Actor Werner Klemperer Dies of Cancer
N E W Y O R K, Dec. 7, 2000 -- Werner Klemperer, a Jewish refugee from NaziGermany who went on to play the inept German prison-camp commandantCol. Klink on TV’s Hogan’s Heroes, has died. He was 80.
Klemperer died of cancer Wednesday at his home in New York, saidhis publicist, Bernie Ilson.
Klemperer fled Germany in 1935 with his father, Otto, adistinguished conductor and composer. He won two Emmy Awards forhis portrayal of the monocled Col. Wilhelm Klink on the 1960ssitcom about World War II Allied prisoners of war.
Klemperer had his own condition for playing the part: “If evera segment was written where Col. Klink is the winner, I would leavethe show,” he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last year.
He was a gifted actor on both film and stage, receiving a Tonynomination in 1988 as a feature actor in a musical for his role inHal Prince’s revival of Cabaret.
Involved in Musical World
Other Broadway roles included starring opposite Jose Ferrer inThe Insect Comedy, and with Tallulah Bankhead in the 1955production of Dear Charles. Most recently, he co-starred inCircle in the Square’s production of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya.
His film credits included Death of a Scoundrel,, TheGoddess, Judgment at Nuremberg, and Ship of Fools.
Klemperer also appeared as a narrator with nearly every majorsymphony orchestra in the United States. His repertoire includedsuch works as Beethoven’s Egmont and Fidelio, Stravinsky’sL’Histoire du Soldat and Oedipus Rex.
His narration of Mozart’s The Impresario, with the MostlyMozart Festival Orchestra, aired on PBS’s Live from LincolnCenter. He also performed in various operas, including TheSound of Music, with the New York City Opera. He played PrinceOrlofsky in Die Fledermaus with companies in Seattle andCleveland.
“He was very active in the music world,” said David Licht,Klemperer’s attorney for 30 years.
A Much-Loved Colonel
But for television fans, who can still see Hogan’s Heroes insyndication, Klemperer will always be remembered as Klink, thehapless commandant who couldn’t keep his prisoners behind barbedwire.
Klemperer knew that the role would follow him throughout hiscareer.
“I am quite sure that the role of Col. Klink will be with mefor a long, long time, and I’m proud and happy about that,” hesaid in an 1987 interview with The Associated Press. “It hascertainly not hindered me in doing all the work I’m doing and itgives me the kind of recognition that I can appreciate and I’m verygrateful for it.”
He said Klink was a character people could relate to.
“The part of Col. Klink became a part that people had a lot ofkind of odd identification with,” Klemperer said. “He was alittle greedy, a little pompous, a little vain and a littleinsecure. All those things are very much part of our ownpersonalities in many ways, so that’s what made him fun.”
Klemperer is survived by his wife, actress Kim HamiltonKlemperer, a son and a daughter. Funeral services will be private.