7.8
Movie
Acting
Sig Ruman
- Born
- Died
- (aged 82)
- Birthplace
- Hamburg, Germany
- Credits
- 123 titles
Biography
Sig Ruman was a German-American actor known for his portrayals of pompous and often stereotypical Teutonic officials or villains. Ruman made his film debut in Lucky Boy (1929).
He became a favorite of the Marx Brothers, appearing in A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, and A Night in Casablanca. His German accent and large stature kept him busy during World War II, playing sinister Nazi characters in a series of wartime thrillers.
During this period, he also appeared in several films by director Ernst Lubitsch including Ninotchka and To Be or Not to Be. Ruman continued playing over-the-top German characters later in his career for Billy Wilder in The Emperor Waltz, Stalag 17, and The Fortune Cookie.
Signature work
Known For
7.8
Movie
7.7
Movie
Stalag 17
7.4
Movie
A Night at the Opera
8.0
TV
The Addams Family
7.5
Movie
Ninotchka
7.2
Movie
The Fortune Cookie
7.3
Movie
Only Angels Have Wings
7.1
Movie
A Day at the Races
6.1
Movie
House of Frankenstein
7.0
Movie
The Glenn Miller Story
6.8
Movie
A Night in Casablanca
7.1
Movie
The Song of Bernadette
7.0
Movie
Heidi
6.3
Movie
Nothing Sacred
6.6
Movie
Houdini
7.1
Movie
36 Hours
7.2
TV
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
6.3
Movie
The Wings of Eagles
Acting credits 123
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Hollywood: The Dream Factory Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 1966 | Way... Way Out Film | Russian Delegate |
| 1966 | The Fortune Cookie Film | Professor Winterhalter |
| 1966 | The Last of the Secret Agents? Film | Prof. Werner von Koenig |
| 1965 | Hank TV | (1 ep) |
| 1964 | 36 Hours Film | German Guard |
| 1964 | Daniel Boone TV | Van Coot (1 ep) |
| 1964 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. TV | Conductor Schultz (1 ep) |
| 1964 | The Addams Family TV | Eric Von Bissell (1 ep) |
| 1964 | Robin and the 7 Hoods Film | Hammacher (uncredited) |
| 1963 | The Danny Kaye Show TV | Self (1 ep) |
| 1963 | Petticoat Junction TV | Professor Lieberschmit (1 ep) |
| 1961 | One, Two, Three Film | Count von Droste Schattenburg (voice) (uncredited) |
| 1961 | The Errand Boy Film | Baron Elston Carteblanche |
| 1960 | Pete and Gladys TV | (2 ep) |
| 1960 | Around the World with Nellie Bly Film | Tug Captain |
| 1959 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis TV | Himelmayer (1 ep) |
| 1959 | Johnny Staccato TV | (1 ep) |
| 1959 | One Step Beyond TV | Franz Schuldorf (1 ep) |
| 1958 | Lawman TV | (2 ep) |
| 1957 | Maverick TV | Capt. Steeger (4 ep) |
| 1957 | The Wings of Eagles Film | Manager |
| 1956 | The Dinah Shore Chevy Show TV | Self (1 ep) |
| 1955 | Spy Chasers Film | King Rinko |
| 1955 | Many Rivers to Cross Film | Spectacle Man |
| 1955 | Carolina Cannonball Film | Stefan |
| 1954 | 3 Ring Circus Film | Fritz Schlitz |
| 1954 | White Christmas Film | Landlord (uncredited) |
| 1954 | Living It Up Film | Dr. Emile Egelhofer |
| 1954 | The Glenn Miller Story Film | W. Kranz |
| 1953 | The Girl on The Roof Film | |
| 1953 | Houdini Film | Schultz |
| 1953 | Stalag 17 Film | Johann Schulz |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater TV | Dr. Haegendorff (1 ep) |
| 1953 | Private Secretary TV | (1 ep) |
| 1952 | Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation Film | Cyrus Kraft |
| 1952 | The World in His Arms Film | General Ivan Vorashilov |
| 1952 | O. Henry's Full House Film | Menkie (segment "The Gift of the Magi") (uncredited) |
| 1951 | On the Riviera Film | Gapeaux |
| 1950 | Father Is a Bachelor Film | Jericho Schlosser |
| 1949 | Border Incident Film | Hugo Wolfgang Ulrich |
| 1948 | The Emperor Waltz Film | Dr. Zwieback |
| 1948 | Give My Regards to Broadway Film | Arthur Dinkel |
| 1948 | If You Knew Susie Film | Count Alexis |
| 1947 | Mother Wore Tights Film | Papa |
| 1946 | Faithful in My Fashion Film | Professor Boris Riminoffsky |
| 1946 | Night and Day Film | Wilowski |
| 1946 | A Night in Casablanca Film | Count Pfefferman / Heinrich Stubel |
| 1945 | The Dolly Sisters Film | Ignatz Tsimmis |
| 1945 | She Went to the Races Film | Dr. Gurke |
| 1945 | Men in Her Diary Film | Mme. Irene |
| 1945 | A Royal Scandal Film | General Ronsky |
| 1944 | House of Frankenstein Film | Burgomeister Hussman |
| 1944 | Summer Storm Film | Kuzma |
| 1944 | The Hitler Gang Film | General von Hindenburg |
| 1944 | It Happened Tomorrow Film | Mr. Beckstein |
| 1943 | The Song of Bernadette Film | Louis Bouriette |
| 1943 | Government Girl Film | Ambassador |
| 1943 | Sweet Rosie O'Grady Film | Joe Flugelman |
| 1943 | They Came to Blow Up America Film | Dr. Herman Holger |