Kinski

Kinski was a German film actor best known for his intense and often volatile performances. Born Klaus Gustav Franz Kinski on 18 May 1935 in Zwickau, Saxony, he studied acting at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig before joining a repertory company in the early 1950s. He earned his first major break in the mid–1960s with the German film *Hochzeit in San Domingo* and rose to prominence in European cinema throughout the 1970s.

His collaboration with director Werner Herzog was particularly significant. Together they made twelve films, including *Aguirre, the Wrath of God* (1972), *Fitzcarraldo* (1982) and *Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?* (1970). Kinski’s on‑screen presence was marked by a fierce energy and a willingness to explore the darker aspects of the human psyche. He also worked in Hollywood, appearing in the 1981 adaptation of *The Elephant Man* and the 1984 science‑fiction film *The Outer Limits*.

Kinski’s career was intertwined with a turbulent personal life. He was married twice, first to actress Jane Fonda for one night in 1958, then to his third marriage, the Dutch teacher Valérie Donner. He had several children, most notably the musician Klaus Nejman Kinski. His personal reputation for physical aggression and erratic behavior often plagued his professional relationships, though many peers praised his artistic commitment.

Kinski died on 29 May 1991 in Los Angeles. Although his theatrical output was limited after the 1980s, his legacy endures in the cult status of his films, particularly those with Herzog, and in studies of 20th‑century German cinema. His work continues to be referenced by contemporary filmmakers investigating intense character portrayal.