He never looks like he aged. He is being extremely modest in this interview. He was actually a wonderful actor and symphony conductor and could do drama as well as comedy. We miss you, Mr. Klemperer. Rest in Peace, Ivan Dixon.
Ivan Thank you for being a part of the show I love. My wife purchased the box set for me a couple of years ago. It was a great cast down to the most obscure role actors. While bob crane did a great job as the lead, Werner was the best character. Seems like he got funnier every season. What a show!
You're right, he doesn't look like he aged at all, just a little thicker. I got to meet Alan Young who played Wilbur on "Mr Ed" he looked exactly the same too, just a little grayer and a little thicker! Don't do drugs or drink too much, kids!
Rest in peace, Werner. Nobody can play Col. Klink the way he did. I hope they never make a modern movie of Hogan's Heroes like they did for Get Smart, because you just can't replace people like Werner Klemperer and John Banner. Rest in peace you awesome guys!
My uncle was a German POW in the actual Stalag 13 in WW2. When he visited and I turned on Hogan’s Heroes my Mom told me to turn it off. My uncle asked me to keep it on as he loved the show.
Oh that's pretty wild, but people from back then had backbones and didn't let the government or others "feel" or think for them. God bless your Uncle and thanks to him for his service!
Class act. Nothing like the character he portrayed, which is the sign of a great actor. RIP along with the rest of your co-stars, Werner. And know that your legacy lives on.
Guy was an absolute genius playing Col Klink...Brilliant acting, brilliant character and Hogans Heroes would not be as great a show as it was without his amazing portrayal
Back in the 80's, Werner performed Prokofiev's Peter And The Wolf with the Florida Symphony where I performed in the string section. The man had a great voice. Sad he is not with us today. But he had a full life.
Yes, he was an accomplished violinist. He even played in the first violins section with the Philarmonia Orchestra under the direction of his father, Otto Kemplerer. There is a video here in RU-vid where the orchestra plays Beethoven’s Ninth and Werner can be clearly seen from 8:49 on, behind the concertino. (Sans le monocle...)
@@Michelle-ju6vs As I recall from one episode. Right after an air battle or air raid where Burkhalter says he never wants to think about American Airman again. Then violin pops up "Wild blue yonder.' 😂👍
And Werner was an accomplished violinist. There is a video here in RU-vid in which his father Otto conducts the Philarmonia Orchestra and Werner is clearly seen playing in the first violins section behind the first violin. (Without the monocle of course).
@Norelco pc Oh yeah? Well name someone smart ass. Go ahead. Because there are just some roles only one actor could play masterfully. I doubt another actor would've been able to make a Natzi colonel lovable and funny or won two emmys for the part other than Klemperer.
@@norelcopc2431 Yes somebody else could have played him.. and it might have been a good show or it might not have made it past the first season.. so just shutup
Was honored to meet Mr. Klemperer when working as a cameraman at KSTP-TV back in 1981 and he signed my rundown sheet. He was a very decent guy, as was Leon Askin who was on the show with him, I don't recall why. Mr. Askin was a very fun person and did "labor camp" commercials for our AM station. Such talent and humility is rare to find, if not impossible today.
this man was a gentleman. and a great actor. I read it was his idea to have colonel klink as a bumbling fool as his condition to act as commandant klink so he was a comedy genius. rest in peace Mr Werner klemplerer you will always be remembered.
Yes, Klemperer elected to play Klink as a bumbling buffoon who never gets an upper hand by the end of each Hogan's episode; being Jewish on his father's side, he accepted the role on the condition that Klink, being on the most wrong side imaginable (a German officer during Hitler's Nazi regime which murdered millions of Jews and other innocent people) should always come out the loser by show's conclusion.
I might also add that Klemperer was "Leslie Nielsen" before there ever WAS a Leslie Nielsen: he reinvented himself from a stalwart dramatic character actor to one of the great buffoons in all entertainment media, long before Nielsen, also a "stalwart dramatic character actor," starred in AIRPLANE! and thenceforth became a comedy sensation.
Not only was Klemperer insistent on scripting Klink as a fool, but so detested the Nazi regime that he often insisted on changes to the script that would protray the entire German army as inept and doomed to failure.
I loved Hogan's Heroes when I was little, they showed reruns of it here in Norway in the 1990s and it was probably my favorite show as a kid! RIP Werner Klemperer
Chris Winkler He is for a lot of us who came up in the 70's and 80's too. I used to watch the reruns of "Hogan's Heroes" with my dad, a WWII vet who didn't have us kids until later in life, and he loved the show.
I am in my thirties and was introduced to Hogans heroes by my dad who watched it on television when he was growing up. I have every episode on DVD. Rest in Mr Klemperer, and every passed cast and crew member of that show.
What was amazing were the many actors on the show who were immigrants who survived WW2 (whether as concentration camp survivors or service men who fought in the war against the Nazi's) and immigrated to the United States for a better chance at life. Each had an incredible story, and for all to come together in the comedy Hogan's Hero's just made it more special.
Werner Klemperer was a fascinating and intelligent man. Humble and gracious, he never forgot his friends or contemporaries who helped him during his career.
What a lovely gentleman! His portrayal of Klink, a character who was completely different from himself, was brilliant. I've been watching HH ever since I was a little kid...and I'm old now.
Werner was quite a character. He was a great musician and loved practical jokes. He escaped Nazi Germany and actually served in the US Army Air Corps during WWII.
I really loved how he got a new monocle. Might not be the same and as significant as the one that got stolen, but he could always turn back into the bumbling iron eagle we all know and love
our great Colonel Wilhelm Klink, aka Werner Klemperer, was a virtuoso on the violin, as well as a great comic actor! I loved him and John Banner, as Sergeant Hans Schultz!!
