Klaus Kinski on Letterman, March 24, 1983

[@omarc9977]

We should have give an Oscar to Kinski for the best performance of his life: almost twelve minutes acting like a normal person without rage

[@krel3358]

Id imagine they gave him an ambien or something beforehand or they gave him someone to yell at in the dressing room before going out. I think Klaus is just the type of guy who wants to be in control of everything and the anger is from situations, environment, to people where if there is something out of place or not to his liking then hes just going to rage at it until it changes or his brain gets overloaded and he has to switch to another emotion.

[@CrazyhorseDK]

he was manic @@krel3358

[@peterharris38]

Kinski r-worded his daughter natasha and gave her to roman Polanski too think about that

[@larzkruber822]

It´s like watching a ticking timebomb without knowing the time

[@aluuusch]

you see how that idiot good behave abroad but not in Germany.

[@ajindie9989]

Any German citizen can confirm that this is the most normal interview with Kinski an audience was ever able to see

[@tyronevaldez-kruger5313]

AJ Indie I as naturalised German proudly confirm! 🙋🏾 when I saw the thumbnail I thought right away "OMG". To give the context: Kinski had a liking for threatening ppl to punch their faces especially interviewer's faces no matter how famous. And yet he was shockingly normal probably due to top cocaine

[@rsvsbg1608]

@@tyronevaldez-kruger5313 Nono, the difference's made by simple means of respect. He was treated correctly, so why would he have to defend himself? Simple as that.

[@jpgrumbach8562]

@@tyronevaldez-kruger5313, agree. Right amount of the right drug (what ever) at the right time.

[@haiguyse]

@@rsvsbg1608 I have to disagree. He knew his general hissie fits would not fly on Letterman.

[@ugurtigu]

Yup

[@vishnunagendran332]

This is so far the best portrayal of a normal person by kinski.

[@im11yearsold63]

lol :D

[@reeyees50]

Genious acting

[@martinmoffitt4702]

Well said!

[@ice9557]

It’s widely reported that he was into Caprophagy, Autosarcophagy, and Necrophillia, I once heard a story from a sound technician from CrawlSpace that he got famously drunk put his underwear on backwards cut out a hole in them and ran around the set with his giant ball sack hanging out which he glued a pair of Googly Eyes too. I don’t know where the myths begin and the facts end but there’s seriously some strange shit afoot with this guy! He’s widely considered the Charles Manson of cinema!!

[@paulbirkbeck1790]

@@ice9557 that is vile if its true kinski was clearly a psycopath

[@cqtaylor]

Watching Klaus Kinski behave in a civil and kind way is like watching a psycho talking to the cops while you're tied in the trunk of his car.

[@mrtoothless]

your what?

[@cqtaylor]

@@mrtoothless What?

[@mrtoothless]

Own the edit, turd@@cqtaylor

[@benalbrecht4437]

Hahaha genius 👌

[@zefonk]

😆

[@mitchbarredo3990]

This is his most riveting performance, acting calm, and nice, talking without screaming, smiling.

[@JD-jc8gp]

fascinating, horrifying

[@julietjones7376]

Even a mention of Herzog didn't get him angry. Lol.

[@alvarosousa7707]

Ao contrário da vida real que só gritava com as filhas. Era um estuprador das suas filhas.

[@11Kralle]

The only villain that would have killed James Bond in the first scene...

[@johnty505]

Nicely put!

[@nessnake123]

no way

[@46reno]

11Kralle No, Lee Van Cleef took him out.

[@OrangeAgent5]

brilliant comment right at the point!

[@AndreasDelleske]

He’d hypnotize Chuck Norris to do it.

[@protamine4]

This interview represents the longest period ever of normal and lucid behavior by Kinski.

[@adamtzsch]

protamine4 How do you know?

[@thekeythesecret66]

lol

[@tabeaschumann5027]

Jav Ag ......yes he is 👍

[@TT-zi7hi]

'merica will do that to you

[@HaroldHivart]

He was really mad ! :-)

[@fanboy2015]

Kinski on his best behavior, believe it or not.

[@tylerdurden4368]

...true...

[@Tsagia]

Valium?Prozac?Elephant tranquilizer dart?

[@SaitohYatate]

All of the Above.

[@TheHarryBlock1]

Absolutely. I felt there was a dangerous point, like the Cuba crisis, when the host asked for his daugther, one could feel the vulcano rumbling deep inside. But the host didn't push any of his numerous red buttons and turned the talk back to great humour and let Kinksi steer the boat. In Germany, there was hardly an interview in which someones pushed his buttons, and he insulted someone. but Letterman handled him perfeclty.

[@enricoflaw4701]

Very typical for narcisist. Letterman was already then a very important person. Kinski was only nasty to people who were "below" him.

[@benediktmohr323]

Kinski would have been the perfect Joker

[@RevoltingRudi]

even the joker whould think klaus is total nutz.

[@maroof1]

Omg you could be so right

[@4ll3sb4n4n3]

Nah, Kinski is an egomaniac who loves to hear himself talk.

[@keyjob19]

Benedikt Mohr why

[@thymethome6755]

Jet Black True, Thats why he would be the Perfect Joker

[@maxd2215]

Hats off to David for dealing with Kinski without getting him into rage mode. It's been the smoothest and politest interview with him I have ever seen. The German and French audience must have been blown away by such calm and quiet moments.

