1970s - 1990s

The 1970's continued as a decade of extravagance for Kinski. He spent money furiously forcing him to continue taking on horrible films.

However, the decade also spawned the creative partnership between he and Werner Herzog. Herzog invited Kinski on the project of "Aguirre, the Wrath of God", which turned out to be one of the highlights of Kinski's long career. Kinski conclude the decade with two other projects under Herzog: "Nosferatu" and "Woyzeck".

Kinski's final decade of film making was the 1980's. The highlight of the decade was 1982's "Fitzcarraldo", which was another collaboration with Herzog. However, by this time the relationship was so strained that Kinski pledged never to work with the director again. This turned out not to be the case. They teamed up once more for "Cobra Verde" in 1988, one of Kinski's last films. The set turned violent when Kinski attacked Herzog and left the set leaving the film unfinished. The film has been released but the story, the result of missing footage, does not stand up to the Kinski-Herzog collaborated films.

Kinski concluded the 1980's with his directorial debut and the last film he completed: "Paganini". "Paganini", however, was a commercial and critical flop. Kinski planned on making it a 16 hour series for Italian television, but when the producers got hold of what was filmed so far, it was taken away from him.

Kinski spent the last years of his life in Lagunitas, California working on his auto-biography "Kinski Uncut", chronicling his chaotic life.

Klaus Kinski passed away on November 23, 1991 from a massive heart attack.

1950's-1970's Biography

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