Werner Klemperer | |
|---|---|
 Klemperer in 1971 | |
| Born | (1920-03-22)March 22, 1920 |
| Died | December 6, 2000(2000-12-06) (aged 80) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1947–1995 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents | |
Werner Klemperer (March 22, 1920 – December 6, 2000)[2] was an American actor. He was best known for playing ColonelWilhelm Klink on theCBS television sitcomHogan's Heroes, for which he twice won the award forOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards in 1968 and 1969.
Klemperer served in theUnited States Army duringWorld War II, then began performing on theBroadway stage in 1947. He appeared in several films during his early acting career, such asThe Wrong Man (1956),Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), andHouseboat (1958), and he had numerous roles on television shows such asAlfred Hitchcock Presents (1956),Perry Mason (1957),Maverick (1957),Gunsmoke (1958),The Untouchables (1960), andHave Gun – Will Travel (1961), prior to hisHogan's Heroes role.
Klemperer was born inCologne, Germany, to a musical family, but he said that he had little musical aptitude.[3] His father was renowned orchestra conductorOtto Klemperer and his mother wassopranoJohanna Geisler. He had a younger sister named Lotte (1923–2003). His father was Jewish by birth; he converted toCatholicism but later returned to Judaism. His mother wasLutheran. His grandfather was part of theJewish community in Prague, and his grandmother was aSephardic Jew fromHamburg, Germany.[4] Otto Klemperer was a first cousin ofVictor Klemperer.[5]
The Klemperer family emigrated to the United States in 1933, settling in Los Angeles, where Otto Klemperer became conductor of theLos Angeles Philharmonic (1933–1939). Werner Klemperer began acting as a student atUniversity High School[6] and enrolled in acting courses at thePasadena Playhouse[2] before joining theUnited States Army to serve inWorld War II. While stationed in Hawaii, he joined the Army'sSpecial Services unit, spending the next years touring thePacific entertaining the troops.
After the war, he performed on Broadway, appearing inHeads or Tails andBertolt Brecht'sGalileo, both in 1947, the comedyTwentieth Century byBen Hecht andCharles MacArthur in 1951, andDear Charles, another comedy, in 1955.[1]
Klemperer's first major film role was as a psychiatrist inAlfred Hitchcock'sThe Wrong Man (1956). Earlier that year inDeath of a Scoundrel he had a smaller role as the lawyer of the hero/villain portrayed byGeorge Sanders. He played a German government officer in the 1959 episode, "The Haunted U-Boat", of the seriesOne Step Beyond. Also in 1959, he appeared as a Frenchman in the episode "Fragile" of the Western TV seriesHave Gun – Will Travel.[7] He received significant notice for his role in the award-winning 1961 filmJudgment at Nuremberg. The film presents a fictionalized account of the post-World War IIJudges' Trial, one of theNuremberg trials, with Klemperer portraying Emil Hahn, a Nazi prosecutor and one of the defendants at the trial. Prior to this, he had a small role in the 1957Errol Flynn filmIstanbul and a pivotal part in the "Comstock Conspiracy" episode ofMaverick that same year. He played the title role in the 1961 filmOperation Eichmann, opposite his future co-starJohn Banner.
Klemperer guest-starred in the firstBrian Keith television series,Crusader, aCold War drama that aired on CBS. During this time, he made three guest appearances onPerry Mason: he played East German murder victim Stefan Riker in the 1958 episode "The Case of the Desperate Daughter"; the East European character Ulrik Zenas in the 1963 episode "The Case of the Two-Faced Turn-a-bout"; and Police Inspector Hurt in 1964 in "The Case of a Place Called Midnight". In 1963, Klemperer also portrayed a professor of psychology in "The Dream Book", an episode on the sitcomMy Three Sons.[8] He played Lt. Huebner in the 1965 filmShip of Fools, in which he tells Mrs. Mary Treadwell, played byVivien Leigh, that her life "ends by sitting in a nightclub with a paid escort who tells [her] the lies [she wants] to hear."
