Klaus Kinski

Biography

Klaus Kinski, a German actor, appeared in more than 130 film roles and was best known for his work with Werner Herzog. Born in Sopot, he started on stage with a touring company in Offenburg, where he adopted the name Klaus Kinski, and made his film debut in a small part in Morituri (1948). He worked in German Edgar Wallace films and had bit parts in American war pictures such as A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958) and The Counterfeit Traitor (1962), along with roles in Doctor Zhivago (1965) and Spaghetti Westerns including For a Few Dollars More (1965) and The Great Silence (1968). With Herzog he made Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972), Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), Woyzeck (1979), Fitzcarraldo (1982) and Cobra Verde (1987). He later appeared in The Little Drummer Girl (1984) and wrote, directed and starred in Paganini (1989), his last film. He died in 1991.

65years old at death

Born October 18, 1926Sopot
Died November 23, 1991Lagunitas-Forest Knolls
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski (birth name)Also credited as Kinski, Klaus

Movie Career

Films: 39
Career span: 41 years1958 to 1999

Genres

Drama36%, 14 films
Western31%, 12 films
Horror26%, 10 films
Thriller26%, 10 films
Adventure21%, 8 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
In 1980, Klaus Kinski passed on playing Major Arnold Toht, the lead villain in Raiders of the Lost Ark. He told director Steven Spielberg the script was a boring pile of sh*t.
About the name
Kinski first used the name Klaus Kinski while working at a small touring company in Offenburg after returning to Germany.
First role
Kinski played his first stage roles in a prisoner-of-war camp in Colchester, performing in variety shows meant to keep up morale among the prisoners.
Behind the camera
Kinski wrote, directed and starred in Paganini, the 1989 film that turned out to be his last. In it he played the violinist Niccolo Paganini.

Klaus Kinski movies on Netflix

My Best Fiend1999IMDb rating 7.8as Himself
Cobra Verde1987IMDb rating 6.9as Francisco Manoel da Silva 'Cobra Verde'
Timestalkers1987IMDb rating 5.6as Dr. Joseph Cole
Crawlspace1986IMDb rating 5.4as Karl Gunther
Creature1985IMDb rating 4.5as Hans Rudy Hofner
The Little Drummer Girl1984IMDb rating 6.1as Martin Kurtz
Burden of Dreams1982IMDb rating 7.9as Self - Actor
Fitzcarraldo1982IMDb rating 7.9as Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald - 'Fitzcarraldo'
The Soldier1982IMDb rating 5.3as Dracha
Buddy Buddy1981IMDb rating 6.5as Dr. Hugo Zuckerbrot
Venom1981IMDb rating 5.8as Jacques Müller (Jacmel)
Schizoid1980IMDb rating 5.1as Dr. Pieter Fales
Nosferatu the Vampyre1979IMDb rating 7.3as Count Dracula
Woyzeck1979IMDb rating 6.9as Woyzeck
Death of a Corrupt Man1977IMDb rating 6.8as Nicolas Tomski
A Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot1975IMDb rating 6.2as Doc Foster
Death Smiles on a Murderer1973IMDb rating 5.7as Dr. Sturges
The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe1973IMDb rating 5.7as Scalper Jack
A Noose Is Waiting for You Trinity1972IMDb rating 5.7as Scott
Aguirre, the Wrath of God1972IMDb rating 7.8as Don Lope de Aguirre
Adios Compañeros1971IMDb rating 3.9as Reverend Cotton
Coffin Full of Dollars1971IMDb rating 5.1as Hagen / Slander
Web of the Spider1971IMDb rating 5.5as Edgar Allan Poe(Klaus Kinsky)
Count Dracula1970IMDb rating 5.6as Reinfierd
I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death1969IMDb rating 6.4as Chadeau / Holden / Hot Dead
Venus in Furs1969IMDb rating 5.6as Ahmed Kortobawi
The Great Silence1968IMDb rating 7.7as Tigrero / Loco
The Ruthless Four1968IMDb rating 6.4as Brent the Blondie
A Bullet for the General1967IMDb rating 7.0as El Santo
Five Golden Dragons1967IMDb rating 4.9as Gert
Pride and Vengeance1967IMDb rating 5.9as Lt.Miguel Garcia, Carmen's Husband
The Million Eyes of Sumuru1967IMDb rating 3.7as President Boong
Circus of Fear1966IMDb rating 5.5as Manfred
Our Man in Marrakesh1966IMDb rating 5.7as Jonquil
Doctor Zhivago1965IMDb rating 7.9as Kostoyed Amourski
For a Few Dollars More1965IMDb rating 8.2as Juan Wild - The Hunchback
Winnetou: The Red Gentleman1964IMDb rating 6.5as David 'Luke' Lucas
The Counterfeit Traitor1962IMDb rating 7.4as Kindler
A Time to Love and a Time to Die1958IMDb rating 7.6as Gestapo Lieutenant

