Klaus Kinski

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Klaus Kinski
Kinski at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival
Born	Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski[1] (1926-10-18)18 October 1926 Zoppot, Free City of Danzig (now Sopot, Poland)
Died	23 November 1991(1991-11-23) (aged 65) Lagunitas, California, U.S.
Nationality	German
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1948–1989
Spouses	Gislinde Kühbeck ​ ​ (m. 1952; div. 1955)​ Brigitte Ruth Tocki ​ ​ (m. 1960; div. 1971)​ Minhoi Geneviève Loanic ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 1979)​
Children	Pola Kinski Nastassja Kinski Nikolai Kinski

Klaus Kinski (German: [klaʊs ˈkɪnskiː] ^ⓘ, born Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski^[2] 18 October 1926 – 23 November 1991)^[3] was a German actor.^[4] Equally renowned for his intense performance style and notorious for his volatile personality,^[5][6][7] he appeared in over 130 film roles in a career that spanned 40 years, from 1948 to 1988. He is best known for starring in five films directed by Werner Herzog from 1972 to 1987 (Aguirre, the Wrath of God, Nosferatu the Vampyre, Woyzeck, Fitzcarraldo, and Cobra Verde), who would later chronicle their tumultuous relationship in the documentary My Best Fiend.^[8]

Kinski's roles spanned multiple genres, languages, and nationalities, including Spaghetti Westerns, horror films, war films, dramas, and Edgar Wallace krimi films. His infamy was elevated by a number of eccentric creative endeavors, including a one-man show based on the life of Jesus Christ,^[9] a biopic of violinist Niccolò Paganini directed by and starring himself, and over twenty spoken word albums.^[10]

Kinski was prone to emotional and often violent outbursts aimed at his directors and fellow cast members, issues complicated by a history of mental illness. Herzog described him as "one of the greatest actors of the century, but also a monster and a great pestilence."^[11][12]

Posthumously, he was accused of physically and sexually abusing his daughters Pola^[8][13] and Nastassja,^[14][15] themselves actresses. His notoriety and prolific output has developed into a widespread cult following^[16][17] and a reputation as a popular icon.^[18]