[@yackfou2412]

You have to look ‚je später der Abend‘ mit kinski

[@justin-lb5uv]

his english isnt sufficuent enough to rant

[@ice9557]

It’s widely reported that he was into Caprophagy, Autosarcophagy, and Necrophillia, I once heard a story from a sound technician from CrawlSpace that he got famously drunk put his underwear on backwards cut out a hole in them and ran around the set with his giant ball sack hanging out which he glued a pair of Googly Eyes too. I don’t know where the myths begin and the facts end but there’s seriously some strange shit afoot with this guy! He’s widely considered the Charles Manson of cinema!!

[@jesuschristsuperstar9821]

​@@justin-lb5uv sufficient

[@jurgenv.6030]

Well, hard to believe for rednecks, but there are such interviews from Germany and France... 😀😀😀

[@grafikdrummer]

So, outside of germany he acted like a normal person?

[@samira7104]

grafikdrummer exactly what i thought

[@Reggie1408]

no there is a french interview in which he acts like his "normal" angry self

[@carapo66]

No, he was a raging lunatic in the Amazon jungle.

[@BuGGyBoBerl]

@@saladvolcano3103 sure, the maniac is the normal one and germans are weird.

[@kaltblut]

@JohnACorp782 put anyone next to kinski. the person who's not kinski is the normal one.

[@007Spadge]

Kinsky really likes Letterman, probably the only reason he's so calm

[@plasticboy81]

He just wanted to be Big in america. Only reason he is nice here.

[@D4RKBRU73]

No Alex is right. Also the fact that Letterman is smart enough to know how to handle Kinski

[@kristink8692]

The german media for Kinsky is like parents who love their child no matter what. They will always invite him again. So he acts out like a child. I think he just knows that Letterman is another level and that they don't need him there. Or maybe he just took something nice and feels peculiar fluffy.

[@Honorarkonsul1081]

i would say he feels safe in the situation because he knows he won´t be provoked by Letterman. he was just an authentic guy that divided him from 99% of other celebrities.

[@GG-zg5mx]

.... no, because Letterman is more eloquent than Kinski ... Kinski knew that he wouldn't have a chance against Letterman! That's why he was so calm!

[@ollietaro]

At the end of those 11 minutes and 43 seconds, sighs of relief from all around the studio were breathed.

[@titatwix]

yessss!!!!

[@MexlycanFilmico]

Kinski is acting here to look normal..... But inside him there is a volcano about to erupt.

[@lordharry423]

@Telios Abraxas He surrendered pretty quick in 1944

[@dannyberinger4634]

Stupid

[@YEC999]

He is so normal in that interview completely different to his other interviews

[@lukasschliepkorte3019]

The other way round. He always made a show when throwing a tantrum as soon as cameras rolled just to be normal Again in seconds afterwards.

[@MelloGee33]

People always talk about how "wacky" actors like Jack Nicholson, Dennis Hopper, Mickey Rourke, Nick Nolte, Tom Cruise and Charlie Sheen are in real life, but not one of them even comes close to Klaus Kinski. That dude was, hands-down, the craziest male actor off-screen to ever exist.

[@volpeverde6441]

Klaus had them all beat.... in competition for the lunatic trophy....

[@Tha3rdworldghost]

He's the gg allin of the acting world

[@UMAMIMAMU]

@@Tha3rdworldghost In all honesty. I think Kinski might have even had the capacity to freak out GG Allin.

[@wolfganghasenmaier8350]

Mickay Rourke would have eaten him for breakfast. Easily. Within a few seconds.

[@VictorLugosi]

@@wolfganghasenmaier8350are you on meth?

[@MachineSamba]

These unpolished interviews from a more authentic age in celebrity culture are so much more satisfying to watch than today's glossy, planned bullshit.

[@iscream2232]

True that

[@Honorarkonsul1081]

true words.

[@enriquesinghjr]

That's the way Letterman has always done his interviews.... and that's why some celebrities hated him (Madonna, Paris Hilton, etc) because his people would perhaps go through some questions and when they actually came to the show he would ask them whatever he wanted... Paris Hilton about her time in jail, which was actually kind of funny but also a little bit cruel... she said she would never come back... he apologized... and she did return.

[@prettisessor3941]

@@pashadyne Why do you say that?

[@prettisessor3941]

@@pashadyne I understand your feelings, it is getting worse all the time!

[@ricarleite]

I was cringing the whole time, just waiting for Kinski to burst into rage.

[@htf5555]

When i heard the word "peculiar" I thought he would go apeshit again.

[@cejka30]

ricarleite lol. Me too

[@plasticweapon]

kinski used the word during a 1971 interview.

[@muzzer27_]

It's not that he didn't know the meaning of the word 'peculiar', he just didn't know what David meant by saying 'pecauliar' in reference to some his roles.

[@phillytheflyerable]

he looks so humble, probably drugged down

[@james5460]

This is a fascinating interview. "You promised me coffee." You can tell this guy was a handful. "I would have done something, maybe without warning." I love this guy.

[@Synthpoptroubadour]

do you love him even knowing what he did to his daughter?

[@johnnyhammer]

@@Synthpoptroubadour That was the best bit!

[@MultiLililililili]

Herzog has a story about how important coffee was to Kinski . Males him froth at the mouth if its not how he likes it

[@modelcitizen72]

​@@MultiLilililililiI was actually nervous about what might happen if he took a sip.

[@moonlight-p1t]

Me too

[@TheBourbonStreet]

Klaus Kinski at his best behavior--- however, you can sense that he is a ticking time bomb.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

What's up with his reptile tongue...