Best known for

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

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For a Few Dollars More1965 Westernas Juan Wild - The Hunchback
IMDb rating 8.2304K votes
Aguirre, the Wrath of God1972 Adventure, Drama, Historyas Don Lope de Aguirre
IMDb rating 7.869K votes
Fitzcarraldo1982as Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald - 'Fitzcarraldo'
IMDb rating 7.944K votes
Nosferatu the Vampyre1979as Count Dracula
IMDb rating 7.350K votes
The Great Silence1968as Tigrero / Loco
IMDb rating 7.721K votes
Woyzeck1979as Woyzeck
IMDb rating 6.912K votes
My Best Fiend1999as Himself
IMDb rating 7.813K votes
Cobra Verde1987as Francisco Manoel da Silva 'Cobra Verde'
IMDb rating 6.99.3K votes

Most often with

Werner Herzog directed six of these films, Sergio Leone two and Damiano Damiani two. Maria Rohm appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Maria Rohm

Gordon Mitchell

Margaret Lee

Christopher Lee

Claudia Cardinale

Carla Mancini

Werner HerzogDirector, 6 films

Sergio LeoneDirector, 2 films

Damiano DamianiDirector, 2 films

Films together

Maria Rohm5 films together, 1966 to 1970
Maria Rohm's page
- Count Dracula1970IMDb rating 5.6Kinski as ReinfierdRohm as Mina Harker
- Venus in Furs1969IMDb rating 5.6Kinski as Ahmed KortobawiRohm as Wanda Reed / Venus
- Five Golden Dragons1967IMDb rating 4.9Kinski as GertRohm as Ingrid
- The Million Eyes of Sumuru1967IMDb rating 3.7Kinski as President BoongRohm as Helga Martin
- Our Man in Marrakesh1966IMDb rating 5.7Kinski as JonquilRohm as Woman in Carriage
Gordon Mitchell4 films together, 1969 to 1973
Gordon Mitchell's page
- The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe1973IMDb rating 5.7Kinski as Scalper JackMitchell as Burying Sam
- Adios Compañeros1971IMDb rating 3.9Kinski as Reverend CottonMitchell as Ironhead
- Coffin Full of Dollars1971IMDb rating 5.1Kinski as Hagen / SlanderMitchell as John
- I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death1969IMDb rating 6.4Kinski as Chadeau / Holden / Hot DeadMitchell as Degueyo
Margaret Lee4 films together, 1966 to 1969
Margaret Lee's page
- Venus in Furs1969IMDb rating 5.6Kinski as Ahmed KortobawiLee as Olga
- Five Golden Dragons1967IMDb rating 4.9Kinski as GertLee as Magda
- Circus of Fear1966IMDb rating 5.5Kinski as ManfredLee as Gina
- Our Man in Marrakesh1966IMDb rating 5.7Kinski as JonquilLee as Samia Voss
Christopher Lee3 films together, 1966 to 1970
Christopher Lee's page
- Count Dracula1970IMDb rating 5.6Kinski as ReinfierdLee as Count Dracula
- Five Golden Dragons1967IMDb rating 4.9Kinski as GertLee as Dragon #4
- Circus of Fear1966IMDb rating 5.5Kinski as ManfredLee as Gregor
Claudia Cardinale3 films together, 1982 to 1999
Claudia Cardinale's page
- My Best Fiend1999IMDb rating 7.8Kinski as HimselfCardinale as Himself
- Burden of Dreams1982IMDb rating 7.9Kinski as Self - ActorCardinale as Self - Actress
- Fitzcarraldo1982IMDb rating 7.9Kinski as Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald - 'Fitzcarraldo'Cardinale as Molly
Carla Mancini3 films together, 1971 to 1973
Carla Mancini's page
- Death Smiles on a Murderer1973IMDb rating 5.7Kinski as Dr. SturgesMancini as Gertrude - The Maid
