Klaus Kinski  (born Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski; 18 October 1926 – 23 November 1991) was a German actor.  He appeared in more than 130 films, and was a leading role actor in the films of Werner Herzog, including Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972), Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), Woyzeck (1979), Fitzcarraldo (1982), and Cobra Verde (1987).  He was considered a controversial figure in Germany.  Some of his violent outbursts on set were filmed in Herzog’s documentary My Best Fiend.  (More from Wikipedia)