[@TheBourbonStreet]

@@LarryFleetwood8675 He had a dry mouth, you can see this in almost every interview

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

@@TheBourbonStreet I guess so, or maybe it was because of cocaine use(?) or something.

[@TheBourbonStreet]

@@LarryFleetwood8675 Who knows... who cares, the man is dead. May he Rest In Peace...

[@edsnotgod]

​@@LarryFleetwood8675 he used that on his own daughter and Germans and Hollywood thought it was adorable

[@JMoruzzi]

"We're delighted to have him here..." Of course, in the 80s 'delighted' was slang for 'absolutely bloody terrified'.

[@guileniam]

Holy crap. When he said peculiar I thought hes gonna kill Letterman. Seriously it was more tense than the "how am I funny" scene from Goodfellas

[@gravityboxer]

Dizzy Blu lol true it immediately reminded me of that scene

[@carrrexx7190]

Peculiar how? 😃

[@hanumanvaya]

@@carrrexx7190 Just... ya know... you're peculiar...just how you tell the story.

[@D4RKBRU73]

Lol exactly :D

[@Gravyballs2011]

"peculiar" always reminds me of this scene from a 1975 film kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHzRq2CPgruKras

[@ignatiushorstmann2526]

Dude was such a goddamn lunatic. However, his performance in Aguirre, in my opinion, raised acting to the sphere of true high art

[@HartmutJagerArt]

And his acting in 'Nosferatu' as the Vampire is the greatest ever - bar none !

[@Account.for.Comment]

You meant by acting the same way he is.

[@KatarnCrusader]

He was born to play this role.

[@HartmutJagerArt]

@@Account.for.Comment With the exception of Sir Alec Guinness, the greatest actor in my opinion, the character and personality of every actor is reflected in his acting, as it is also in any other form of art.

[@Account.for.Comment]

@@HartmutJagerArt In short, I agree with you. Read books by actors, watch acting lessons and was part of a casting team. Here what they emphasized: Truth is Essential. The written characters are sketches, in which the actors colored with their own experiences and reactions by instincts. The more the actor resemble the character, the more easy and believable his acting is. I loved Aguirre but I would say Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lamb and Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad deserved more praise, acting wise, because they either managed to completely changed their characteristics, or managed to portray the whole range of that character. Kinski in Aguirre is a cheat code in a video game. The lunatic is fantastic because he acted in his truest self.

[@dkelly26666]

Kinski could often be ornery and easily upset in interviews. He is so relaxed and playful here. It's nice to see him being nice....

[@colderbeer]

Maybe he had some great sex earlier....

[@DeadEyeWithTheRedEye]

colderbeer best ask his daughter....

[@jnnh7654]

Yes!!!!

[@Claytone-Records]

Jennifer Harrison, Are you serious? Sick bastard.. I knew he was nuts, but that is something else. And not in a good way of course.

[@245-TRIOXIN]

He was a massive nonce.

[@vorhangauf...]

Letterman's way to talk to Kinski was the perfect one. It's not easy to treat such an explosive character like Klaus Kinski was.

[@Hurricane_Manners]

I've only ever seen Kinski in one acting role, and that is as the hunchback in For A Few Dollars more, and for a minor supporting role he sure as hell stands out.

[@azynkron]

The guy that handled his medication before this interview doesn't get enough appreciation.

[@stephencollier453]

Kinski having match struck on his back strap by Lee Van Cleef in "For A Few Dollars More" and Kinski's reaction to it. Surely one of the best moments in cinematic history.

[@paulsummers2640]

"In ten minutes, you'll be smokin' in hell."

[@29brendus]

"well, well, well, if it isn't the smoker?"

[@roboi2241]

Masterpiece, not a word spoken during the entire scene, just silence and suspense.

[@stephencollier453]

Yes, absolute marvelous - and several camera shots of Eastwood's expression throughout the scene says it all.

[@Steve-yd8dt]

Is quivering lip 😆😆😆

[@marvinwhittlesey3563]

Klaus Kinski was a brilliant actor who had mental issues. He worked both in Europe and the US. He's been called the craziest actor on two continents!

[@thierrymarcellus9082]

Asked for coffee Doesn’t drink the coffee. My hero 😂

[@glockta2910]

ik he is such a basket case.

[@sunshineandwarmth]

You see how fast they got it ready? It was probably instant. Would a European drink instant? No. But they would likely think Americans would think it would be OK to serve a guest instant coffee, even after he'd already put his order in for coffee.

[@terryrollins1973]

You've really got to hand it to Dave for his skills, nobody else has successfully interviewed Kinski like this. What a gem 💎

[@selinakyle2368]

You should see the interview with his daughter

[@inlakesh555]

Dave was really connected and interested

[@eirikmoltu553]

What's so skillful about this?

[@selinakyle2368]

@@eirikmoltu553 🙄🙄🙄

[@acch20]

And herzog for extracting his talent in so many films

[@JeradSteadman]

Klaus was so charming here he was on his best behavior

[@Groucho3321]

I like how he keeps saying he and Herzog didn't get along, and fueling the myth about their vicious feud. In reality he and Herzog were really good friends, and care for each other. They made five films together, that's no accident. Kinski had a virulent temper, that's no secret, but Herzog knew how to handle it and use it in benefit of Kinski's acting.

[@dfjtobin]

Love/hate relationship, they wanted to kill each other, but also needed to work together, watch the doco My best friend about their 'friendship'.

[@brianwalsh1401]

@@dfjtobin Saw where they lived in the same rooming house in 1953 Berlin maybe and Herzog said Kinski didn't come out of the communal bathroom for 2 days and when he did everything was broken. Herzog was 13 at the time.