- The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe1973IMDb rating 5.7Kinski as Scalper JackMancini as Conchita
- Web of the Spider1971IMDb rating 5.5Kinski as Edgar Allan Poe(Klaus Kinsky)
Werner HerzogDirector, 6 films, 1972 to 1999
All films by Werner Herzog
- My Best Fiend1999IMDb rating 7.8Kinski as Himself
- Cobra Verde1987IMDb rating 6.9Kinski as Francisco Manoel da Silva 'Cobra Verde'
- Fitzcarraldo1982IMDb rating 7.9Kinski as Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald - 'Fitzcarraldo'
- Nosferatu the Vampyre1979IMDb rating 7.3Kinski as Count Dracula
- Woyzeck1979IMDb rating 6.9Kinski as Woyzeck
- Aguirre, the Wrath of God1972IMDb rating 7.8Kinski as Don Lope de Aguirre
Sergio LeoneDirector, 2 films, 1965 to 1975
All films by Sergio Leone
- A Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot1975IMDb rating 6.2Kinski as Doc Foster
- For a Few Dollars More1965IMDb rating 8.2Kinski as Juan Wild - The Hunchback
Damiano DamianiDirector, 2 films, 1967 to 1975
All films by Damiano Damiani
- A Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot1975IMDb rating 6.2Kinski as Doc Foster
- A Bullet for the General1967IMDb rating 7.0Kinski as El Santo
Also three films together8 more actors
- Benito StefanelliCobra Verde (1987), A Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot (1975) and For a Few Dollars More (1965)
- Mario BregaA Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot (1975), The Great Silence (1968) and For a Few Dollars More (1965)
- Federico BoidoThe Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe (1973), I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death (1969) and The Ruthless Four (1968)
- Vittorio FanfoniA Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot (1975), A Noose Is Waiting for You Trinity (1972) and Web of the Spider (1971)
- Peter BerlingCobra Verde (1987), Fitzcarraldo (1982) and Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
- Renato BaldiniA Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot (1975), I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death (1969) and Winnetou: The Red Gentleman (1964)
- José LewgoyCobra Verde (1987), Burden of Dreams (1982) and Fitzcarraldo (1982)
- Paul HittscherMy Best Fiend (1999), Burden of Dreams (1982) and Fitzcarraldo (1982)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Klaus Kinski's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$180 million

10 of the 39 films have a worldwide figure.

10Worldwide figure
3US gross only
1Never in cinemas
25Figure not found

Top grosser

Doctor Zhivago1965Kostoyed Amourski$112 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Doctor Zhivago1965as Kostoyed Amourski
$112M62.3% of the total
2
Winnetou: The Red Gentleman1964as David 'Luke' Lucas
$34M18.8% of the total
3
For a Few Dollars More1965as Juan Wild - The Hunchback
$15M8.4% of the total
4
Buddy Buddy1981as Dr. Hugo Zuckerbrot
$7.3M4.0% of the total
5
The Soldier1982as Dracha
$6.3M3.5% of the total
6
Creature1985as Hans Rudy Hofner
$4.8M2.7% of the total
7
The Great Silence1968as Tigrero / Loco
$500K0.3% of the total
8
My Best Fiend1999as Himself
$96K0.1% of the total