(Oct. 18, 1926 - Nov. 23, 1991) Klaus Kinski was a German actor of partly Polish descent, famous for his ability to project on-screen intensity, and for his explosive temperament. Although he acted in over 180 films, his international reputation is built on five collaborations with German director Werner Herzog, including the films Aguirre: The Wrath of God (1972), Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), and Fitzcarraldo (1982).