Werner Klemperer

Werner Klemperer (Cologne, Germany, March 22, 1920 &mdash; December 6, 2000 in New York City) was an Emmy Award-winning comedic actor. He is best known for his role as Colonel Wilhelm Klink on the Hogan's Heroes television sitcom.

Biography
Werner was born into a musical family. His mother, Johanna Geisler, was a soprano and his father the famous conductor and composer, Otto Klemperer. His father's cousin, Victor Klemperer, was the author of a couple of published diaries which talked about life in Nazi Germany. Werner's father was Jewish but he was raised Catholic.

While growing up, he took lessons in playing the piano, trumpet and violin, while his father, Otto, worked as a conductor at the Cologne Opera House, and later at the Kroll Opera House in Berlin during the 1920s until the Nazi takeover in 1933. After the closing of the Kroll and then the disappearance of a physician whose only crime was being Jewish, Otto took his family out of Germany, stopping first in Vienna, Austria and then in Los Angeles, California, arriving in the later city in 1935.

Werner quickly adapted to life in the United States. He began acting in high school, soon enrolling at the Pasadena Playhouse. When the United States entered World War II, he joined the U.S. Army, soon stationed in Hawaii as a military policeman. While there, he joined the army's Special Services unit, spending the next two years entertaining the troops in the Pacific Theater.

After the war, he returned to the United States, moving to New York City, where he worked as a radio and stage actor, a stage manager and when necessary, as an usher and waiting on tables. He debuted on Broadway in 1947, in the production, Heads or Tails. His big break came in 1954 with Dear Charles, where he played a tempermental Polish pianist wooing Tallulah Bankhead. When the tour arrived in Los Angeles, film and televison offers were waiting for him.

Werner started out playing heavies and foreign characters, thanks to his looks (at 25, nature have already given him his more recognizable appearance) and his accent. This included playing Nazis, starting with his role as the monster, Adolf Eichmann, in Operation Eichmann. He also appeared in the films, Judgment at Nuremberg and Ship of Fools, and television shows, Man from U.N.C.L.E., Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Perry Mason and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. But Werner's most famous claim to fame would be playing the witless Commandant of Stalag 13, Colonel Wilhelm Klink.

Werner, when he auditioned for the role, was originally not informed that the show would be a comedy set in a POW camp. After learning the truth, he decided to accept the role, but on one condition: that Klink be portrayed as a fool and he never succeed in anything he attempts. Otherwise, he would leave the show. The show became a success, staying on the air for six seasons (1965 to 1971), and still being shown on televison today as reruns in syndication. Personally, Werner was nominated five times as Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, winning two Emmys in 1968 and 1969. Klink is one of the most beloved characters in American television history.

Werner would play Klink only once more after the end of the series, in a 1993 episode of The Simpsons as Homer Simpson's guardian angel/spirit guide.

Although now identified as Colonel Klink, Werner refused to be pigeonholed as the character. After appearing in such films as The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz and Wake Me When the War Is Over, he returned to working on the stage. After his father's death in 1973, Werner was confident enough to embark on a musical career, as an opera baritone and as a singer in musicals. He had appeared in die Fledermaus, The Merry Widow, Abduction from the Sergalio, The Sound of Music, Master Class and Cabaret, for which he had received a Tony Award nomination for his performance as the Jewish shopkeeper Herr Shultz. He has also acted as a narrator for several plays, including Peter and the Wolf, Egmont and Lelio, as well as having conducted orchestras on several occassions. He was also an accomplished concert violinist.

He had supported several organizations, and was on the Board of Directors of at least two of them. He made appearances on several television dramas and died December 6, 2000. His body was later cremated and his ashes were spread across the Pacific Ocean.

Filmography

 * Queen Esther (1992) (V)
 * The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez (1991)
 * The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies (1981) (TV)
 * Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty (1980) (TV)
 * The Rhinemann Exchange (1977) (TV) (mini)
 * Assignment: Munich (1972) (TV)
 * Wake Me When the War Is Over (1969) (TV)
 * Star Spangled Salesman (1968)
 * The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz (1968)
 * Hogan's Heroes (1965) (TV)
 * Ship of Fools (1965)
 * Dark Intruder (1965)
 * Youngblood Hawke (1964)
 * Escape from East Berlin (1962)
 * Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
 * Operation Eichmann (1961)
 * Houseboat (1958)
 * The Goddess (1958)
 * The High Cost of Loving (1958)
 * Kiss Them for Me (1957)
 * 5 Steps to Danger (1957)
 * Istanbul (1957)
 * The Wrong Man (1956) (uncredited)
 * Death of a Scoundrel (1956)
 * Flight to Hong Kong (1956)

