Werner Klemperer, everyone's favorite TV German Air Force colonel, was best known for his role as the bumbling Col. Wilhelm Klink on the comedy series _"Hogan's Heroes" . His identification with Nazi roles notwithstanding, Klemperer was in real life the son of a Jew who fled with his family from Nazi Germany in the 1930s. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. When he was offered the Col. Klink role, Klemperer only agreed to do it if the show's producers promised that Klink would never succeed in any of his schemes. "Col. Klink" earned Klemperer five Emmy nominations, and he took home the trophy twice, in 1968 and 1969. After the series, Klemperer carved out an impressive musical career as a conductor and also served as a narrator with many major U.S. symphony orchestras. He was an accomplished concert violinist.
Served in the U.S. Army from 1942-1945.
He conducted the Buffalo Orchestra.
Son of conductor Otto Klemperer.
He appeared as Pasha Selim in the Mozart opera "The Abduction From the Seraglio".
Klemperer also appeared as a narrator with nearly every major symphony orchestra in the United States. His repertoire included such works as Beethovens "Egmont" and "Fidelio," Stravinskys "LHistorie du Soldat" and "Oedipus Rex."
One of his favorite works was as narrator in "Peter and the Wolf," which he performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Although he was most famous for playing a colonel in the German Luftwaffe (air force), Klemperers family fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s (his fathers family was Jewish).
For many years, he served as an elected member of the National Council of Actors Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Immersed himself into learning English so completely, that he found himself actually thinking and dreaming in English.
Was nominated for Broadways 1988 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Musical) for a revival of "Cabaret."
Is portrayed by Kurt Fuller in Auto Focus .
His last acting role was as Colonel Klink, reprising his most famous character, on a 1993 episode of "The Simpsons" . His familiar cry "Hogan!" became "Homer!" as he counseled Homer Simpson.
During World War II, served in the U.S. Army and was assigned to Maurice Evans Special Entertainment Unit serving with fellow actor Carl Reiner.
Klemperer agreed to take the role of Col. Klink in "Hogans Heroes" only on the condition that none of Klinks schemes would ever succeed and that he would always wind up looking foolish.
He was nominated for a 1975 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Guest Artist for his performance in "The Great Sebastians," at the Ivanhoe Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
During his guest appearance on "The Pat Sajak Show" he was presented with a monocle by Pat Sajak, as the host had learned that Werners original monocle from his "Hogans Heroes" days had recently been taken from his personal collection.
Along with Gary Busey , he is one of only two actors to appear in all three of the longest running prime time scripted series in US television history: "Gunsmoke" , "The Simpsons" and "Law & Order" .
