Klaus Kinski was indeed a strange bird and his antics became stuff of legend (Interestingly he was forced into the German Army and was a British POW during World War Two). In Werner Herzog's essential documentary, My Best Fiend, Kinski is revealed through clips and interviews to be quite mad. Kinski lodged in Herzog's building when Herzog was a child (what a coincidence!) where he would pulverize the bathroom into a fine powder, run through doors and tear at his clothes when they weren't ironed properly. He would lock himself away memorizing lines for days. Kinski would go on to tour as the second coming of Jesus (Herzog's documentary begins with this hilarious show which features Kinski berating the audience) and act in a series of masterpieces under Herzog's direction.

The making of Herzog's masterpiece Aguirre, Wrath of God reveals Kinski to be a little ... umm ... different. Donned in his conquistador outfit with sword in hand Kinski got carried away and started bashing away at the extras, splitting actors heads and smashing arms! Filming in South America far away from civilization Kinski would decide he was done acting before the final scenes were filmed. Well my man Herzog wasn't having it so he "talked" Kinski into changing his mind by pointing a gun at his head a few feet outside of the shot (Kinski and Herzog remember the event differently - Herzog insists he simply mentioned to Kinski that if he rowed away he would put four or five bullets into his head, then shoot himself with the remaining bullet)! Kinski was so out of control with his temper tantrums and ranting that the locals went to Herzog asking if they could kill him! HAHAHA! Kinski is the man!

Klaus Kinski would sweat and contort his way through a number of classic Herzog films including his stunning turn as the monster in Nosferatu, the Vampyre - and his obsessive but surprisingly likable turn as an opera lover who drags a ship across the amazon in Fitzcarraldo. In between making these fascinating classics with arguably one of the greatest living directors, Kinski would lend his talents to Jess Franco to make cheap sex and gore flicks!

Kinski was terrific in Franco's ok De Sade's Justine - playing the Marquis Kinski is in his element making one wish Kinski was the main focus of the film. Kinski was suitably creepy in Franco's super sleazy Jack the Ripper (there he is carving away at poor Lina Romay), as well as Franco's Venus in Furs and Count Dracula

During the eighties Kinski would appear in a string of pretty shitty films, elevating them by his mere presence. He would write a biography titled All I Need Is Love (in it he apparently rips Herzog to shreds) but it was pulled due to legal problems. Kinski would also direct one film - Paganini. He was Nastassia Kinski's father. Unsurprisingly the hot headed Kinski died of a heart attack. Watch the great Klaus Kinski sweat it out in the following films:

For a Few Dollars More (Leone, 1965) A great supporting role in this one!

Venus in Furs (Franco, 1970)

Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Herzog, 1972)

Woyzeck (Herzog, 1978)

Nosferatu, the Vampyre (Herzog, 1979)

Jack the Ripper (Franco, 1979)

Schizoid (Paulsen, 1980)

Fitzcarraldo (Herzog, 1982)

Android (Lipstadt, 1982)

Venom (Haggard, 1982)

Code Name: Wild Geese (Dawson, 1984)

Creature (1985)

Cobra Verde (Herzog, 1987)