Sig Ruman
Biography
Sig Ruman was a German-American actor who specialized in pompous Teutonic authority figures and villains, appearing in more than 100 films. He was born in Hamburg, studied electrical engineering, and worked as an actor and musician before a stint in the German military during World War I. After moving to the United States in 1924, he became successful on Broadway, where his productions included Grand Hotel and The Channel Road. His first screen role came in Lucky Boy (1929). He was a regular comic foil for the Marx Brothers, with roles in A Night at the Opera (1935) and A Day at the Races (1937), and later in A Night in Casablanca (1946). Ernst Lubitsch directed him in Ninotchka (1939) and To Be or Not to Be (1942), while Billy Wilder used him in Stalag 17 (1953) and The Emperor Waltz (1948). He also appeared on television, including a 1965 episode of The Addams Family.
82years old at death
- Born Hamburg
- Died Julian
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Also credited as Siegfried Carl Alban Rumann and Sig Rumann
Movie Career
- Films
- 41
- Career span
- 31 years1935 to 1966
Share
Did you know?!
A change of course
Sig Ruman trained in electrical engineering, then performed as an actor and musician. During World War I he served in the Imperial German Army, and he returned to acting once the war ended.
Getting ready for a role
Sig Ruman's large stature and German accent kept him busy during World War II, when he played sinister Nazi characters in wartime thrillers.
Languages
In Wilder's One, Two, Three (1961), Ruman's voice replaced that of German actor Hubert Von Meyerinck. Ruman also made a cameo appearance in The Fortune Cookie (1966).
Sig Ruman movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Billy Wilder directed three of these films, Ernst Lubitsch three and Sam Wood two. Charles Halton 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.
Films together
Charles Halton's page
Bess Flowers's page
Jerry Lewis's page
Felix Bressart's page
John Carradine's page
Peter Lorre's page
All films by Billy Wilder
All films by Ernst Lubitsch
Sam WoodDirector, 2 films, 1935 to 1937
All films by Sam Wood
Also three films together9 more actors
- Henry O'NeillThe Wings of Eagles (1957), Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940) and Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
- George DavisOn the Riviera (1951), Ninotchka (1939) and I'll Give a Million (1938)
- Sidney BlackmerLove Crazy (1941), Heidi (1937) and Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937)
- Eve ArdenNight and Day (1946), That Uncertain Feeling (1941) and Comrade X (1940)
- Groucho MarxA Night in Casablanca (1946), A Day at the Races (1937) and A Night at the Opera (1935)
- Chico MarxA Night in Casablanca (1946), A Day at the Races (1937) and A Night at the Opera (1935)
- Harpo MarxA Night in Casablanca (1946), A Day at the Races (1937) and A Night at the Opera (1935)
- Enrique AcostaCrossroads (1942), Only Angels Have Wings (1939) and A Night at the Opera (1935)
- Thomas BeckHeidi (1937), Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937) and Think Fast, Mr. Moto (1937)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Sig Ruman's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$39.2 million
9 of the 41 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 41 films: 9 worldwide figure; 4 us gross only; 28 figure not found.
- 9Worldwide figure
- 4US gross only
- 28Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 96% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$10M25.5% of the total
- 2$8.0M20.4% of the total
- 3$6.8M17.4% of the total
- 4$4.0M10.2% of the total
- 5$2.3M5.9% of the total
- 6$2.3M5.9% of the total
- 7$2.3M5.8% of the total
- 8$2.0M5.1% of the total
$1.5 millionfrom the other 1 film with a worldwide figure, 4% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.