Sinister-looking performer, in films from 1948. Kinski's piercing eyes and hawk-like features tended to land him crazed or obsessed roles, and he rarely resisted the temptation to ham them up. He appeared in German films, the spaghetti western "For a Few Dollars More" (1966) and the international productions "Doctor Zhivago" (1965) and "The Little Drummer Girl" (1984), though his critical reputation rests principally on his work with Werner Herzog--particularly "Aguirre, The Wrath of God" (1972), "Nosferatu" (1978) and "Fitzcarraldo" (1982). Father of actresses Pola and Nastassja Kinski.
Family
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Brother: Achim Nakszynski.
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Brother: Arne Nakszynski.
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Sister: Inge Nakszynski.
Milestones
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1930 Moved with parents to Berlin (date approximate)
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1944 Drafted into the German army at age 16
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1948 West German film acting debut, "Morituri"
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1951 First English-language film, "Decision Before Dawn"
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1960 Moved to Berlin
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1961 Appeared on German TV in "Die Kurve"
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1989 Directorial and screenwriting debut with the unreleased feature, "Paganini" (also actor)
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Acted on stage in Tubingen and Baden-Baden
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Gave poetry recitals in small German cabarets and later larger halls
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On second day of combat in the Netherlands, Kinski was injured and captured by Allied forces and spent the rest of WWII in a British prison-of-war camp