating 6.6as German Officer
King Solomon's Mines1950IMDb rating 6.7as Austin - Safari Client
Nocturne1946IMDb rating 6.5as Charles Shawn
The Fallen Sparrow1943IMDb rating 6.6as Anton
This Land Is Mine1943IMDb rating 7.6as German Sergeant
Once Upon a Honeymoon1942IMDb rating 6.4as Von Kleinoch
It Started with Eve1941IMDb rating 7.6as Party Guest

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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36 Hours1964 Thriller, Waras Ernst
IMDb rating 7.45.4K votes
The Fallen Sparrow1943 Drama, Mystery, Thrilleras Anton
IMDb rating 6.62.2K votes
King Solomon's Mines1950as Austin - Safari Client
IMDb rating 6.78.0K votes
This Land Is Mine1943as German Sergeant
IMDb rating 7.64.3K votes
The Wonderful Country1959as Ben Sterner
IMDb rating 6.12.6K votes
One, Two, Three1961as Krause / Haberdashervoice
IMDb rating 7.825K votes
Never Say Goodbye1956as Oskar
IMDb rating 6.1846 votes
Once Upon a Honeymoon1942as Von Kleinoch
IMDb rating 6.43.6K votes

Most often with

Henry Koster directed two of these films. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Walter Slezak

Hugh Beaumont

George Sanders

Fred MacMurray

Charles Laughton

Maureen O'HaraHenry KosterDirector, 2 films

Films together

Walter Slezak3 films together, 1942 to 1943
Walter Slezak's page
- The Fallen Sparrow1943IMDb rating 6.6Banner as AntonSlezak as Dr. Christian Skaas
- This Land Is Mine1943IMDb rating 7.6Banner as German SergeantSlezak as Major Erich von Keller
- Once Upon a Honeymoon1942IMDb rating 6.4Banner as Von KleinochSlezak as Baron Franz Von Luber
Hugh Beaumont3 films together, 1943 to 1951
Hugh Beaumont's page
- Callaway Went Thataway1951IMDb rating 6.6Banner as Headwaiter at Mocambo'sBeaumont as Mr. Adkins
- Go for Broke!1951IMDb rating 6.6Banner as German OfficerBeaumont as Chaplain
- The Fallen Sparrow1943IMDb rating 6.6Banner as AntonBeaumont as Otto Skaas
George Sanders2 films together, 1943 to 1956
George Sanders's page
- Never Say Goodbye1956IMDb rating 6.1Banner as OskarSanders as Victor
- This Land Is Mine1943IMDb rating 7.6Banner as German SergeantSanders as George Lambert
Fred MacMurray2 films together, 1951 to 1964
Fred MacMurray's page
- Kisses for My President1964IMDb rating 5.5Banner as Vasiliovich AlexminitchMacMurray as Thad McCloud
- Callaway Went Thataway1951IMDb rating 6.6Banner as Headwaiter at Mocambo'sMacMurray as Mike Frye
Charles Laughton2 films together, 1941 to 1943
Charles Laughton's page
- This Land Is Mine1943IMDb rating 7.6Banner as German SergeantLaughton as Albert Lory
- It Started with Eve1941IMDb rating 7.6Banner as Party GuestLaughton as Jonathan Reynolds
Maureen O'Hara2 films together, 1943
Maureen O'Hara's page
- The Fallen Sparrow1943IMDb rating 6.6Banner as AntonO'Hara as Toni Donne
- This Land Is Mine1943IMDb rating 7.6Banner as German SergeantO'Hara as Louise Martin
Henry KosterDirector, 2 films, 1941 to 1960
All films by Henry Koster
- The Story of Ruth1960IMDb rating 6.7Banner as King Of Moab
- It Started with Eve1941IMDb rating 7.6Banner as Party Guest
Also two films together3 more actors
- Albert DekkerThe Wonderful Country (1959) and Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942)
- Don HaggertyCallaway Went Thataway (1951) and Go for Broke! (1951)
- Henry Rowland36 Hours (1964) and King Solomon's Mines (1950)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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