John Banner
Biography
John Banner was an Austrian-American actor born Johann Banner on January 28, 1910, in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, with sources also noting his birthplace as Stanislau, Galicia, Austria-Hungary, which is now Ivano-Frankivsk. He achieved lasting fame for portraying the bumbling German Sergeant Hans Schultz in the sitcom Hogan's Heroes from 1965 to 1971. Banner studied acting at the Reinhardt Seminar and began his career on the Viennese stage. Being Jewish, he fled Austria for the United States in 1938 with the rise of the Nazis. Upon arriving in America, he initially struggled to find acting work and took on odd jobs while continuing to pursue his profession. Banner passed away on his birthday, January 28, 1973, at the age of sixty-three, leaving behind a credited career of ninety-six works in film and television.
Career overview
John Banner was an Austrian-American actor born Johann Banner on January 28, 1910, in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, with sources also noting his birthplace as Stanislau, Galicia, Austria-Hungary, which is now Ivano-Frankivsk. Standing six feet and one inch tall, Banner studied acting at the Reinhardt Seminar and began his career performing on the Viennese stage. Following the rise of the Nazis, Banner, who was a Jew, fled Austria for the United States in 1938.
Upon arriving in America, Banner faced difficulties finding work in his profession and took on odd jobs to make ends meet while continuing to pursue his passion for acting. Over the course of his career, Banner amassed ninety-six known acting credits in movies and television shows.
Banner achieved lasting fame for his role as the bumbling German Sergeant Hans Schultz in the sitcom Hogan's Heroes, which ran from 1965 to 1971. He passed away on his birthday, January 28, 1973, at the age of sixty-three.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Last Laugh (2016) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Alias Smith and Jones (1971)
- The Chicago Teddy Bears (1971)
- The Partridge Family (1970) as Max Ledbetter
- Togetherness (1970) as Hipolitas
- The Doris Day Show (1968) as Bruno
- Star Spangled Salesman (1968) as Self
- The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz (1968) as Weber
- Hogan's Heroes (1965) as Hans Schultz
- Bing Crosby Color Christmas Show (1965) as Self/Sgt. Schultz
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964) as Russian Chairman
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) as Dr. Foster
- The Young Marrieds (1964) as Dimitri Kilarin #1
- The Rogues (1964) as Steiner
- The Cara Williams Show (1964) as Zinzer
- The Baileys of Balboa (1964)
- 36 Hours (1964) as Ernst
- Bedtime Story (1964) as Burgermeister (uncredited)
- Kisses for My President (1964) as Vasiliovich Alexminitch (uncredited)
- The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour (1964) as Guard
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) as General Zimring
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Martin Rutke
- The Yellow Canary (1963) as Sam Skolman
- The Lucy Show (1962) as Sergeant Schultz
- The Virginian (1962) as Gus Schultz
- The Virginian (1962) as August the Head Waiter
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Dutch Customs Man
- General Electric True (1962)
- Hitler (1962) as Gregor Strasser
- Hazel (1961) as Mr. Mueller
- Mister Ed (1961)
- Alcoa Premiere (1961) as Kaspar Kraus
- One, Two, Three (1961) as Krause / Haberdasher (voice) (uncredited)
- Operation Eichmann (1961) as Rudolf Hoff
- 20,000 Eyes (1961) as Kurt Novak
- Thriller (1960) as Prof. Martin Vander Hoven
- Outlaws (1960)
- The Roaring 20's (1960)
- The Story of Ruth (1960) as King Of Moab
- The Untouchables (1959) as Franz Koenig
- One Step Beyond (1959) as Dr. Molhaus
- The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959)
- The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959) as Chief
- The Third Man (1959)
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Mr. Popper
- The Wonderful Country (1959) as Ben Sterner
- The Blue Angel (1959) as Principal Harter
- The Peter Tchaikovsky Story (1959) as Office Supervisor
- The Donna Reed Show (1958)
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Carl Neuman
- Behind Closed Doors (1958) as Prosecutor Hoxa
- The Young Lions (1958) as German Town Mayor (uncredited)
- The Beast of Budapest (1958) as Dr. Kovach
- Perry Mason (1957) as A. Tobler
- One Coat of White (1957) as Vegaro
- Telephone Time (1956)
- The Gale Storm Show (1956) as Hans Schlosser
- The Man Called X (1956)
- Never Say Goodbye (1956) as Oskar
- The Dream (1956) as Prefect of Police
- Matinee Theater (1955)
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Train Conductor
- Navy Log (1955)
- Sheena: Queen of the Jungle (1955) as Brunner
- Studio 57 (1954)
- The Whistler (1954)
- Public Defender (1954) as Mr. Lambert
- Executive Suite (1954) as Henri - Stork Club Maître D' (uncredited)
- With This Ring (1954)
- Crash of Moons (1954) as Bavarro
- The Gypsy Moon (1954) as Bavarro
- Private Secretary (1953)
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Hans
- The Juggler (1953) as Emile Halevy
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Koert
- Adventures of Superman (1952) as Bronsky
- Cavalcade of America (1952)
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Sgt. Schultz
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Morris Odvarka
- Go for Broke! (1951) as German Officer (uncredited)
- Callaway Went Thataway (1951) as Headwaiter at Mocambo's (uncredited)
- King Solomon's Mines (1950) as Austin - Safari Client (uncredited)
- Guilty of Treason (1950) as Dr. Szandor Deste
- My Girl Tisa (1948) as Otto
- To the Victor (1948) as Jacques Lestrac
- The Argyle Secrets (1948) as Winter
- Nocturne (1946) as Charles Shawn (uncredited)
- This Land Is Mine (1943) as German Sergeant
- The Moon Is Down (1943) as Lt. Prackle (uncredited)
- The Fallen Sparrow (1943) as Anton
- They Came to Blow Up America (1943) as Gestapo Agent
- Seven Miles from Alcatraz (1942) as Fritz
- Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942) as Von Kleinoch (uncredited)
- Desperate Journey (1942)
- It Started with Eve (1941) as Party Guest (uncredited)
- Pacific Blackout (1941)
- Spring Parade (1940) as Cymbalist (uncredited)