Prior toHogan's Heroes, Klemperer appeared in the 1956 episode "Safe Conduct" ofAlfred Hitchcock Presents, along with John Banner; twice appeared as Hugo on thesyndicatedromantic comedy series,How to Marry a Millionaire (1957–1959), withBarbara Eden andMerry Anders; and appeared on the "Purple Gang" episode ofThe Untouchables.
Klemperer is best known, however, as ColonelWilhelm Klink, the bungling, cowardly, conceited, and self-serving Kommandant of Stalag 13 onHogan's Heroes which was broadcast on CBS from 1965 to 1971. Klemperer was conscious that he would be playing the role of a German officer during the Nazi regime, and he accepted the part only on the condition that Klink would be portrayed as a fool who never succeeded.
Klemperer made a cameo appearance in the character of Klink in theBatman episode "It's How You Play the Game" and as Officer Bolix in theLost in Space episode "All That Glitters" in 1966. He played a bumbling East German official in the 1968 American comedy filmThe Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz, directed by George Marshall and starringElke Sommer and several of his costars fromHogan's Heroes, includingBob Crane andJohn Banner. Klemperer starred inWake Me When the War Is Over in 1969, playing the role of German Major Erich Mueller, alongsideEva Gabor. He also played a villain in an episode ofVoyage to the Bottom of the Sea titled "The Blizzard Makers".
For his performance as Klink, Klemperer received five consecutiveEmmy Award nominations for best supporting actor, from 1966 to 1970, winning successive awards in 1968 and 1969.[9]
After his father's death in 1973, Klemperer returned to Broadway, appearing inThe Night of the Tribades in 1977.[1] He expanded his acting career with musical roles in opera, and earned aBest Featured ActorTony Award nomination for his performance inCabaret in its 1987 Broadway revival, playing "Herr Schultz".
A member of the board of directors of theNew York Chamber Symphony, Klemperer served as a narrator with many other American symphony orchestras including the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. He also made occasional guest appearances on television dramas, and took part in a few studio recordings, notably a version ofArnold Schoenberg'sGurre-Lieder with theBoston Symphony andSeiji Ozawa, in 1979. From 1979 to 1982, he appeared as Bassa Selim in 18 performances ofMozart'sSingspielDie Entführung aus dem Serail at theMetropolitan Opera in New York.[10] In 1981, he appeared, to critical and audience raves, as Prince Orlofsky in Seattle Opera's production ofDie Fledermaus.
In 1990, he narrated the children's story "Gerald McBoing Boing" (music by Gail Kubik) for a CD of classical music for children. In January 1991 he performed as narrator in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's concerts and subsequent Koss Classics recording of "Lelio", by Hector Berlioz, in an English translation. In 1992, he made a guest appearance in an episode ofLaw & Order, "Starstruck", as the father of an attempted murder suspect.
In 1993, Klemperer reprised the role of Klink in an episode ofThe Simpsons as Homer's guardian angel and spirit guide in the episode "The Last Temptation of Homer". According to the episode's DVD commentary, when Klemperer appeared, he had to be given a quick reminder of how to play Colonel Klink. He declined other offers to reprise the character, including one from talk-show hostConan O'Brien.
Klemperer made his final appearance on Broadway in 1995 in theCircle in the Square production ofAnton Chekhov'sUncle Vanya, in which he played Professor Serebryakov.[1]
Klemperer appeared in several episodes of the news/talk showPolitically Incorrect.[11]
For many years, Klemperer was an elected member of the council ofActors' Equity Association, and was a vice president of the union at the time of his death.[12]
Klemperer was the father of two children, Mark (born 1959) and Erika (born 1963), with his second wife, Susan Dempsay.[13][14] On the set ofHogan's Heroes he met his third wife, actressLouise Troy, who was making a guest appearance. They married in 1969, and divorced in 1975.