[@kaufmadsce]

My German father-in-law used to speak to him frequently in Marin County, California around this time. He recalls the Kinski we see here, a pleasant man making the usual small talk about life. His madness was always there, but not always provoked.

[@haanis5458]

Some of his costars in some movies have also said that he had a warmer side. It was just that he would go from warm and nice, to angry and insane in a second. The dude was literally a psychopath. He was diagnosed and all. The reason he got so many jobs was just because he was so immensely talented. He did a lot of bad and terrible things, but in a way it was kinda not his fault. He need psychicatric help. He should really not played in any movie. I am sure that all the stress that comes with being a movie star doesn't help with you mental health

[@ritahorvath8207]

. a pleasant man . . . .

[@kikisan6328]

@@haanis5458the fact that he r**** his daughter for 14 years since she was 5 was not his fault?

[@Michael-wn4jj]

He played himself in the movies, a balance between genius and madness ready to explode any time. Making him a believable actor.

[@thadeusvanberg7575]

Thank You to make Kinski comfortable. Makes me happy. Greetings from Germany, north sea.

[@WakeRunSleep]

6:39 "You promised me coffee, right?" Probably the only guest making sure he gets his coffee mid interview.

[@Gieszkanne]

And he didnt even drank it ; )

[@-yputr7206]

Lul why he didnt argue and shout?

[@johnrogan9420]

Kaffee mit milch...wo ist mein milch und sugur!

[@johnrogan9420]

@70sNEON klaus verstandt mein Deutschen Worden!

[@GiandomenicoDeMola]

@@johnrogan9420 das ist kein Deutsch, das ist Pennsylfaanisch Deitsch

[@ffeis]

The reason why Kinski was so friendly is that he saw the dollar notes of the US film industry in front of him. There are moments when you behave.

[@Zodroo_Tint]

Every european actor knows the US is a delicate place with full of money. You have to follow the rules or you are out. Funny because they are so proud to have freedom meanwhile in Europe you can not do one thing, one thing only but every other thing you free to do, some people will drop you but the industry will not. That one thing is criticizing a certain country or questioning a certain event.

[@jareknowak8712]

@@Zodroo_Tint What country/event?

[@therainman7777]

@@jareknowak8712Germany and the holocaust.

[@andrewmacleod4218]

Also, his daughter Nastassja would have been filming Paris Texas at that time. I don’t know anything about their relationship, but I imagine he wouldn’t want to embarrass her, steal her limelight or sabotage her career by acting stupid.

[@therainman7777]

@@andrewmacleod4218 Yeah I really doubt he was concerned about that at all.

[@marcblum5348]

Dave is well prepared and really drives the conversation, never letting Kinski take control. Well done.

[@MrKahlerHahn]

Self preservation. Giving kinski the chance to talk himself into a rage turns nasty

[@modelcitizen72]

And to do it so affably!

[@spacelook9076]

Indeed. The audience did the rest, with perfect timing.

[@Kouros-y2t]

If Kinski wanted to take control, he would have done it. There are several interviews in german, where he is just as calm and expresses thought of him about life. He wasn't a constant raging lunatic who always wants to take control.

[@gretchenbusiness9928]

1. Kinski demands coffee and then never even drinks it. Does he want it for a prop or a way to demand control? 2. He says he doesn’t like Herzog but keeps redirecting the topic of conversation back to him. 3. Watch what he does with his right hand and his overall body language. He’s nervous, uncomfortable, guarded, defensive, almost insecure. A fascinating character!

[@flatisland]

the audience always thinks that he's joking ... when he's not

[@seinfeld8812]

Many years ago I asked my father what the difference is between Leno and Letterman...he explained to me he thought Dave's humor was better received by more intelligent people and Jay was more slapstick humor. You're comment reminded me of that conversation many years back. Cheers!

[@flatisland]

@@seinfeld8812 who you think I meant? :-)

[@eric_oleander]

@@flatisland it's just showing how unfamiliar americans are with the real kinski

[@flatisland]

:-) ... therefore a recommendable read: the Wiki article about him, especially the paragraph "mental illness"

[@NovaJake360]

I can't believe how fun and well mannered he is here.

[@PornobrillenAli]

@@fabienh3943 She has zero proof to back up her claims. She spent through all the money that her father left her and then right before a book of her comes out she tells the story. What a fluke !

[@peternemeth1777]

It's the skill and experience and degree of professionalism of letterman why he stays calm. Usually Kinsky seeks in any interview in any country for a reason so that he can burst out in anger but letterman is too much of a professional. He has Kinsky under control and uses the respect that Kinsky has for him and the love he has for Dave to steer the situation to another place when he feels that his guest could start to build up and acumulate qantagonisms and agressions. Dave simply has total control. He's always conscious that mutual respect and courteousy is the basis that prevents that he loses control.

[@giovanna722]

@@245-TRIOXINHe's crazy, narcissistic as hell, although, as others have mentioned, oddly charming when he wants to be. I believe the girls.

[@VambeefcoHorzey]

@@PornobrillenAli What proof do you want to see? Soiled undergarments? Semen stains on bedsheets?

[@nokia3210fuck]

@@VambeefcoHorzey Proof that meets the standarts to be used in court. Accusations don't mean anything !

[@3L3CTR0static]

As usual his tongue lives another life and does what it wants

[@daustmann]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug

[@Paul47Tat]

@@daustmann I don't think for a second he was on cocaine. That guy on cocaine wouldn't be able to sit down, let alone talk quietly.

