Directors Worksheet by Erik Wallin

Name: Werner Herzog

Year Born: September 5, 1942

Country of Origin: Germany

Background: He grew up in Munich, Germany. He studied history, literature and theatre but he never finished.

First Feature: Lebenszeichen

Most notable Films: Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Grizzly Man, Stroszek, Nosferatu the Vampyre

Genres Explored: Drama, Documentary

Stylistic Tendencies: Long shots, focus on character

Typical Content: Documentaries with interesting characters that do out of the ordinary things.

Awards and Accolades: Won best director at Cannes for "Fitzcarraldo".

Long Term Collaborators: His most notable collaborations were with an actor named Klaus Kinski whom he developed a life long friendship with.

Interesting Facts/etc: Claims to have walked by foot from Munich, Germany to Paris, France in 1974 to prevent the very sick film historian and good friend Lotte Eisner from dying. His logic was that she wouldn't dare die until he visited her on her deathbed. Eisner went on to live for 8 more years. Herzog also came across a vehicle that had rolled over and knocked on the window and it was Joaquin Pheonix. He asked him if he was alright, helped him out of the car, called an ambulance and then left.