In 1997, Klemperer married his fourth wife, television actressKim Hamilton, after dating her for 21 years.[15] They remained married until Klemperer's death.
Klemperer died of cancer at his home inManhattan on December 6, 2000, at the age of 80. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.[16]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Flight to Hong Kong | Bendesh | |
| 1956 | Death of a Scoundrel | Herbert Bauman (Clementi's lawyer) | |
| 1956 | The Wrong Man | Dr. Bannay | Uncredited |
| 1957 | Istanbul | Paul Renkov | |
| 1957 | 5 Steps to Danger | Dr. Simmons | |
| 1957 | Kiss Them for Me | Lieutenant Walter Wallace | |
| 1958 | The High Cost of Loving | Joseph Jessup | |
| 1958 | The Goddess | Joe Wilsey | |
| 1958 | Houseboat | Harold Messner | |
| 1961 | Operation Eichmann | Adolf Eichmann | |
| 1961 | Judgment at Nuremberg | Emil Hahn | |
| 1962 | Escape from East Berlin | Walter Brunner | |
| 1964 | Youngblood Hawke | Mr. Leffer | |
| 1965 | Dark Intruder | Professor Malaki | |
| 1965 | Ship of Fools | Lieutenant Huebner | |
| 1968 | The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz | Klaus | |
| 1991 | The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez | Fat Man Looking for a Tax Break | |
| 1992 | Queen Esther | Haman | Voice, direct-to-video release |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951–1952 | Goodyear Television Playhouse | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1953 | The Secret Files of Captain Video | Meister | Episode: "The Box" |
| 1955 | Studio 57 | Dubrov | Segment: "Win a Cigar" |
| 1955 | Crusader | Wilhelm Leichner | Episode: "The Bargain" |
| 1955 | Climax! | 2 episodes | |
| 1956 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Professor Klopka / Captain Kriza | Season 1 Episode 21: "Safe Conduct" |
| 1957 | Navy Log | Ludwig | Episode: " After You, Ludwig" |
| 1957 | Wire Service | Krylov | Episode: "The Washington Stars" |
| 1957 | General Electric Theater | Muller | Episode: "The Questioning Note" |
| 1957 | M Squad | Heinrich Ronn | Episode: "Face of Evil" |
| 1957 | Maverick | Alex Jennings | Episode: "Comstock Conspiracy" |
| 1958 | Perry Mason | Stefan Riker | Episode: "The Case of the Desperate Daughter" |
| 1958 | Studio One | Dorfmann | Episode: "Balance of Terror" |
| 1958 | The Thin Man | Albert | Episode: "The Pre-Incan Caper" |
| 1958 | Gunsmoke | Clifton Bunker | Episode: "Sunday Supplement" |
| 1958 | The Court of Last Resort | Malone | Episode: "The Allen Cutler Case" |
| 1958 | The Silent Service | Captain Lieutenant Prien | Episode: "U-47 in Scapa Flow" |
| 1959 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Mr. Ranks | Season 5 Episode 2: "The Crystal Trench" |
| 1959 | Judgment at Nuremberg | Emil Hahn | Playhouse 90 |
| 1959 | Behind Closed Doors | Slavko | Episode: "Crypto 40" |
| 1959 | Steve Canyon | Linz | Episode: "Iron Curtain" |
| 1959 | The Third Man | Holz Donner | Episode: "The Third Medaillon" |
| 1959 | Have Gun – Will Travel | Etienne | Season 4, Episode 7: "Fragile" |
| 1959 | Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond | Herr Bautmann | Episode: "The Haunted U-Boat" |
| 1959 | How to Marry a Millionaire | Mr. Obermeyer | Episode: "Gwen's Secret" |
| 1960 | The Alaskans | Baron | Episode: "Gold Fever" |
| 1960 | Overland Trail | Arnold Braun | Episode: "Vigilantes of Montana" |
| 1960 | Alcoa Theatre | Colonel Hanning | Episode: "The Observer" |