[@haraldtoepfer233]

@@Paul47Tat yeah, but more a sign for mental issues.

[@tamexberlin]

totally right 😂 fly me to the moooon 👍😁

[@rosifischer1363]

Reptile.

[@terenceskill9526]

What I find truly amazing is that he really sounds pretty much the same in German, French and English, as well. A lot of people tend to lose at least bit of their soul and their spontaneousness when they express themselves in a foreign language, but Klaus is completely himself in every language he speaks, even though he´s not even close to perfect. Plus: he appeared to be much more easy-care when he was in the USA, I guess that´s where he felt himself being in the right place. One of showbusiness´ greatest coke-queens of all time, I love him for not giving a single sh*t what people thought about him, at all.

[@RaikenXion]

When you can learn to be like that and have such a confidence that you simply don't care what people think of you; as long as you're not harming anyone or being offensive and causing trouble, i think you are truly free and are "alive". That and just pushing yourself to reach your full potential.

[@samhell3524]

I disagree…Kinski was hyper fixated on what people thought of him, this is no secret…he always gave a shit about what people thought or at least fixated on people thinking about him in the same light he thought of himself, he was easily offended, delusional and self obsessed which is why he such a fascinating character.

[@flonkplonk1649]

He also is in every movie the same: Klaus Kinski

[@terenceskill9526]

@@gunnarb.7094 ...what are the first things kids are learning to say in a foreign language, traditionally? 😄 Exactly 😄

[@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars]

@@flonkplonk1649 I read that in a German accent btw

[@bigbrotherishere]

Kinski was an extreme and difficult man, and a truly gifted performer.

[@flonkplonk1649]

He was the best actor ever playing himself

[@Youtube-Censorship-Police]

max giermann is very close though :D

[@bierundkippen720]

... who raped is daughter.

[@GCKelloch]

How dare you insult Mr. Kinski by calling him "gifted". He alone was responsible for his every spectacular moment on screen!

[@scrapgrace]

And the rapist of his own daughter :^)

[@thomka4576]

This is the first interview in English I see with Kinski and also the first one I see where he answers questions :-)

[@twomindz79]

Ha. So true .

[@stefan.5987]

I was born in 1983 and thought he is going to bottle it. A true legend (especially for his speeches). R.I.P. Klaus Kinski

[@D4RKBRU73]

I never thought i would say this but, kudos to Letterman. I dont like him, but he was smart enough to know how to handle Kinski.

[@walterweiss7124]

probably they had a lot of respect to each other, that's why

[@SivSeran]

Kinski: if cocaine if ever materialized as a german person.

[@u.z.9383]

Michael Cocaine that’s a good one. He is famous for his meltdowns on live tv in Germany. But he was a great actor anyway. They are talking about the movie Fitzcarraldo. Jason Robarts competed with him for the main role, but Kinski outplayed him with ease.

[@mollerruedi1883]

Polen

[@DieWacht]

Koks Kinski

[@moonlight-p1t]

Oh another German basher..😂😂

[@ronniebrown2517]

i was living in austin, texas during the 80s...went to walk in theaters to see aguire, fritzcaraldo, and i think two others...blew me away...klaus was spectacular in all of them....saw a couple of them several times...this was even before vcr/vhs tapes...the physical effort to see klaus was well worth it....

[@Chris-en1zh]

Kinski had a magic and sincere smile that let him get away with the most disturbing eccentricities.

[@nigellaird8655]

Too true Chris, an easy effusive smile is a "psycho's" best weapon/defence. Kinski was a truly great actor and a deeply flawed human being. Herzog had the measure of him & their collaborations are amongst the greatest in cinema history.

[@khan8590]

david was scared when he asked abt his coffee plus the speed at which coffee was being made otherwise wrath of god would have descended upon them

[@frankiemac5851]

Lmao!!

[@valterspatriks8752]

W.Herzog in his masterclass told a story about how there was a plane crash nearby where they shot and the person behind the radio was telling them about injured or survivors and how they could help, and suddenly Kinski comes out and screams from the top of his lungs about who dared to bring him lukewarm coffee.

[@jamesdrichardson3447]

He'd have made a great Bond Villian, probably the best that never was. He was made for Nosferatu, no other actor could have bettered his performance.

[@sosbernede5467]

According to a German book about the Bond movies he was supposed to get a part as a villain in Thunderball. Maybe the part of Vargas.

[@jamesdrichardson3447]

Yes I can see him playing that role really well. That got me thinking who is the British equivalent of Klaus Kinski and I think the late Oliver Reed can come close. There aren't any hellraisers left that I can think of that come anywhere near those two.

[@sosbernede5467]

@@jamesdrichardson3447 Yes, it would be probably Oliver Reed. Kinski and Reed hated each other through the filming of Venom. It`s still one of my favourite Kinski movies.

[@jamesdrichardson3447]

@@sosbernede5467 If I remember correctly Kinski plays a terrorist with a poisonous Black Mamba snake on the loose in an Embassy Building in London, I can't remember Oliver Reed even being in that movie. Maybe he disliked Kinski because he had the better part to play and Reed was a secondary player.

[@sosbernede5467]

@@jamesdrichardson3447 Yes, but it takes place in a London flat and not in an Embassy. Kinski plays the main villian and Reed his partner. Both have plenty of sceen time. Kinski gave everyone a very tough time and Reed was always provoking him. The director once said that the Black Mamba -they used a real one for most of the scenes - was the nicest person on the set.

