TV Land channel has been showing reruns of Hogan's Heroes, the farce comedy that originally ran from September 1965 thru July of 1971. Hogan's Heroes is fun to watch after all these years (and all the reruns), due mostly to the terrific acting of the two German characters who are the foils, Sgt Schultz and Colonel Klink. My favorite, by far, is Schultz, portrayed masterfully by the late John Banner.
John Banner was born in Vienna, Austria in 1910. Prior to pursuing acting, he was a law student. Being of Jewish descent, Banner was brieftly detained in a prison camp before being expelled from Germany. His family would ultimately perish in an extermination camp.
Banner emigrated to the USA in 1938 and served from 1942 to 1945 in US Army Air Corps.
Between 1940 and 1948,, Banner the actor found work in over 40 feature films, frequently in war movies, usually playing Germans.
By the 1950's, Banner had gained quite a bit of weight, about 100 pounds, and had the look with which we would ultimately become familiar. Over the next 20 years, Banner would make more that 70 TV appearances. The list of show includes an astounding array of shows, many of which will be recognizable only to high mileage folks, e.g.
John Banner was born in Vienna, Austria in 1910. Prior to pursuing acting, he was a law student. Being of Jewish descent, Banner was brieftly detained in a prison camp before being expelled from Germany. His family would ultimately perish in an extermination camp.
Banner emigrated to the USA in 1938 and served from 1942 to 1945 in US Army Air Corps.
Between 1940 and 1948,, Banner the actor found work in over 40 feature films, frequently in war movies, usually playing Germans.
By the 1950's, Banner had gained quite a bit of weight, about 100 pounds, and had the look with which we would ultimately become familiar. Over the next 20 years, Banner would make more that 70 TV appearances. The list of show includes an astounding array of shows, many of which will be recognizable only to high mileage folks, e.g. Sky King
The DuPont Cavalcade of America
The Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Fireside Theatre
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Father Knows Best
The Gale Storm Show
Rin Tin Tin
The Walt Disney Show
Perry Mason
77 Sunset Strip
Dobie Gillis
The Donna Reed Show
My Three Sons
The Man from UNCLE
Hazel
Mr. Ed and, believe it or not
The Partridge Family, in 1972
John Banner died in Vienna in 1973 on his 63rd birthday.