Notable TV Guest Appearances

 * Biography playing "Himself" in episode: "Bob Crane: Double Life" 8 February 2000
 * The E! True Hollywood Story playing "Himself" in episode: Bob Crane 26 January 1998
 * The Simpsons playing "Colonel Klink" (voice) in episode: "The Last Temptation of Homer" (episode # 5.9) 9 December 1993
 * Late Night with Conan O'Brien playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode dated 1 December 1993" 1 December 1993
 * Law & Order playing "William Unger" in episode: "Star Struck" (episode # 2.12) 7 January 1992
 * The American Experience playing "Prince Maximilian of Bavaria" (voice) in episode: "Views of a Vanishing Frontier" (episode # 1.13) 27 December 1988
 * Mr. Sunshine playing "Dean" in episode: "Great Expectations" (episode # 1.10) 17 May 1986
 * Mr. Sunshine playing "Dean" in episode: "The Evaluation" (episode # 1.3) 11 April 1986
 * Matt Houston playing "Felix Randolph" in episode: "The Purrfect Crime" (episode # 1.13) 9 January 1983
 * Vega$ playing "Siegfried Klaus" in episode: "Heist" (episode # 3.13) 25 February 1981
 * The Love Boat playing "Mr. Perkins" in episode: "The Oldies But Goodies/Grass Is Always Greener, The/Stages of Love" (episode # 3.3) 22 September 1979
 * Flying High playing "Himself"? in episode: "The Marcy Connection" (episode # 1.3) 13 October 1978
 * Tabitha playing "Henry Hastings" in episode: "Tabitha's Party" (episode # 1.11) 14 January 1978
 * McMillan and Wife playing "Van Doren" in episode: "All Bets Off" (episode # 6.1) 5 December 1976
 * McMillan and Wife playing "Dr. Ernest Bleeker" in episode: "The Devil, You Say" (episode # 3.2) 23 October 1973
 * Love, American Style in episode: "Love and the Unbearable Fiance" (episode # 4.2d) 22 September 1972
 * The Doris Day Show playing "Jacques Moreau" in episode: "Gowns by Louis" (episode # 4.23) 28 February 1972
 * Night Gallery playing "Ludwig Asper" in episode: "The Funeral" (episode # 2.44) 5 January 1972
 * The Mike Douglas Show playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode dated 9 July 1971" 9 July 1971
 * The Mike Douglas Show playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode dated 8 July 1971" 8 July 1971
 * The Mike Douglas Show playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode dated 7 July 1971" 7 July 1971
 * The Mike Douglas Show playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode dated 6 July 1971" 6 July 1971
 * The Mike Douglas Show playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode dated 5 July 1971" 5 July 1971
 * Password playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode dated 2 July 1971" 2 July 1971
 * The Movie Game playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode dated 21 June 1971" 21 June 1971
 * The David Frost Show playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode #3.50" (episode # 3.50) 4 December 1970
 * It's Your Bet playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode dated 14 September 1970" 14 September 1970
 * Beat the Clock playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode #1.1" (episode # 1.1) 1 January 1970
 * The Leslie Uggams Show playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode dated 12 October 1969" 12 October 1969
 * Della playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode # 1.36" (episode # 1.36) 28 July 1969
 * Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode #2.26" (episode # 2.26) 31 March 1969
 * Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode #2.24" (episode # 2.24) 17 March 1969
 * Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode #2.23" (episode # 2.23) 10 March 1969
 * The Hollywood Squares playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode 3.76" (episode # 3.76) 16 December 1968
 * Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In playing "Colonel Wilhelm Klink" in episode: "Episode #2.6" (episode # 2.6) 21 October 1968
 * The Linkletter Show playing "Himself" in episode "Episode dated 29 July 1968" 29 July 1968
 * The Hollywood Squares playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode # 2.185"(episode # 2.185) 17 May 1968
