Werner Klemperer
Birth Name:
Werner Klemperer
Birth Place:
Cologne, Germany
Profession
Actor, Soundtrack, Casting director
Fast Facts
- Worked in the Army's Special Services unit during World War II, entertaining troops across the Pacific
- Became a conductor after his family emigrated from Germany to the United States
- Completely surprised his German accent in some of his earlier roles to play American characters
- Though he was Jewish himself, he played several characters with ties to Nazi Germany, only agreeing to play self-serving Colonel Wilhelm Klink on the condition that the character be presented as a fool whose plans never succeed
- Was a skilled violinist, concert pianist and baritone singer
- While learning English, he immersed himself in the language so completely that he actually began thinking and dreaming in English instead of his native German
- Worked with symphony orchestras across the United States as a narrator, with his favorite narration work being a performance of "Peter and the Wolf" at New York City's Carnegie Hall
Awards
- 1966Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy:Nominated
- 1967Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy:Nominated
- 1968Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy:Winner
- 1969Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series:Winner
- 1970Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy:Nominated