[@michaelbender1048]

Dave treated Klaus with respect, and Klaus appreciated that. And Klaus was a great actor.

[@kingminos4780]

Klaus also raped and abused his own daughter for most of her childhood/teenage life...

[@bal_masque]

Kinski was a great actor, but a horrible person as well.

[@brianbozo2447]

Dave Letterman is the best interviewer ever.

[@Tha3rdworldghost]

​@@bal_masqueSome of the world's greatest artist are also the world's greatest scum. Its important to separate the art from the artist.

[@teabaggg23]

I totally noticed that too. Makes me wonder how exaggerated his reputation might be.

[@GaitaPonto]

The only time when the Joker's TV presenter scene was close to happen in real life.

[@ponekingpetch3595]

There has been a lot written and said about Klaus throughout the decades, but if you deny the fact that he was an acting genius, you don't know what the hell you are talking about. The man was a totally driven perfectionist in his craft, and he couldn't have cared less what anyone else thought. One of the best European actors ever, IMO.

[@domanskikid]

@ ponekingpetch3595 Dude, not one person his denying his “monumental” ability as an actor. That’s NEVER been what people have had an issue with restarting the man. But he’s been dead for decades, you don’t have to keep licking the madman’s boots. 🙄

[@siralfredramsey]

That‘s BS. There had been many much much much more better actors in europe than Kinski. Believe me!! He is just popular because of his rages. Without these horrible manners no one would have known him. He was a pure pain in the ass and a child abuser. But Not a good actor!!

[@alvarosousa7707]

Era sim um grande ator-acho que devo ter visto todos filmes do kLAUS. ADMIRAVA-O MUITO PELA SUA PERFEIÇÃO---MAS QUANDO LI TANTA INFORMAÇÃO , QUE ERA UM ESTUPRADOR E VIOLENTO PARA AS FILHAS-A FICHA CAIU-----PARA MIM ZERO.

[@siralfredramsey]

This comment underestimates the quality of european actors in a really awful way!! Please believe me, there have been so many great actors here in germany. Kinski just kicked off the jam by forcing scandals and pissing on nice people! I may name you several actors who were‘nt famous abroad europe because they had more manners. Ok, in the U.S. showing off is anything. That‘s why you have Donald Trump coming up for the next President. He‘s a narcist, a criminal and ugly paranoic psychopath. Just like Kinski, who fucked stupid audiences and his oldest daughter over and over.

[@SvonJunzt]

I like how Kinski brushes it off as if it were only minor spats and creative difficulties and Herzog went and made an entire documentary about how it almost ended in murder! LMAO

[@TheTimeDetective42]

That's cos Herzog is the crazy one out of the two and is actually a bit of a drama queen as much as Kinski. Everyone is fooled into thinking Kinski is the crazy one cos he acted crazy on stage so that must be real life LO!L

[@WombieFerguson]

@@TheTimeDetective42 There are endless numbers of people who were close to Kinski who basically confirm that he was an extremely abusive and toxic person. His daughter says that he sexually abused her from the age of 5 until adulthood

[@VulgrimOfficial]

The 9 Bullet story🤣

[@GetBenched2010]

A LOT of that was fictional accounts though. Kinski himself told Herzog he said things like that in his book because "nobody would buy it otherwise".

[@jdrush92yo]

@@TheTimeDetective42 kinski was a diagnosed psychopath... lol.

[@janksamillion]

I'm currently reading "Herzog On Herzog", which includes this passage: "I took [Kinski] to see a doctor, who asked routine questions about allergies and hereditary diseases, and then: 'Mr Kinski, have you ever suffered from fits of any kind?' 'YES, EVERY DAY!' screamed Kinksi at the highest pitch possible, before laying waste to the doctor's office." I had never seen him in a film or interviews, and was expecting something like Lemongrab from Adventure Time. This... isn't that.

[@ytubeanon]

+Chris Bauer Klaus Kinski, "unacceptable."

[@sonicthehedgegod]

literally any other interview is exactly that lmao

[@carlosx1237]

This quote made me laugh very hard. I gotta read that book.

[@tomatofaceddisgrace]

Lemongrab 😂😂😂😂

[@ice9557]

It’s widely reported that he was into Caprophagy, Autosarcophagy, and Necrophillia, I once heard a story from a sound technician from CrawlSpace that he got famously drunk put his underwear on backwards cut out a hole in them and ran around the set with his giant ball sack hanging out which he glued a pair of Googly Eyes too. I don’t know where the myths begin and the facts end but there’s seriously some strange shit afoot with this guy! He’s widely considered the Charles Manson of cinema!!

[@stevefowler2112]

I still remember him best as the hunchback bad guy/desparado in the Clint Eastwood For a few dollars more classic.

[@VAHOSS]

Well, well.....if it isn't the smoker 😄

[@Maetrei]

In two minutes you'll be smoking in hell

[@AlexFeltcha.k.a.SonicAL]

@felix mendez "GET UP! On your feet. Cuchillio, count to 3"

[@rtstrong]

Kinski's sceen with Van Cleef was the best, "I usually smoke after my meal."

[@collinmartin2566]

Friendly reminder this man (while shooting a scene in the film Aguirre) swung a sword so hard into an extras head, that had it not been for his helmet, would’ve split his skull open.

[@sheba9679]

Ein ruhiger und freundlicher Kinski. Na sowas.

[@julianschmidt4905]

Romy Schneider Exakt. Er hat eh Probleme mit der englischen Sprache und backt daher lieber kleine Brötchen. Er weiß, dass er den Kampf nicht gewinnen kann.