 * The Hollywood Squares playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode # 2.184"(episode # 2.184) 16 May 1968
 * The Hollywood Squares playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode # 2.183"(episode # 2.183) 15 May 1968
 * The Hollywood Squares playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode # 2.182"(episode # 2.182) 14 May 1968
 * The Hollywood Squares playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode # 2.181"(episode # 2.181) 13 May 1968
 * The Woody Woodbury Show playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode dated 11 March 1968" 11 March 1968
 * The Woody Woodbury Show playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode dated 15 January 1968" 15 January 1968
 * The Joey Bishop Show playing "Himself" in episode: "Episode #2.1) (episode # 2.1) 4 September 1967
 * Batman playing "Colonel Klink" (uncredited) in episode: "It's How You Play the Game" (episode # 2.26) 1 December 1966
 * Lost in Space playing "Bolix" in episode: "All That Glitters" (episode # 1.26) 6 April 1966
 * The Hollywood Palace playing "Himself - Singer" in episode: "Episode #3.13" (episode # 3.13) 25 December 1965
 * Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre playing "Colonel Wertha" in episode: "Escape into Jeopardy" (episode # 2.23) 28 May 1965
 * Insight playing "Actor" in episode: "The Prisoner" 6 May 1965
 * Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea playing "Brainwasher" (uncredited) in episode: "The Saboteur" (episode # 1.24) 22 February 1965
 * Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea playing "Cregar" in episode: "The Blizzard Makers" (episode # 1.13) 7 December 1964
 * The Man from U.N.C.L.E. playing "Diplomat" in episode: "The Project Strigas Affair" (episode # 1.9) 24 November 1964
 * Perry Mason playing "Hurt" in episode: "The Case of a Place Called Midnight" (episode # 8.8) 12 November 1964
 * Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea playing "Dr. Gamma" in episode: "Eleven Days to Zero" (episode # 1.1) 14 September 1964
 * GE True playing "Frank" in episode: "Heydrich: Part 2" (episode # 1.31) 12 May 1963
 * My Three Sons playing "Professor Engel" in episode: "Total Recall" (episode # 3.33) 9 May 1963
 * GE True playing "Frank" in episode: "Heydrich: Part 1" (episode # 1.30) 5 May 1963
 * The Dakotas playing "Colonel von Bleist" in episode: "Trial at Grand Forks" (episode # 1.12) 25 March 1963
 * 77 Sunset Strip playing "Schtiekel" in episode: "Escape to Freedom" (episode # 5.20) 22 February 1963
 * Perry Mason playing "Ulric Zenas" in episode: "The Case of the Two-Faced Turn-a-bout" (episode # 6.18) 14 February 1963
 * Insight playing "Actor" in episode: "The Tyrants" 6 February 1963
 * My Three Sons playing "Professor Engel" in episode: "The Dream Book" (episode # 3.20) 31 January 1963
 * The Lloyd Bridges Show playing "Gustavsen" in episode: "The Wonder of Wanda" (episode # 1.17) 8 January 1963
 * GE True playing "Captain" in episode: "Man with a Suitcase" (episode # 1.8) 18 November 1962
 * Checkmate playing "Franz Leder" in episode: "An Assassin Arrives, Andante" (episode # 2.19) 21 February 1962
 * Adventures in Paradise playing "Kuberli" in episode: "Survival" (episode # 3.13) 31 December 1961
 * King of Diamonds playing "Ubinov" in episode: "Edge of Panic" (episode # 1.11) 14 November 1961
 * Have Gun – Will Travel playing "Leander Johnson" in episode: "The Uneasy Grave" (episode # 4.37) 3 June 1961
 * The Islanders playing "Michel Serati" in episode: "The Pearls of Ratu" (episode # 1.22) 19 March 1961
 * The Case of the Dangerous Robin playing "Actor" in episode: "Zippered Notebook" (episode # 1.10) 20 December 1960
 * Thriller playing "Mr. Clark" in episode: "Man in the Middle" (episode # 1.14) 20 December 1960
 * The Untouchables playing "January Tornek" in episode: "The Purple Gang" (episode # 2.7) 1 December 1960
 * Men Into Space playing "Major Kralenko" in episode: "Flare Up" (episode # 1.34) 17 August 1960
 * Rawhide playing "Kessle" in episode: "Incident of the Music Maker" (episode # 2.28) 20 May 1960
 * Alcoa Theatre playing "Colonel Hanning" in episode: "The Observer" (episode # 3.15) 18 April 1960
 * Overland Trail playing "Arnold Braun" in episode: "Vigilantes of Montana" (episode # 1.9) 3 April 1960
