German actor known for intense, often controversial performances and spoken-word recordings; long-time collaborator and sometimes antagonist of director Werner Herzog; directed the self-starring film Kinski Paganini (1989). Died in 1991.

Reviews note his volatile reputation and provocative screen presence; he appeared in spaghetti westerns (e.g. noted in reviews for For a Few Dollars More) and worked frequently with Werner Herzog. Reviews also reference public allegations by his daughter of sexual abuse.

Two DeBaser reviews discuss Klaus Kinski's 1989 self-directed film about Paganini as chaotic, erotic, and excessive. Reviewers describe the film as an inward biography that foregrounds Kinski's performance and provocations. One reviewer expresses strong personal repulsion to Kinski as a screen presence.

For:Readers interested in controversial screen performances, European auteur cinema, and provocative actor-led projects.

 Kinski takes the camera and points it at himself throughout the film, and when he doesn't, the characters talk about him (him as "Paganini" or him as "Kinski"?) usually with negative connotations.

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 To me, for example, as soon as I see a photo or any film featuring Klaus Kinski, an instinctive sense of repulsion arises as if encountering an anaconda, a viper, or a tarantula.

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