[@christophbader3713]

Freundlich... was für ein Ekel er auch hier ist.

[@julianschmidt4905]

Christoph Bader Freundlicher konnte er nicht sein. Er ist einfach nie eine freundliche Person gewesen.

[@christophbader3713]

Julian Schmidt Er ist manipulativer Narzist, der nebenbei seine Tochter Pola über Jahre mehr als nur belästigte. Er wäre vermutlich im Gefängnis, würde er noch leben.

[@itsokay7989]

@@christophbader3713 Yadda Yadda bla bla was wäre wenn 🙄

[@triptothebeach]

Many thanks from germany for this very rare upload.

[@christophbader3713]

A video of a child molester.

[@niksarass]

Many thanks from his daughter lol

[@elledriver3509]

He would have been great in a Tarantino movie ... 😂

[@fenrislegacy]

Kinski would have eaten Tarantino for breakfast.

[@AA-sn9lz]

Nah Tarantino couldn't have handled him

[@tarekal-hakim4643]

I assume that Kinski would have been the only actor on the canvas. We call it here hommage

[@sealife12]

@@AA-sn9lz nah he could’ve.

[@sealife12]

@@fenrislegacy wow you sound like you know these people on a intimate level, like you’ve been around them and seen how they react in different scenarios, so much so that you’ve developed keen insight into how they would interact with one another. Incredible.

[@Riskmangler]

Late Night was so great during the early-mid 80's. It was raw, irreverent and cutting edge television.

[@Gromitdog1]

This interview is farther away from now than it was then from the end of ww2

[@freddiem8801]

You can see he doesn't like being interrupted, a couple of times he almost lost it. But great actor 🇬🇧🇹🇷🇬🇧🇹🇷

[@flonsta]

Thank you SO much for posting this. I did not remember Kinski ever being on Letterman (whom I watched religiously)! This is a joy.

[@1SaG]

"when you're on a set ... do you cause trouble?" "Naaaw... that would be too exhausting..." Riiiiight.

[@GeorgiaOverdrive]

Du dumme Sau!

[@SteviesCreativeArts]

how friendly and normal can Kinski behave suddenly, once he is out of Germany?! Unbelievable! Never seen him like this in any interview/show!

[@serkanates7359]

Probably he didn't take German media for full. Sad that he suddenlybis respectfull when it is American . Poor

[@jurgenv.6030]

He behaved like this in Germany too - but only, when interviewers were not idiots.

[@Gieszkanne]

The is alsp an interview in france where he explode very fast and left. So this has nothing to do with beeing different outside germany.

[@bhuvidya]

Klaus Kinski is amazing. No other actor brought that level of intensity to the big screen.

[@christophbader3713]

I don’t agree. Overacting it is called. Ruining the life of his daughter Polo - there he was intense.

[@BillWhammers]

rubbish, plenty of actors did. he's memorable though, indeed. you remember him because of how idiosyncratic he was.

[@benjamincorcoran119]

I can’t believe he could be so humble the entire time. Even with Letterman’s jokes. He still laughed it off and looked like he was having a good time. It just baffles my mind.

[@YEC999]

i love how the audience thinks he is joking is he is talking about killing Herzog, when he is completely not.

[@Stereozentrum]

I find it quite impressive how fluent he is in English considering the time he grew up and worked in.

[@bastiliedtk4390]

He is the Joker in a non tragic setting.

[@steveconn]

Joker had a cake-walk childhood compared to him: drafted into Hitler's child army, his POW boat sunk by allied subs.

[@なべちゃん-q1u]

He is one of my favorite supporting actors in Bodyguard in the Wilderness，and the match scene was very impressive．😊

[@clifffor1179]

Klaus Kinski. Lovely gentle man. Said no one ever. lol

[@walterweiss7124]

the great pretender

[@vast634]

Everyone knew he was a psychopath, and he never pretended not to be. Hidden psychopaths are worse.

[@chriscraft77022]

I LOVE HIM.. he speaks german in case you think he doesnt know what hes talking about,..

[@edwin11373]

Haha, Klaus doesn't need coffee. The man is caffeine itself. Dude is hyper AF. ^^

[@charliemcdribble2672]

grade A 80s cocaine right there

[@jnnh7654]

Klaus seems to have tardive dyskinesia a side effect of antipsychotics

[@stephanx2384]

Check him out licking his lips all the time. Dude was coked out of his head. Probably got some good shit supplied by Dave backstage so he was in a good mood...

[@DelasVC]

I'm surprised he's actually having a conversation with David instead of his usual confused monologue 😂

[@vicariously143]

I can feel the rage bubbling beneath

[@rfink222]

What a character, just looking at his facial expressions was entertaining. He was the perfect actor for Sergio spaghetti westerns because he looked like a psycho killer bad guy.

[@TheSergioGalle1]

every genius looks crazy. he can be whatever people say but he was a legendary actor.

[@RobGordon35]

Thank you for this! Love Herzog / Kinski

[@tobiasikas5078]

Mein Gott, Klaus Kinski hat sich, im Gespräch, total gut benommen. Man muss allerdings auch sagen, dass Letterman ein toller Gastgeber ist.

[@alerojas2952]

Mein gott im himmel

[@gabidemagic]

Wow THIS is his best Performance...... he plays this calm and friendly guy in this Interview!!! realy good!!! 😳

[@SaithMasu12]

Back then he actually could simply act as this nice guy and everyone who didnt know it better would totally bite. But this only worked because the world wide web did not exist for the normal consumer and the everyday citizen in america had no idea about his mental state. Nowadays everything is immediatly in the open. If you behave like a dick elsewhere in the world, people still know now.