 * The Alaskans playing "Baron" in episode: "Gold Fever" (episode # 1.15) 17 January 1960
 * The Troubleshooters playing "Actor" in episode: "Tunnel to Yesterday" (episode # 1.12) 4 December 1959
 * Have Gun – Will Travel playing "Etienne Ledoux" in episode: "Fragile" (episode # 3.7) 31 October 1959
 * Alfred Hitchcock Presents playing "Mr. Ranks" in episode: "The Crystal Trench" (episode # 5.2) 4 October 1959
 * How to Marry a Millionaire playing "Mr. Obermeyer" in episode: "Gwen's Secret" 2 July 1959
 * Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond playing "Herr Bautmann" in episode: "The Haunted U-Boat" (episode # 1.17) 12 May 1959
 * Playhouse 90 playing "Emil Hahn" in episode: "Judgment at Nuremberg" (episode # 3.28) 16 April 1959
 * The Third Man playing "Donner" in episode: "The Third Medaillon" (episode # 1.11) 20 March 1959
 * Border Patrol playing "Ladislas Czerny" in episode: "The Plague Trail" (episode # 1.12) ?? 1959
 * Steve Canyon playing "Linz" in episode: "Iron Curtain" (episode # 1.23) 5 March 1959
 * Behind Closed Doors in episode: "Crypto 40" (episode # 1.16) 29 January 1959
 * The Silent Service playing "Captain Lieutenant Prien" in episode: "U-47 in Scapa Flow" (episode # 2.39) 28 November 1968
 * The Court of Last Resort playing "Malone" in episode: "The Allen Culler Case" (episode # 1.26) 11 April 1958
 * Playhouse 90 paying "Jesse Eastland" in episode: "The Dungeon" (episode # 2.30) 17 April 1958
 * Perry Mason playing "Stefan Riker" in episode: "The Case of the Desperate Daughter" (episode # 1.27) 22 March 1958
 * How to Marry a Millionaire playing "Hugo" in episode: "For the Love of Art" (episode # 1.16) 13 February 1958
 * Gunsmoke playing "Clifton Bunker" in episode: "Sunday Supplement" (episode # 3.22) 8 February 1958
 * The Thin Man playing "Albert" in episode: "The Pre-Incan Caper" (episode # 1.20) 7 February 1958
 * Studio One playing "Dorfmann" in episode: "Balance of Terror" (episode # 10.17) 27 January 1958
 * Maverick playing "Alex Jennings" in episode: "Comstock Conspiracy" (episode # 1.14) 29 December 1957
 * Playhouse 90 playing "Boris" in episode: "For I Have Loved Strangers" (episode # 2.15) 19 December 1957
 * M Squad playing "Heinrich Ronn" in episode: "Face of Evil" (episode # 1.5) 18 October 1957
 * General Electric Theater playing "Muller" in episode: "The Questioning Note" (episode # 6.1) 6 October 1957
 * Wire Service playing "Krylov" in episode: "The Washington Stars" (episode # 1.35) 10 June 1957
 * Navy Log playing "Ludwig" in episode: "After You, Ludwig" (episode # 2.23) 20 March 1957
 * Matinee Theater playing "Actor" in episode: "The Legend of Jenny Lind" (episode # 1.131) 2 May 1956
 * Alfred Hitchcock Presents playing "Professor/Secret Police Captain" in episode: "Safe Conduct" (episode # 1.21) 19 February 1956
 * Climax! playing "Actor" in episode: "A Man of Taste" (episode # 2.12) 1 December 1955
 * Crusader playing "Wilhelm Leichner" in episode: "The Bargain" (episode # 1.6) 11 November 1955
 * Studio 57 playing "Dubrov" in episode: "Win a Cigar" (episode # 2.5) 15 October 1955
 * Climax! playing "Actor" in episode: "The Escape of Mendes-France" (episode # 1.32) 14 July 1955
 * The Philco Television Playhouse playing "Actor" in episode: "The Hangman in the Fog" (episode # 6.9) 10 January 1954
 * The New Adventures of China Smith playing "Marouf" in episode: "A Bandit of Malaya" 1954
 * The New Adventures of China Smith playing "Malfi" in episode: "Plane to Tainan" 1954
 * The Philco Television Playhouse playing "Actor" in episode: "Holiday Song" (episode # 5.33) 20 September 1953
 * The Secret Files of Captain Video playing "Foreign scientist allied with Captain Video" in episode: "The Box" (episode # 1.1) 5 September 1953
 * The Philco Television Playhouse playing "Actor" in episode: "The Reluctant Citizen" (episode # 5.13) 8 February 1953
 * Goodyear Television Playhouse playing "The Young Man" in episode: "Holiday Song" (episode # 2.1) 14 September 1952
 * Goodyear Television Playhouse playing "Actor" in episode: "Flight to Freedom" (episode # 1.3) 11 November 1951

Casting Director

 * Escape from East Berlin (1962)