| 1960 | Rawhide | Kessel | Episode: "Incident of the Music Maker" |
| 1960 | Men into Space | Major Kralenko | Episode: "Flare Up" |
| 1960 | The Untouchables | Jan Tornek | Episode: "Purple Gang" |
| 1960 | Thriller | Mr. Clark | Episode: "Man in the Middle" |
| 1961 | The Islanders | Michel Serati | Episode: "The Pearls of Ratu" |
| 1961 | Have Gun – Will Travel | Leander Johnson | Episode: "The Uneasy Grave" |
| 1961 | Adventures in Paradise | Kuberli | Episode: "Survival" |
| 1962 | Checkmate | Franz Leder | Episode: "An Assassin Arrives, Andante" |
| 1963 | Perry Mason | Ulric Zenas | Episode: "The Case of the Two-Faced Turn-a-bout" |
| 1963 | The Lloyd Bridges Show | Gustavsen | Episode: "The Wonder of Wanda" |
| 1963 | 77 Sunset Strip | Schtiekel | Episode: "Escape to Freedom" |
| 1963 | The Dakotas | Colonel von Bleist | Episode: "Trial at Grand Forks" |
| 1963 | My Three Sons | Professor Engel | 2 episodes |
| 1963 | GE True | Karl Hermann Frank | Episode: "Heydrich" (two parts)[17] |
| 1964 | Perry Mason | Hurt | Episode: "The Case of a Place Called Midnight" |
| 1964 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Laslo Kurasov | Episode: "The Project Strigas Affair" |
| 1964 | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Cregar | Episode: "The Blizzard Maker" |
| 1965 | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Brainwasher (voice) | Episode: "The Saboteur" |
| 1965 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | Colonel Wertha | Episode: "Escape into Jeopardy" |
| 1965–1971 | Hogan's Heroes | Colonel Wilhelm Klink | 168 episodes |
| 1966 | Lost in Space | Bolix | Episode: "All That Glitters" |
| 1966 | Batman | Colonel Klink (uncredited cameo) | Episode: "It's How You Play the Game" |
| 1968 | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In | Colonel Wilhelm Klink | Episode #2.6 |
| 1969 | Wake Me When the War Is Over | Mayor Erich Mueller | Television film |
| 1972 | Night Gallery | Ludwig Asper | Episode: "Green Fingers/The Funeral/The Tune in Dan's Cafe" |
| 1972 | The Doris Day Show | Jacques Moreau | Episode: "Gowns by Louis" |
| 1972 | Assignment Vienna | Inspector Hoffman | Television film |
| 1972 | Love, American Style | Harold Baxter | Segment: "Love and the Unbearable Fiance" |
| 1973 | McMillan & Wife | Dr. Ernest Bleeker | Episode: "The Devil You Say" |
| 1977 | The Rhinemann Exchange | Franz Altmuller | Miniseries |
| 1978 | Tabitha | Henry Hastings | Episode: "Tabitha's Party" |
| 1979 | The Love Boat | Mr. Perkins | Episode: "The Grass Is Always Greener..." |
| 1980 | Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty | Plato | Television special |
| 1981 | Vega$ | Siegfried Klaus | Episode: "Heist" |
| 1981 | Return of the Beverly Hillbillies | C.D. Medford | Television film |
| 1983 | Matt Houston | Felix Randolph | Episode: "The Purrfect Crime" |
| 1986 | Mr. Sunshine | Dean | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | American Experience | Prince Maximilian of Bavaria | Episode: "Views of a Vanishing Frontier" |
| 1992 | Law & Order | William Unger | Episode: "Star Struck" |
| 1993 | The Simpsons | Homer's Guardian Angel as Colonel Klink | Voice, Episode: "The Last Temptation of Homer", (final appearance) |
I studied piano and violin, but I made noises a dog shouldn't hear
Klemperer had four brothers ... The conductor Otto Klemperer was their cousin.
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