Col klink can never be replaced, his aura can still be seen with his great smile and his charming charming, still remember his ACTS as col klink, we love and miss you col klink (Werner klemperer) rip Bob crane, John bunner, Leon askin, larry hovis, Ivan Dixon and Richard Dawson hogan's heroes squad will never be replaced
This is the first time I've seen Pat Sajak as a talk show host. Now, my memory is shot so I probably watched him on TV when I was a youngster. If he was on TV I'm quite sure I at least watched a little. I digress. When I see him in this role and then see where he ended up "Wheel of Fortune" I'll I can think so say is, what a waste. He had such a talent for talking to people and keeping the conversation going smoothly. I'm very impressed.
I'm so glad this interview is on RU-vid. Hogan's Heroes is one of my all-time favorite comedies. I've watched each episode countless times and will continue to watch it countless more times! RIP Colonel Klink.
My mother acted opposite Werner Klemperer in Pearl Harbor during WWII. They became engaged to be married. They were always being interviewed in the media. They had a "secret code" they created to use in the media to let each other know they were looking for each other “should the events of the war separate” them. (There were lots of "secret Codes" during the War!) They were, in fact, separated when Klemperer was sent on a South Pacific tour. In 1989 he came through San Francisco with a Shakespearean Acting Troupe. The San Francisco Chronicle did a full page interview of him. My mother said he was using their "secret code."
I’m 21 years old and grew up watching “Hogan’s Heroes” and the like with my Pap. In a refreshing way this interview brings out quite a strong emotion in me that I can’t describe. Hearing Werner speak of his past and speak as a man from that time period almost opens a portal to where I can still see my Pap who hasn’t been here since the day before I turned 17. I still learn more about my Pap as often as possible, he and Werner are the reasons I started speaking German so young, they’re both the reason I wanted to pursue my families history so far in depth, and are both the reasons I carry on with the same beliefs I’ve always had and will always stand up to protect those beliefs. Some day I hope to visit Germany and finally see where my Pap was stationed when he occupied Germany post-war, see and photograph the same castles he saw and photographed, stop in Cologne and see where Werner came from. It may take some time but I’ll get there, and I’ll be sure to carry on my Pap in any way possible, with the help of the humbleness and confidence I came to understand thru Mr. Klemperer. They’re both great men I look up to from roughly the same time period, men who’s lives and histories should be learned from.
Never cared for Klink's bumbling demeanor, but I always admired Werner the actor for making his role forever memorable. Sitting there, he's just an old bald man, but when he speaks, he's magical When he put on the monocle he once again became legendary. RIP Herr Klemperer
if you haven't already, watch Operation Eichmann, the 1961 film, with both Klemperer and John Banner. Both did brilliant dramatic work. Klemperer was the exact opposite of Klink, was absolutely frightening as Eichmann.
He's an amazing actor. I saw the 1961 film and other movies they made about Eichmann and he was by far the most convincing. There's also something about his voice and how succinct it sounds in both the movie as Eichmann and as Colonel Klink. Nobody could have pulled off Colonel Klink like him and I doubt anyone could be as lovable character as Banner playing Sergeant Schultz. Dissssssssssssssssssmissed.
Ivan, I always loved you in the show, you played a great part that was sorely missed during the final season. It sounds as if all the actors/actresses in the show were very kind and respected people who seemed to genuinely care about each other. Those who are no longer with us are dearly missed. Great show, my all time favorite.
John Boutet, yes, they are all gone now except Robert Clary (Corporal LeBeau). Kenneth Washington (Sgt. Baker) is still living, but he wasn't an original cast member.
Reminded me of a story about a monocle wearing British Army Officer who was in Egypt with Australian troops training for the Gallipoli campaign. One day on parade a platoon of Australians all wore a penny (which was a large sized coin) over one eye. The officer swung his monocle on its chain, threw it into the air and caught it with his eye socket. He then turned to the troops and said "Let's see you bastards do that!"
Desert Rang3r It would be nice to think that the monocle is in the disguise wardrobe in the tunnels beneath camp 13, sadly, in reality, it ended up in the hands of an a** hole.
....und dass er in der deutschen synchro ein ossi wurde machte die serie komplett und perfekt. Er und john banner haben so dermassen gerockt! Ganz grosses kino. Sowas gibt es leider schon viele jahre nicht mehr.
This guy played the role of Klink absolutely perfectly! Him and Schultz have made me laugh so hard in the last couple years watching Hogan's Heros. I will laugh until my stomach hurts and my face hurts from smiling so much lol.
I had not seen this interview before... what a terrific guy... I also remember him from Judgment at Nuremberg. He gave me many moments of laugh with his role as Col. Klink... thank you Mr. Klemperer
If you want to see how great an actor this man was, find a copy of the movie "Get Eichmann!". Herr Klemperer played Eichmann. He was brilliant in that role.
His father was conductor Otto Klemperer and his mother was soprano Johanna Geisler. While stationed in Hawaii, Werner joined the Army's Special Services unit, spending the war years touring the Pacific entertaining the troops.
He seemed as if he never aged. He is being very modest in this interview. He was both a wonderful comedic actor as well as dramatic actor. He was a very talented symphony conductor. We miss you, Mr. Klemperer. You were a classy person. Rest in peace, Ivan Dixon
@@Moamanly I am no Trumptard (let's get real when slamming the followers of the Orange Moron, please and thank you.). I'm persuaded to think there is no biped of any species on this planet -- including the orangutang -- I hate more than Trump. But even I am socially astute enough than to think one's politics have anything to do with wanting to see the standard of spelling in modern American English maintained.
I remember watching Hogan’s Hero’s with my dad, he was on the sofa smoking cigarettes and I sat on the floor leaning on his leg. Great show and great memories