[@mediascribble]

What a unique human being Klaus is. You literally won't run into too many Klaus Kinskis in your life.

[@nonni139]

Thank God for that.

[@edsnotgod]

although islamists in Germany try so hard

[@callumgillies9611]

Social workers do.

[@Tha3rdworldghost]

​@@nonni139Never a dull moment. I love hanging out with extreme personalities.

[@nonni139]

@@Tha3rdworldghost I guess its fun as long as youre not one of his daughters.. ( I know you might be a male, but you get what I mean, since Klaus was a bit incestious)

[@scottsimmons7897]

I watched Aguirre and was thinking the same thing Kinski states here. Someone could have easily been killed while filming the rafting scenes. The filming conditions must have absolutely dangerous and deplorable: the Peruvian jungle in the early 70's. And Herzog probably was oblivious to this fact and cared about nothing but making his movie.

[@guruleinii]

There's an opposing side to this though (check out the BBC HARDTalk interview with Werner Herzog or the movie he made about Kinski).. I think you have to be open enough to listen to both sides and then try to make up your mind and even then (considering how difficult and tumultuous their relationship was) it is almost impossible for us outsiders to really find some sort of truth in there and take a side as a consequence, imo.

[@gravityboxer]

mollem Dude to be honest, Herzog was as insane as Kinski, but Kinski was more of a neurotic guy who you could easily tell was insane. Herzog was quiet but very narcissistic and psychopathic in a calm way and very machiavellic when it came to making a film. Most artists are a fucking rollercoaster of mental illnesses but hey at least we get to have fun watching them!

[@browngirlinaclownworld2077]

@Hans S Madness, violence and depravity are the cornerstones of all great works of art. From the Bhagavad Gita to the Holy Bible to the works of Shakespeare to films of Akira Kurosawa.

[@EmilyHartley25989]

@Hans S You’re absolutely right

[@aselliofacchio]

Herzog is a crazy artist, that's what makes him special.

[@LaoZi2023]

Klaus did an excellent job in A Few Dollars More. A riveting part he played.

[@sa.de.sm.5864]

As a German I can confirm he behaved very well in this Interview.

[@jacla666]

If he hasn't become this successful actor, i'm sure he could have been an infamous serial killer.

[@schlitzohrnielson6457]

Ich weiß nicht wie oft ich das schon angeschaut habe, ich habe aufgehört zu zählen. Klasse immer wieder gerne einfach nur köstlich. Der Typ von Klaus Kinski war der Hammer

[@6linx9]

In German TV shows, Kinski was usually very uncomfortable for the presenter. I always liked that. The guy was one of a kind! Nowadays in German talk shows, the celebrities want to be loved by everyone. Most of the time it's just boring.

[@alerojas2952]

Aaaaaaaaaa nobody cares

[@cestarrivepresdechezvous1789]

@@alerojas2952 18 people are interested in this! Du Honk!

[@wkenneth7916]

He is so balanced here, it's even more frightening than his tantrums.

[@davis7099]

Great actor with madness bubbling up in his performances and mad in real life too. Remember that he was a traumatized child of the destruction of Germany in the War which may go some way to explaining aspects of his troubled personality

[@ButThatsMuhFreeduhm]

When you finally managed talking yourself into taking your medicine.

[@raymondjunger4742]

I think he took less "medicine" in this interview

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

I was expecting them to come back from the commercials into a completely trashed studio, bits of shredded furniture everywhere, Letterman tucked into a corner holding his breath quietly going "is he gone? what? no no no cut the cameras! cut cut cut!'

[@jovanblom7742]

Letterman is a superlative interviewer - he could even handle psychotics.

[@susannesuanne2700]

kinkisi was an europan genius and he always tried to escape your hollwood elite as he know that behind it is your bohemian grove club trup he was very honest and he was never to buy for nothing he had lots of problems becojuse he ddid not wanted to make movies with spielberg and copola he was a great person 100% honest you are not teh kind of peron to call him psychotic...he was a genius and you in usa are a bohemain grove club ...puiiips ...god save us ...in your tv only freemason s are and he was clear about were he is there...on a place he did not wanted to deal with ..

[@Sc0pee]

This great person stalked a woman in her own house and choked her because she had earlier turned him down and later in his life sexually molested his two daughters.

[@serratop]

This genius was a sexual pig, he did fuck his 2 daughters

[@davejoerger8928]

susanne suanne Bei ihm wurde angeblich eine Schizophrenie diagnostiziert als er in den 50er Jahren einige Zeit in einer psychiatrischen Anstalt verbracht hat.

[@kendrahwhyte9960]

serratop Thanks, I was unaware of all this.

[@BloodylocksBathory]

I'm surprised he's behaving himself as much as he is. I was fully expecting some kind of Brother Theodore behavior.

[@jkenney2]

I've been searching years for this interview. I was beginning to doubt that it actually took place.

[@AcapulKero]

Best German actor of all the time! He´s a legend already.

[@Berniewahlbrinck]

An actor who plays only himself is no actor.

[@alvarosousa7707]

Lenda de estuprador das filhas--não esqueca

[@andyonthemoon]

@@Berniewahlbrinck we are all craving to see your Masterpieces.

[@derby2510]

He can behave if he wants to. He doesn't go after Letterman with the "I don't understand the question" over and over again.